view January 9th

Winter Craft/Art Workshops: for the public

Smokeless Wood-Fired kiln building course at Sheffield Manor Lodge with ceramicists Penny Withers and Sarah Villeneau: 24th March to 1st April 2012.

Yorkshire Artspace ceramicists Penny Withers and Sarah Villeneau have been working closely with Green Estate to expand the facilities for ceramicists at Sheffield Manor Lodge site where our Manor Oaks Studios are based. An important part of the ongoing re-development of this site will be the construction of the first urban smokeless wood-fired kiln intended for community use. This kiln will be at the heart of the new Ceramics Centre at Manor Lodge which consists of a ceramics trail, a ceramic ware production line and the Yorkshire Artspace Starter Studio Programme for early career ceramicists and the annual Artist in Residence programme.

Sheffield Manor Lodge is managed by Green Estate and in keeping with the ethos of 'environmental sustainability, community involvement and education' there is a unique opportunity to participate in the building of this fabulous new kiln, designed by internationally acclaimed Japanese master of smokeless wood-fired kiln building: Masakazu Kusakabe. We are looking for people with a keen interest in ceramics and wood-firing, previous experience is not required. The course will be run by established Yorkshire Artspace artists Penny Withers and Sarah Villeneau, both previous Chairs of the Rufford Wood-firing Society and highly experienced workshop leaders and wood-firers.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the basics of kiln design and hands-on construction, the theory and practice of wood-firing and the specific glazes used for wood-firing. Penny and Sarah will give demonstrations on throwing and hand-building in the pottery workshop. Individual tuition as and when required.

The course runs from 24 March to 1 April and costs £270. This price includes: one 12.5 Kg bag clay per person (additional clay available at cost), oxides and glazes for decoration, one biscuit firing and one glaze firing. Free camping and barbecue facilities with washrooms and toilets available on site. Alternatively, if it is not possible to commit to the full 9 days, participants will be able to sign up for a minimum of 4 days at a cost of £30 per day. Booking is essential: please contact Sarah Villeneau or Penny Withers for a booking form.

Manor Oaks is situated approx. 10 minutes from Sheffield Midland Station (by car/taxi). For directions, see contact button on the home page of our website.

Portrait and Life Painting with Tim Rose

Painter and water colourist Tim Rose is still running his monthly life/portrait workshops from his own studio at Porter Brook. 'Portrait Painting' on Saturday 28 January and Saturday 24 March and costs £27. 'Life Painting' day on Saturday 25 February also cost £27. To book a place contact Tim Rose on 0114 255 2171 or email Tim on tim@timrose.co.uk

Printmaking with Rosemary Watson

Rosemary will run an Etching workshop on Saturday 14 January from 11am to 5pm in Studio 22 at Persistence Works Studios on Brown Street. This 5-hour etching workshop will be an opportunity to learn about and use less-toxic, more environmentally-friendly etching and printmaking processes. Suitable for printmakers with some previous experience and in particular printmakers wishing to set up their own printmaking facilities. Maximum 4 participants. Cost £50 includes all materials. Please book by emailing Rosemary directly info@arosemarywatson.co.uk.

Weekend Throwing Workshop with Penny Withers

These popular workshops still have some places available on the following weekends: 25 and 26 February and 10 and 11 March. Small groups to allow every participant access to a potters' wheel each with hands-on individual tuition. If you are a complete beginner you will be taught good techniques for centring, making different shapes and turning leather-hard pots. Experienced throwers will be able to have more specific tuition and new techniques can be demonstrated. Cost £95 per person, for details and to book your place contact Penny directly on penn@talktalk.net or 07510668585

Weekly Ceramic Workshops with Brian Holland

Brian's sessions run every Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and Saturdays from 10.3 am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5pm. All aspects of ceramics are covered including hand building, throwing, glazing and glaze formulation, raku firing, working with paper clay. You will be able to learn about making sculptural works, vessels and wall pieces.

The course suits beginners as well as the more experienced. Cost per 3-hour session is £15 but you can save a few pounds by booking for 5 sessions for just £62.50 - these sessions don't have to be consecutive so if you miss one, it won't be a problem. Please note: Materials are not included in the price, but you can drink as much green tea as you like at no extra cost.

Contact Brian directly for further details or to book a place brian.holland100@virgin.net