Workshops and Courses
Ceramics Course 2022
Sunday 26th June - Friday 1st July
TUTOR: Colin Johnson
ADDRESS; 4 Impasse des Cognassiers
Haimps 17160 Charente-Maritime France
Workshop
The well-equipped workshop is set in a rural idyl of Cognac-producing vineyards, sunflower and poppy fields, and is housed in an 18th century converted stone barn.
Course description
This course is equally suitable for beginners to skilled practitioners looking to explore and develop their ceramic techniques and processes. Discover the joys of clay with like-minded people in beautiful surroundings. We are going to explore construction and decorating methods suitable for single and Raku firing. You will be introduced to all conventional (and some unconventional methods) with the aim of a single firing of the work on day 4 of the course. Depending on how the firings are going we may be able to visit a local place of interest on that day.
After a nourishing breakfast, a typical day will start at 9am with a demonstration and then workshop practice. Lunch at is 1pm, after which you can relax in or by the pool or find a shady spot until 3pm, then workshop practice will begin again until till 6pm. Dinner will be served at 7pm. Short talks on artists using the techniques being employed to give a broader view will be interspersed throughout the week as appropriate.
Arrive on Sunday evening 26th in time for drinks and a wonderful welcome dinner, when you will be able to meet co participants, talk about what you would like to achieve in the coming days, relax and enjoy the convivial atmosphere.
Price: £795 includes tuition, all materials and firings, accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation
Within walking distance. For example --
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/9902259
Travel
Flights; Easyjet : Gatwick to La Rochele and a 1 hour drive to Haimps. Bordeaux, (2hrs) and Angouleme (40 mins) are other options. Car hire or taxi is the best option and I can possibly arrange sharing with others on the course. I can arrange a local taxi .
By road; from Northern France, unless you don't mind driving through Paris I suggest you come via Rouen.Le Mans, Tours and Poitiers. Maps and full address will be sent for last leg of journey.
Train; from Ashford to Paris
You have to change stations via the Metro and then to Angouleme which is 40 minutes away from us. This is the cheapest and quickest route.
Ashford to Niort via Lille, with a very long wait in Lille. This route is good if you want to spend the night in Lille, which is a very beautiful city. Niort just 35 minutes away.
In the near vicinity is a Roman church in Aulnay with lots of intricate, fascinating stone carvings. Cognac is 20mins away. It’s worth a visit to see the river Charente, the shops and buildings and/or take a tasting tour of one of the Cognac producers’ cellars. Saintes, a Roman city is also on the river Charente boasting an amphitheater, abbey, cathedral and other historic features. St Jean-d’Angely and Angouleme are also interesting places to visit. An hour’s drive will take you to the Atlantic coast, where you can visit La Rochelle or take the road bridge to the Île de Ré.
