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2007 CERAMIC ART TOUR OF CHINA
CHINESE CERAMICS WORKSHOPS IN YIXING
Yixing is one of the most famous ceramic sites in China. It is known throughout the world for its “purple clay,” fine stoneware that is hand built and burnished into small teapots that are prized in China, Japan and many other countries. Yixing is also home to the famous pahua craftsmen, who create intricate designs by patting and forming small pieces of colored clays on to vases, platters, and basins to create flowing images of dragons, phoenixes, flowers and landscapes. Today many Yixing factories also employ master throwers who create huge basins and vats on the wheel. We will spend three days in Yixing for demonstrations and workshops with master craftsmen in each of these specialties.
Yixing Hand-built Teapots
During this workshop, you will come to understand why throughout the more than 1,000 years of the art of Yixing Purple Clay teapots, these famous pots have only been hand-built. You will learn the special techniques of hand paddling thin slabs of purple clay stoneware; how to make each section of, and how to assemble, an Yixing teapot; how to finish and burnish an Yixing teapot to acquire its famous shine and resiliency without glazing; and finally, the art and technique of creating and impressing the artist’s seal into the teapot. You will be introduced to several tools unique to Yixing purple clay teapot art and you will learn how to use them yourselves.
Classical Chinese Wheelthrowing Techniques
This workshop will focus on Chinese techniques for throwing large forms out of stoneware clay. You will learn how master Chinese potters throw two-feet high jars from one piece of clay and four-feet high vessels thrown in sections and assembled.
Classical Chinese Wheelthrowing Techniques
This workshop will focus on Chinese techniques for throwing large forms out of stoneware clay. You will learn how master Chinese potters throw two-feet high jars from one piece of clay and four-feet high vessels thrown in sections and assembled.
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