Rusty Roo  artists retreat . . . .  a place to let your soul breathe

 

 

Mixed mediums &

mark making materials

  

This is your opportunity to experiment - You will acquire many recipes and information regarding techniques.

Grounds, bitumen, shellac, acrylics, glazing, encaustic, pastels, gold leaf, mono printing, relief printing, journal creating, marbling, papermaking . . . . .  The choices are extremely varied & numerous.

You are welcome to contact us to tell us what you would like to experience/try during your weekend away. We will cover as many choices as time allows.

We find we can create a timetable to include 4 - 6 activities. We will notify you of those suggested & chosen prior to date of workshop.

Example follows

Friday night – constructing creative journals &  exploring the creative process. DVD

 

Saturday am – acrylics, PVA, sand, bitumen, shellac, gesso, charcoal, pastels, collage . .

 

Saturday afternoon – marbling & relief printing.

 

Sunday morning – mono printing

Sunday afternoon  glazing/collage

 

 

Most Materials & equipment are supplied.

You will need to bring –

 

Order  or BYO  – good quality papers  ie/

4  x 300 gsm stonehenge, A4 visual diary & 250ml PVA glue & old brush to apply, old magazines & paper for collages, scissors, small ruler, pencil.( if you have material not on list, that you may wish to use - please bring )

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lees.art@optusnet.com.au

0409 34 5501

Pit Firing of Ceramics.

   

 

A pit firing is one of the most universal, primitive firings executed today. Firings of this type were an adaptation to firing the ware in open bon fires. At some point it was discovered that digging a pit in the ground and firing the ware in a pit led to higher temperatures resulting in a harder, more enduring fired clay. As time continued pit firing evolved to digging holes in the mountainside, a primitive version of today's Anagama.

 

        

 

Today we have kilns so why should we still conduct these primitive firings? Well in the past it was done to harden the clay, but now our goal is to achieve surface coloration and markings that only a pit firing can provide. Also experiencing a pit-fire is exceptional in the atmosphere and the feeling of sharing it generates – it will give you a sense of what it was like to fire clay long ago before the invention of the kiln.

One aspect about working with clay that has drawn many towards the medium is the wonderful sense of community. The pit lighting ceremony is one specific moment that really feels magical.

   

With the loading of the pit, lighting of the fire and spectacular sight of a full roaring very hot fire the feelings are mixed. Some are a little scared, some are excited, some are mystified and some become a wee bit paranoid that the fire department will soon be on its way.

    

The outcome is worth the wait . . and the wait is a whole lot of fun !!

BYO – something from following list

Small shells, copper wire, thin wire, rock salt, broken or coloured glass, seaweed, bitumen, rope, glossy color magazines, steel wool, curly girls.

Bring if you have – A4 visual diary, camera, drawing materials, cheap bucket, disposable gloves & dust mask.