glaze workshop Archives - Linda Bloomfield

I will be travelling to various studios around the UK and Europe to teach ceramic glaze workshops which expand on my books, Colour in Glazes and Special Effect Glazes. The two-day workshops are suitable for intermediate potters who would like to learn more about glaze chemistry, what each glaze material contributes to the glaze and how to adjust glazes to correct any defects or make special effects such as craters, crystals or crackle. Contact the studios directly to book a place. These courses are popular; if you find the workshop you want to attend is full, I sometimes come back to the same studio in following years so don’t give up!

These workshops cover the fundamentals of what makes up a ceramic glaze and the role played by each ingredient. Participants on the workshop will create and test their own glaze (often based on an existing recipe) during the workshop, fire the glazes overnight, and receive feedback on their results. They will leave with a better understanding of how a glaze is developed and tested and with the knowledge to enable them to create and refine glazes on their own.

I recognise that not everyone will be able to attend one of these courses. There is a lot to be gained from being in a practical workshop with others, but if you cannot attend one of my workshops and would still like to learn about glazes, I have some short online courses available (https://lindabloomfield.co.uk/membership-account/membership-levels/) which cover some of the same content.

Posted on October 16, 2023October 16, 2023 by Linda Bloomfield

Oeiras Ceramic Art exhibition, Lisbon, Portugal

Oeiras Ceramic art exhibition, work by Philippa Mollet — Luciana Cravo, Philippa Mollet and Linda Bloomfield at Oeiras Ceramic Art, Lisbon

I had a week in Portugal in October 2023, teaching glaze workshops and visiting Oeiras Ceramic Art exhibition. I was invited to be an ambassador for the exhibition, together with other ceramic artists including Alberto Bustos and Yola Vale. We attended the opening night of the exhibition and gave a series of workshops and talks in Oeiras.

Glaze workshop at Ceramist shop atelier Oeiras — Glaze workshop at Ceramista shop atelier Oeiras

I was invited by ceramicist Luciana Cravo and business owner and exhibition organiser Catia Fernandes to teach two glaze workshops, one at Luciana’s studio and the other at Catia’s Ceramista shop and atelier. We spent the first day making glaze tests and then fired overnight and discussed the results the next day.

Lava glaze test tiles — Barium lava glaze with added cobalt, copper, chromium, iron and zirconium.

The kilns fired to a higher temperature than expected (cone 10 and above 1300C) but there were some great results with lava glazes and crawl glazes. The students also made glossy, matt, satin matt and crackle glazes. Each student made a base glaze and added various colouring oxides.

Crawl glaze tests with various colouring oxides — Zinc crawl glaze by Mariana Figueiredo with added chromium, manganese, tin, nickel and copper

Some of the students from the glaze workshops were also at Oeiras ceramic art exhibition. I met Catherine Portal, Philippa Mollet and Leonora Lockhart, who I had met previously when she attended my book launch in London.

Luciana Cravo at Oeiras Ceramic Art exhibition — Leonora Lockhart, Luciana Cravo and Catherine Portal at Oeiras Ceramic Art

Luciana Cravo makes lava-glazed sculptures inspired by weathered rocks found on the beach. She was extremely welcoming and looked after me throughout my stay in Portugal, taking me for delicious lunches of bacalhau, pasteis de nata and also showing me around the national museum of tiles (azulejos) in Lisbon. We also visited the workshop on the top floor of the museum where tile panels are restored. Thank you for inviting me Luciana and Catia!

Azulejo museum in Lisbon — Tile panel, National Azulejo museum, Lisbon

Posted on August 22, 2023September 12, 2024 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze workshops 2024

I will be teaching a number of ceramic glaze workshops during 2024

Set of glaze test tiles from a ceramic glaze workshop, showing a colour blend between five colouring oxides and the effects that can be achieved

27-28 January The Clay Garden, Hammersmith

24-25 February The Clay Garden, Hammersmith

9-10 March La Mine Céramiqu e Paris

23-24 March RAMP Workshop, Silverton, Devon

5-7, 12-14 April El Taller de Ceramica, Malaga

20-21 April Jilly Russell Vessel studio, Special Effect Glazes, Moretonhampstead, Devon

4-5 May Coombe Farm studios, Special Effect Glazes, Dartmouth, Devon

10-11 August London Potters at Cernamic Studios

14-15 September Mud Gang studio, London

21-22 September Muddy Fingers Pottery, Special Effect Glazes, Jarrow

26-27 October Nottingham Ceramics School

Posted on March 9, 2023August 22, 2023 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze workshop dates 2023

Do you want to learn how to make your own glazes and understand what each material does in a glaze?

I will be teaching a number of glaze workshops in 2023. We will be making glaze tests in your chosen base glaze: glossy, matt, crystalline or crater, adding colouring oxides and discussing the fired results as well as learning what each material does in the glaze and how to adjust the glaze and correct defects.

21-22 January The Clay Garden Hammersmith

4-5 February Forest Row School of Ceramics East Sussex

18-19 February The Clay Garden Hammersmith

10-12 March La Mine Atelier Paris

24-25 April Studio Pottery London Victoria, London

5-7 and 12-14 May Cowork Art Centre Malaga, Spain

25-26 May Cultivator Cornwall, Camborne Contemporary Crafts hub, Cornwall

24-25 June RAMP Ceramics Silverton, Devon

12-13 August London Potters Cernamic Studios, Stoke Newington

16-17 September Nottingham Ceramics School Nottingham

9-10 October Atelier Luciana Cravo Lisbon, Portugal

11-12 October Ceramista Shop Oeiras, Portugal

Suitable for beginners, professional potters and ceramic artists. Contact the studios to book a place.

Posted on December 2, 2021March 16, 2022 by Linda Bloomfield — 4 Comments

Glaze workshop dates 2022

I will be teaching a number of of glaze workshops in 2022. There will be workshops on understanding colour in glazes in London, Buckinghamshire, Sussex and Devon. I am excited to be teaching a workshop on special effect glazes in Denmark at Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Centre. In the two day workshop we will spend a day making glaze tests, then the next day learning about glaze chemistry and analysing the results. Click on the links to contact the studios.

19-20 March 2022 The Clay Garden Hammersmith

29-30 April 2022 Special Effect Glazes, Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Centre. Denmark

28-29 May 2022 Kigbeare Studios, Okehampton, Devon

24-25 June 2022 Forest Row School of Ceramics, East Sussex

2-3 July 2022 Where Inspiration Blooms, Buckinghamshire

20-22 July 2022 La Mine Atelier de Ceramique Paris

20-21 August 2022 London Potters, Cernamic Studios, Stoke Newington, London

17-18 September Nottingham Ceramic School

Posted on May 24, 2021July 20, 2021 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze workshops 2021

I will be teaching some glaze workshops again in 2021. These get full very quickly so make sure you book up soon.

We will make a series of glaze tests on the first day, fire them overnight and then discuss the results the next afternoon. In the morning I will talk about glaze chemistry and what each material contributes to the glaze. I will be also be teaching at Forest Row School of Ceramics later this year.

5-6 June The Clay Loft, Stroud

22-23 July Forest Row School of Ceramics, East Sussex

25-26 September Nottingham Ceramic School, Nottingham

If you can’t get to a workshop, you can always do my online glaze course.