Morning Earth and Dragon Claw Tools sponsor, help to arrange and present three types of Korean Ceramic Workshops:   

Sponsored by Morning Earth and Dragon Claw Tools

Korean Ceramic Workshops

           The length and type of each workshops depends on the circumstances.  At conferences we have provided workshops that have included 3 three hour sessions each of two days that are limited to one or two aspects.  At other conferences, we have conducted twelve-hours of presentations each day for two days with multiple walk-in sessions utilizing a number of presenters who have studied with us.  We are flexible to meet your needs.

       Most of our workshops take place at schools, universities, museums or ceramic centers and include two days of workshops lasting from 9 AM until 5 PM, (usually a Saturday and Sunday).   In addition, they often include an “open” evening of media presentations where we trace the history of Korean ceramics.   The “open” evening invites the general public.

       We have also conducted one, two and three week-long workshops.  These longer workshops include hand forming, decorating and wheel forming with the “eye of the clay”.

       Our Hand Forming and Decorating Agenda Page lists the content of a typical two-day Hand Forming and Decorating  Workshop.  It includes many aspects of hand forming and decorating.  We select from those aspects when we present shorter sessions. 

       For example those shorter sessions might focus on the onggi processes applied to hand forming or handles, spouts and pouring lips.   They might focus on the processes used in decorating chungja or buncheong.   We discuss your needs and plan our workshops to fit them.

     Although we often demonstrate wheel forming at many of our workshops, we do not present a wheel forming workshop to anyone unless they have also had or are simultaneously participating in our hand forming and decorating workshop.  In short one or two day sessions, participants must also know the rudiments of forming on a wheel.

      That said, wheel forming or throwing with the “eye of the clay” may be the fastest way to learn to center and be successful forming on a wheel of any throwing process.  It was common to have our students, in their first session, center and form ware the first time at the wheel.  In a two week 9 AM to 5 PM class we had considerable success.  By the end of that class, every student was throwing between twelve and twenty-five pounds of clay and making nearly every thrown form imaginable from small cups to large bowls and platters to pitchers, vases, bottles, lidded jars and teapots -- with control.   Only one student had thrown before.

       Of course all traditional wheel forming processes have much to be said for them.  I know of no better way of pulling up a wall for many forms than to use the “back hand draw” used by traditional North Carolina potters. 

       New students seem to get into trouble when they attempt to invent their own wheel forming processes.   In my opinion, when learning to throw one should build one’s skills before one’s creativity.   

Hand Forming and Decorating

The “Eye of the Clay”

1. 1.Hand Forming and Decorating
   

2. 2.Wheel Forming with “The Eye of the Clay”
   

3. 3.Visiting Korean Ceramic Artist Workshops

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