Midori TakakiAnimal Wall Masks
5th - 6th June 2027 | 2 Day Workshop | £450
During this intensive two-day workshop students will hand build wall mounted animal masks of their pet or any wild animal. Midori Takaki will teach students how to interpret observations to 3D shapes, as well as how to deepen artistic sense by bringing the subconscious to the surface. The course will also cover decoration techniques such as slips, sgraffito and various other processes.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Course in Detail
Midori will show students how to grasp the character of the animal through forms and energy within their mask. Midori believes that energy is important because, although it is invisible, it is big part of the individual animal. Midori says that students will learn to make the invisible visible whilst creating the masks.
Midori would like to focus on pets because she believes that pets are very personal to their owners and they tend to observe them closely. The owner knows that their pet is different and individual. Midori does not want students to create a general dog, but their own ‘Maisy’ or' ‘Fred’.
If students would prefer to create a wild animal, Midori will guide them through the building process while looking to encourage them to portray its character, energy and traits.
During the course, Midori will encourage students to create up to five masks, and to finish at least one mask. Midori believes that by making multiple works in a limited time, students are encouraged to focus on their feelings, not thinking, thus, they can explore their hidden artistic sense.
Throughout the workshop Midori will give demonstrations of pinching and sculpting. Each student will have plenty of workspace and Midori will be on hand to give advice one-to-one as well as teaching the group as a whole.
Midori would like the students to observe their pets or animals very well, and bring lots of photos from different angles (including front top side and lower angles of pet’s face). So they would be able to construct a 3D mask from 2D images.
Students’ pieces will be fired following the workshop and will be ready to collect at a later date.
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please see our Student Contract for details.
USEFUL INFO
Course Breakdown
Day 1 - AM: On the first day Midori will give an introduction to herself and to her workshop. During this Midori will discuss the purpose and targets of the workshop and the differences between art and craft.
Midori will then give a demonstration, showing students her techniques for pinching evenly and how to create forms.
Students will then pinch a number of blank masks.
PM: In the afternoon Midori will give a demonstration on how to make two masks using blanks. The animals she demonstrates will depend on what animals students are hoping to make.
Students will then start to make their own masks. Throughout the day Midori will give further demos on how to add detail and how to manage and control the drying process.
DAY 2 - AM: The day will start with Midori giving a demonstration on management of the drying process. Students will check on the dryness of their works in progress. Midori will guide students on how to check the drying carefully, especially rims, joints and other details, and on adjusting thickness of the works.
Students will then continue to work on their masks with guildance from Midori on different decoration techniques.
PM - During the afternoon students will continue to decorate their masks and complete their projects.
There will be no specific kiln firing during the workshop, however, students’ pieces will be fired and be ready for collection a few weeks later. Alternatively, students are welcome to take away their greenware (students must bring protective packaging when taking or collecting their pieces).
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract here.
Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
Key information
-
DATE
Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th June
-
DURATION
2 day workshop
-
CLASS SIZE
Maximum 10 students
-
LEVEL
Suitable for all levels
-
CLAY TYPE
Stoneware
-
COST
£450 (Flexible payment plans)
GUEST POTTER BIO
About Midori
When Midori arrived in England to study social anthropology in 1992, she had no plans to become an artist. However, for nearly two decades now, she has been working as an artist making ceramic sculptures in her studio in Canterbury. Her work captures her imaginary life and real life, which overlap. She says that used to pretend to live as a ‘normal’ person in society but wildness broke through the thin veneer and consumed her. Once she started making sculpture, all those layers of pretension fell away. She was finally one whole person. Midori is a selected member of the Craft Potters Association and holds a Postgraduate certificate - Ceramics in Fine and Applied Art from Christ Church Canterbury University, UK.
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
Level
Confident Beginners / Intermediate / Advanced
This workshop is suitable for all levels from professional artists who would like to widen their artistic sense to beginners with basic knowledge of clay techniques.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
The Schedule
-
The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm.
-
The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm.
-
A two course lunch is provided everyday. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Travel & Accommodation
The Ceramic Studio is located on a beautiful orchard in Brenchley, and there are lots of lovely surrounding towns and villages offering numerous places to stay.
We are happy to arrange transits to and from your accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. Please get in touch to arrange this. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.co.uk. To see examples of local accommodation, click here.