Clay as Canvas with Stephen Bird | 2 DAYS
In this weekend-long workshop led by visiting artist Stephen Bird, participants will explore the potential of creating unique slab-built forms and experiment with a variety of illustrative surface treatments.
On day one, students will be guided through the process of making durable clay slabs and how to transform them into simple, elegant forms. Participants will make a variety of slab-based pieces such as plates, platters, vessels, tiles and unique moulds.
On the second day, Stephen will reveal the secrets of clay slip: how to make it, colour it, and paint with it. Students will explore a variety of drawing and painting techniques using liquid clay slips, stains, metal oxides and raw glaze. All pieces will be fired and finished in a clear glaze by JamFactory's Ceramics Studio, to be collected 2-3 weeks after the workshop date.
This workshop is suitable for complete beginners. All tools and materials are supplied; you may wish to bring some reference images to work from if desired.
Stephen Bird
Bird trained at The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, Scotland, where he majored in painting. Now based in Sydney, he works with both paint and clay and has also undertaken a number of site-specific sculpture commissions. Bird’s work is exhibited both nationally and internationally including The 9th Gyeonggi Biennale, South Korea, 2017, More Love Hours, The Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne, 2015, Horizon – Landscapes, Ceramics and Print, The National Museum of Norway, Oslo, 2013 and Peripheral Visions: Contemporary Art from Australia, Garis+Hahn, New York, 2013. His works are held in the many public collections including the National Museum of Scotland, The National Gallery of Australia, the National Museums of Northern Ireland and The Art Gallery of South Australia. He lectures at the National Art School, Sydney.
All materials supplied.
Suitable for participants aged 18+
Location: JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Teaching Studio 2, Level 2, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Duration: 2 x 6 hour sessions
Time: 10am-4pm (with lunch break)
Date: Saturday + Sunday 14-15th June 2025
Tutor: Stephen Bird
General information on our short course requirements, facilities and refund policy can be found here