The blog, with the latest updates of workshops past, present and future, is now located at Brenda's website, www.BrendaMcMahon.com. It's a brand new website, come by and visit and let me know what you think!
Our next workshop is scheduled for October 23 & 24th. If you'd like to get on our mailing list, please sign up now! I promise you, we won't bother you with anything but clay things and it's all confidential.
Tom's still doing his great vessels, platters & tiles, so if you're looking for him - check this out!
Also, if you haven't seen Tom's video - that's a must, it's 10 minutes of riveting clay work! He shows off his Large & Loose in this movie - look out Demi Moore, this is the real deal!
We hope to see you at our workshops one of these days. Please add the new blog to your list of favorites and visit often!
The count down is on... Our Spring 2010 Workshop is just 16 days away and though we have a full house, we still have room for more.
It's been a beautiful early Spring here in Amish Country...
We're excited about our May 22nd & 23rd workshop in Port Washington, Ohio. The grass is growing and the buds are popping... and our latest group is gearing up for the journey to the midwest and another exciting Large & Loose, Polished & Poetic workshop. . Tom and I have been traveling so much these last 5 months. We've met a ton of wonderful people, many of whom want to join us one day at the farm to get inspired.
If you're one who is thinking about it - maybe this month is the time for you. If you've already signed up, and you're making pots for the saggar firing... we're eager to meet you in person.
Call or email if you have any questions. We can both talk about what's coming up and what you can expect. The workshop runs from 9:30 - 5pm both days, lunch included and costs $295. Register Now.
Until then... we'll take lots of photos and post them when the workshop is done!
We hope to see you down the road.... (B & T hangin in San Antonio, TX)
Large & Loose, Polished & Poetic on the road...was a hit.
What a group...itself large...and full of magic and poetry! We thank you so much. And from all accounts, it seems you were pleased.
Saturday began with a quick look at our gallery exhibit (which runs through March 23rd) and a peek into what was yet to come.
Then we went right onto saggar philosophy,
saggar ideas, materials
and load, load, loadWe had great combinations of organics and pots, saggar sizes and enthusiasm.
From there we loaded the kilns - 3 of them, with about 23 saggars in all.
The kilns fired through the day.
The Afternoon was All About Tom's throwing. And throw he did. Tom was a whirling dervish of large platters, loose texture and hand built plates Saturday afternoon.
He was informational...
fun....
and full of great tips...
Day one ended quickly, or so it seemed, and day 2 brought another round of large & loose throwing, this time vessels and tom's stacking method....
heating the pots...
stretching the clay....
and working large.
AFTER LUNCH... we went to the kiln pad where our dozens of saggars awaited us.
Lids were lifted....
and the pots began to appear.
Some were mystical & dark....
Some were subtle...
Others were amazing...
And more were spectacular....
the participants were delighted....
I was too....
All in all, we had an incredibly diverse group of saggars fired....
and learned allot about heat, stacking, loading, soaking etc.
From the scuff of our boots.... to the palms of our centering hands...
Tom and I send a warm and grateful thank you to a great group of Florida potters
and to St. Pete Clay Studio for hosting us in 2010.
Thank you: Linda, Lee, Julie, Maggie, Diane, Mona, Sylvia, Wayne, Ron, Maggie, Joan, Victoria, Annette, Alan and Betty. You were a great group!
Thanks for your feedback...
As an educator, I needed to be around people who are truely "inspired",
real artists with a creative approach that's mature and exciting to learn from.
The presentations were excellent and the possibiltites endless. -Ron
Your easy manner and the many ways you showed your love of the work you do
and your joy in sharing your knowledge with the group made for a truly great weekend. - Betty
I was in the studio today throwing "big", not like Tom but big for me.
I had many admiring glances! - Sylvia
The weekend was more than I expected.
Again, thank you both for a fast paced and enjoyable weekend. - Mona
Thanks for the wonderful workshop, you guys were very inspirational and informative, it was wonderful to learn a new process and meet new people. - Linda
this was the most informative and fun workshop I've ever attended. Usually presenters seem to keep back a lot of their secrets -thank you for sharing all your toys with us - really appreciate it. - Diane
It's 2 days before our St. Petersburg Workshop...and there's still time to sign up!
We received 4 new signups today and I know many of you have been waiting and wondering. Go for it - we're going to cover a ton of information and have a blast!
In just 11 days our Large & Loose, Polished & Poetic workshop will take place at St. Petersburg Clay Company in Florida. We still have spaces available.
Tom is getting ready to wedge clay for his 20 lb platter demos and 75lb vessels throwing. He's also going to get you inspired to make sculptural, handbuilt plates.
I'm test firing the saggar kiln and making a bunch of minis for those of you who don't have too many pots for the saggar firing. Bring your own pots, but if you don't have many (or any) I'm making enough for all of you to have your own fired pots to bring home.
The workshop runs from 10am to 5pm saturday and sunday, February 27 & 28th. The cost is $250. Call St. Pete Clay to sign up... we still have space available. (727) 896-CLAY
Come learn the art of Saggar Firing and get great tips and techniques on how to throw larger plates and vessels and loosen up your throwing style.
Call or email us if you have any questions. We hope to see you next weekend! Brenda & Tom
There is a lot going at St. Petersburg Clay Company these days - including our Throwing LARGE and Saggar Firing workshop on February 27 & 28th. It's just 3 weeks away.
We have a good group already getting ready for the event. All participants will learn Tom's throwing large techniques, and how to make dynamic platters and vessels.
They'll then bring their own pots onto the kiln pad and we'll load several saggars into the kiln and kick off the saggar firing part of the workshop. This will cover everything you've ever wanted to know about saggar firing, so bring a pen, pad, pots and most of all, your enthusiasm!
This is our only workshop scheduled in florida in 2010. The next Large & Loose, Polished & Poetic workshop will be held in Port Washington, OH on May 22nd & 23rd.
Participants should call St. Pete Clay Company at 727-896-CLAY to sign up. The weekend is a great two-for-one with Tom's throwing skills and my saggar firing ticks of the trade.
Spaces are still available, so call to reserve your spot. The cost of the workshop for the weekend is $250. It runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, February 27 & 28th.
Don't forget to mark your calendar for your Opening Gallery Reception at the Tim Salen Gallery at St. Pete Clay. The reception will be held on February 19th from 7pm to 9pm. Please join us for one or both events!
Tom and I want to wish you all a warm and Happy New Year. We are currently in Florida for our winter art fair schedule. It's unusually cold down here - but not as bad as many of you are experiencing up north!
It's official, we are bringing Large & Loose, Polished & Poetic to St. Petersburg, Florida this February at the St. Petersburg Clay Company.
St. Pete Wood Train Kiln
St. Pete Clay Company is hosting our 2-day demonstration and firing intensive workshop at their wonderful facility on 22nd Street South in St. Peterburg. This renovated train station is amazing. If you've never visited, it's a must stop for all potters. New this year, the St. Petersburg Arts Center is moving into the train station... so you have St. Pete Clay Company, Highwater Clay distributors and The Arts Center all in one stop.
Tom's large platter
Brenda's saggar fired Armor Urn
Tom and I have been working at St. Pete Clay for several years each winter when we come down to Florida. We are thrilled to bring our popular workshop to this venue. The workshop is scheduled for February 27 & 28, 2010 from 10am to 5pm. Come down from up north and enjoy some sunshine... or travel over for this exciting weekend...
As usual, we will divide the days in 1/2. Tom begins the first day with throwing & altering large platters, anywhere from 12" to 36" in diameter. After lunch we go over saggar firing. I'll go over everything you need to know about saggar firing and we'll load YOUR POTS into the kilns. We'll fire the kilns throughout the day.
On Sunday, Tom opens with throwing large vessels. He regularly throws anywhere from 25 to 150 lbs of clay. If you're looking to get larger with your work, Tom will teach you techniques you can go home and employ! But don't be intimidated by what he throws. If you just work in the 5 to 10 range - he'll teach you how to jump up from there. This workshop is for potters of all skill levels. After lunch, we'll unload the saggar kilns, go over results, placement in the kiln, kiln building, surface treatment, form and anything else as it relates to saggar firing.
In the end you'll be full of info and energy to go home and move your work into new directions or deeper into the direction you're going. This is a great 2 for 1 workshop - and chock full of information.
The cost of the workshop is $250 for the weekend. Call or email St. Petersburg Clay Company to register (727) 896-CLAY. And of course, call or email me or Tom if you have any questions brenda - (518)692.7742 tom - (740)502-4374.
We hope to see you here in the Sunshine State - we're keeping our eyes on you! Buy a friend or loved one a workshop "gift" - bring a friend and get inspired - or treat yourself to a workshop that will energize you for months to come!
