Wobage 2012

Last year I was lucky enough to go on 2 residential pottery workshops at Wobage Workshops near Ross on Wye in Herefordshire.  The workshop is based in a converted farm surrounded by gorgeous, peaceful countryside.  Superb homemade vegetarian food is provided as part of the course cost too, which made me feel very spoilt indeed!

Tea time at Wobage

The first course I went on was 'Throwing for Improvers' with the talented and ever patient Jeremy Steward who showed us how to improve our throwing skills with bowls, jugs and mugs.  We used stoneware clay and then slip decorated the pots before they were wood fired in Jeremy's kiln.  I love the effects of wood firing - sadly it isn't something I can do where I live at the moment.

 My woodfired stoneware bowls

The second course I went on was 'Throwing in Porcelain' with Patia Davis and Matthew Blakely as a guest potter.  Patia works in both earthenware as well as porcelain and the previous year I did a slip decorating course with her at Wobage as well which was brilliant. I love Patia's work and she is another excellent teacher and again extremely patient. Porcelain is a lot harder to throw with than stoneware or earthenware and I did find it more of a challenge! However, over the 5 days I think I did make progress - again I did some slip decorating before they were ash glazed and then fired in reduction kiln (again something I cannot do at home as I only have an electric kiln). 

My porcelain ash glazed and decorated with porcelain slip fired in a reduction kiln

 I thoroughly enjoyed myself on both courses - it is a different world where you have all the time to devote yourself to pottery.  I call it being in my 'pottery bubble' :-).  It is so peaceful (no phone signal!) and no traffic noise.  I met some lovely people on both courses with whom I still keep in contact with.  Needless to say I have booked for this year as well and shall be going on Patia's earthenware and slip decorating course in July 2013.  I can't wait !