Elaine Coleman Carving

Hands-on Workshop Session


Noted clay artist Elaine Coleman will present a hands-on workshop demonstrating her carving and ceramic decorating techniques Friday at 1:00 PM.

Tom and Elaine live and work in the deserts of Nevada. With professional group and solo presentations too numerous to mention, their impact on the ceramic arts has been significant. They have had many articles appear in books, magazines, and other publications. Elaine’s carving techniques and use of celadon glazes to enhance her work seems to bring each piece to life when finished.

Elaine will be conducting a hands-on workshop on her carving techniques Friday of the conference. If you wish to participate bring leather-hard work on which to carve.


One needs carving tools as well as some leather-hard (or dryer, see below) clay pieces on which to practice. For those who cannot bring these items but wish to participate, Kiln Walk will provide a limited number of clay tiles and tools to use. Bring tools if you can, but if you can't, we will do our best to try to have materials for use. Elaine uses mini-ribbon tools for carving so bring some if you have them.

The Kemper carving tools Elaine recommends are Kemper MR1-X and MR2-X mini ribbon tools. (see below)
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The following questions have answers provided by Elaine:

-    How dry should the clay be before carving?
     "Leather hard"
-   How deep should one carve?
      "Have to play around with that; depends on the dryness
        of the clay and which clay one uses"
-   Which carving tools work best?
     "I use Kemper wire tools, pyramid shaped ribbon tools."
-   After carving, what is the best surface cleaning
        method before glazing?
     "I use a sponge"


Because the hardness of the clay is very important when carving and because the carving workshop will be Friday, It is suggested a workshop participant bring one's clay pieces in a not-too-dry form and Elaine shall be asked to advise on the need to dry further. GCCC will provide a "damp box" in which one can store the piece once the right hardness is achieved.





The 2016 Gulf Coast Clay Conference is organized and sponsored by

                                    
                  PSC                                 Santa Rosa Arts             GC Kiln Walk