Teaching pottery and wood turning, and creating unique ceramic, wood turned and silk gifts & art
Proud sponsors of the “Once Upon A Norfolk” Facebook group
SCULPTURE DAY
with
Christine Pike & Louise Taggart
1-day beginner's/intermediate sculpture experience for 1 or 2 people
This is a full-day session where you will benefit from the expertise of not one, but two tutors!
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Louise (Blended Monkey) and Christine (The Travelling Crow) are both professional ceramicists with different but complimentary skills. They have come together to offer a unique workshop for you to make a beautiful sculpture on a decorative base.
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Choose from:
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A single, or pair of, folk art-style birds (suitable for beginners)
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A pair of lovebirds (suitable for beginners and intermediate)
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A hare in a meadow (suitable for intermediate and advanced)
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Louise and Christine are able to be flexible and accommodate your own ideas and theme, including lettering for a special occasion.
This is being offered as a one-to-one or couples workshop only, so you will get plenty of attention and guidance, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
A delicious light lunch and refreshments are included. Lunch will be served in the spacious kitchen or, if weather permits, outside in the pretty gardens.
The workshops will be hosted here in the beautiful rural Blended Monkey ceramics studio on the edge of the Norfolk Fens where you will be surrounded by inspiring nature. You can even stay in a luxury log cabin on site (subject to availability) for the ultimate in creative getaways!
This is an intensive workshop which will introduce you to a wide range of hand-building and sculpting skills. It is suitable for all levels of experience, from novice to experienced, and you will be supported to make your very own work of art to display in your home or give as a very special gift.
Towards the end of the day, Louise will guide you through the process of decorating your piece with underglazes and you will be able to select from a suggested palette of colours.
Your sculpture will be left to dry in Louise’s studio and she will fire it for you. You will be notified when your piece is ready to collect.
Christine Pike
Biography
Christine Pike has been an arts and crafts professional for more than 30 years.
Originally starting her career as a soft sculpture artist she discovered clay in 2010 and never looked back!
Christine is a figurative sculptor and takes her inspiration from folklore and the natural world.
Since 2021 she has been working almost exclusively with paperclay and mixed media.
In 2018 Christine was commissioned to make a series of decorative bas relief panels for The Whalebone Inn in Downham Market, titled “Field and Fen”. Her work can be found in galleries and private collections across the UK.
Christine has worked as a gallery co-ordinator and project manager for arts charities in East Anglia and holds an MA in Curation from Norwich University of the Arts. She has also been a freelance journalist and a columnist for several hobby crafts publications in the UK and USA.
Currently, Christine resides in West Norfolk and divides her time between exhibiting, teaching, and freelance curating.
Louise Taggart
Biography
Louise is a ceramicist & artist who studied Art & Design at the Falmouth School of Art in 1989, and has been interested in various art forms, design and applied arts all her life.
She moved to Germany when she was 20 years old, wrote and recorded her own music, opened up a shop in Munich (where she also sold her silk art), dipped in and out of ceramics, became a freelance translator and had her daughter … she then returned to the UK when her daughter was 1 year old, and although she continued to translate from her office at home, was able to finally establish her ceramics studio.
Louise met her husband, Simon (woodturner/green woodworker and the other half of Blended Monkey), in 2005.
The couple enjoy the challenge and the fun of combining their artistic disciplines. Louise's work is a nod to her love of the sea (both in Cornwall & Norfolk) and the Fenland environment. Louise is a member of Greyfriars Art Space.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT A GLANCE
1. All tools and materials are included. We have a selection of old shirts available, but the student may wish to bring their own smock/shirt/apron. It’s important that the student wears comfortable shoes and clothing.
2. Rings and bracelets will need to be removed during the workshop (they mark the clay, and you don’t want the clay ruining your jewellery either) – I can provide a pot to put them in if required.
3. Refreshments (tea/coffee/soft drinks) are available for all workshops, and a light, rustic farmhouse-style lunch will be provided.
4. The tuition is either for one or a maximum of two people; this ensures that the student gets the maximum benefit from the day with no distractions.
5. The age limit is 16+, unless accompanied by an adult.
6. We are insured (IWW/5102205).
7. The student will be provided with a certificate of completion.
8. We can advise of local accommodation for those wishing to stay overnight in the area or details can be provided for our Crafter's Retreat luxury cabin set in its own 1/4-acre gardens (www.craftersretreat.co.uk)
BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS, CANCELLATION POLICY & REFUNDS
The workshop booking is valid for 1 year from the booking date – this simply means that the setting of the date for the workshop must be arranged within the validity period, however the workshop date could be outside of this validity period.
The purchaser of the workshop may cancel the workshop up to 2 weeks before the workshop date with a full refund.
Failure to attend the workshop on the day without sufficient notice will result in the workshop being cancelled and no refund will be issued.
If the participant of the workshop is unable to attend their workshop for good reason, a new workshop date must be set within 3 months of the cancellation of the original workshop booking – even if the agreed new date lies outside of the 3-month period. Failure to rebook within that period will result in the cancellation of the booking with no refund. If the participant does not attend the second amended date, the booking will be considered cancelled with no refund.
If we need to cancel a workshop at short notice for reasons beyond our control, such as illness or mechanical breakdowns, the first option is to rearrange a mutually convenient date or receive a refund. In the event of cancellation for any reason, we are unable to reimburse travel, accommodation or any other expenses that you may incur in relation to the cancelled course.
