Workshop: Hand Building Pottery Class – Hybrid sculptures inspired by John Hoyland

A composite image showing three works of ceramic sculpture by John Hoyland, all shown on a white background. The first sculpture (on the left of the image) is called The World. It is comprised of a black globe shape resting on a flared blue pedestal. A smaller yellow globe is attached to the upper left of the black globe, a black horn protrudes from the top, and a curved brown shape comes out of of the left side of the globe. Splashes of yellow, pink and black paint adorn the whole piece.

In the centre is Hoyland's work Thupelo Memory. A pink, yellow and blue painted triangle shape rests a top a pink, oval shaped base. A pink curved shape rests behind it, snaking up to the top of the triangle. Behind that is a large pink circle shape, with a line through it. All are decorated with splodges of red and burgundy paint.

On the right is John Hoyland's work The King. A large oval shape stands on the left side of the work, painted blue with a yellow star in the centre, then blue and yellow stripes along on the outer edge. A red and blue spotted snake shape adjoins it, with one side forming into a large triangle shape.

L-R: John Hoyland, The World, 1994; John Hoyland, Thupelo Memory, 1994; John Hoyland, The King, 1994 © The John Hoyland Estate

Join local ceramicist Andrew Walker to make your own sculpture inspired by Hoyland’s sculptural works in this comprehensive full-day workshop.

In this pottery class you'll be guided through the process of forming clay to hand build a sculpture inspired by a walk-round of the John Hoyland These Mad Hybrids and Strange Presence exhibitions. Once getting to grips with the clay, the shape and form is up to you to design.

The session will start with some time spent in the exhibitions taking notes, sketches or photos to find your sources of inspiration, followed by exploring various hand building techniques that will allow you to create your own 'mad hybrid' sculpture. There will be a break for lunch (lunch is not provided), and the afternoon will be your time to finalise the design and to decorate your sculpture using bright coloured slips.

The final pieces will be finished in a transparent gloss glaze and fired in a kiln off-site, ready to collect from the Millennium Gallery approximately three weeks later.

Andrew Walker is an experienced ceramic artist, creating hand built contemporary pottery. His work consists of hand built ceramic stoneware vessels, predominately starting out as rolled slabs of specialist clay. Andrew has his own studio in Works 57 Sheffield where he teaches small groups various hand building techniques.