Exploring Expression, Form & Fire through Oribe-Inspired Making

Duration: 2 days 

Location: Canberra Potters
Instructor: Aaron Scythe

This course is suited for experienced ceramicists and potters who want to deepen their understanding of expressive form-making. If unsure of your suitability for this course contact [email protected] 

Course Overview

Discover the expressive and intuitive approach of Oribe-style ceramics in this two-day immersive course with New Zealand-based potter Aaron Scythe. Rooted in the philosophy of 'anti-technique', Oribe-style making embraces imperfection, spontaneity, and the natural movement of clay.

Over the two-day course, participants will explore coil building, wheel throwing, and hump throwing, creating pieces suited for yakishime (unglazed wood firing) with the potential for Shinoware glazing. There may be the potential to have your piece fired in a wood firing at Strathnairn Arts Centre for an additional cost. More details during the course. Gas firing is included.

What You Will Learn

✔ Oribe-style philosophy – working expressively and embracing imperfection
✔ Building and throwing techniques – coils, hump throwing, and sectional forms
✔ Creating functional and sculptural works – vases, sakeware, bottles, and tea bowls
✔ Surface treatments – slip decoration, iron underglazes, and texturing for wood firing
✔ Wood and gas firing processes – preparing, stacking, and firing in a traditional anagama-style kiln. Using the gas kiln for great effects
✔ Post-firing analysis – understanding flame paths, ash effects, and firing outcomes

Participants are encouraged to bring:

• • their toolkit
  • an apron
  • one old towel for cleaning up
  • A large sponge or microfibre cloth for cleaning up
  • an art journal or their potters journal
  • inspiration - research, images and objects

Learn more about Aaron

Instagram - @godinc 

Website - https://www.ascythe.com/ceramics 

What I make I feel comes from me ………
When you look around at everything ………
There is beautiful design everywhere ………
Yet it is made in a factory, often without thoughts of ………
Nothing left of the human soul ……..
Completely dehumanised soulless beauty……
Like talking to a wall waiting for an answer…..nothing
Yes what I make I feel comes from me …………
Designed yet often not thought out
Fingerprints, imperfect forms, distortion, soul
A human expression ……………