Workshops for Clayfest 2024: Inside Earth confirmed!
The workshop options for Clayfest 2024: Inside Earth, our next in-person Clayfest in July 2024, are now confirmed! Explore here the transformational workshop offerings for you to choose from, and the biographies of the accomplished workshop leaders.
Standard Admission and Concession* tickets on sale NOW!
Look out for this symbol for the number of places each time the workshop is run:
*PLEASE NOTE: There are a limited number of Concession tickets and eligibility requires specific criteria to be met. Proof of eligibility is required. See ticket links for details.
*NEW* short workshop added: Intro to Earth - Thursday 18th 2pm-4pm
Introduction to earthen materials: Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll explore textures and other characteristics using all your senses and learn about field testing. Understand how clay-rich soil and other earthen materials transform when in contact with water. Gain an overview and understanding of various testing tools and methods. Through experiments with earth and fibres, discover how different mix consistencies apply to various building techniques.
Standard Admission: £30 + booking fee
Four-Day Workshops
Monday 15th to Thursday 18th
1. Four-Day Workshop: Modern clay plaster installation systems for professionals / self builders Selling Fast!
Tips and techniques for working plasterers who are looking to install clay plasters.
To come away confident at your ability to install clay plasters for a client on a project.
During the week you will be helping to build a 800 x 1200 sample panel (for each participant) and 2 wall installs of clay plaster, as you would on a job site.
The practical sessions will cover: ingredients, mixing, substrates, tools, basecoats, topcoats, finishing. There will also be a slide show and demonstrations - around 20% of the Workshop will cover theory, the majority of the time teaching will be through practical methods.
Standard Admission: £440 + booking fee
James Henderson
James Henderson is a professional builder and natural plasterer who lives in the USA. James' company NW Natural Homes designs and build custom Straw Bale, Hempcrete and Natural Homes. James is a partner in Goldhill Clay Plaster, a company producing pre-mixed clay plaster in the USA.
James is also the president of the Natural Plasterers Guild, an organization that runs professional trainings and gatherings for people working with Natural Plaster. In 2013 James published "Earth Render, the art of clay plaster, render and paints."
2. Four-Day Workshop: Earth block build; building an earth block building and insulating with light hemp earth.
How to build with structural earth blocks including the use of lintels and wall plates, how you might deal with large openings/point loads and an exploration of insulation possibilities including light hemp earth.
During the week you will be helping to build a: Small earth block structure
Practical Sessions will cover: Mortar production and use. Laying blocks. Installing lintels and wall plates. Producing and insulating with light hemp earth.
Theory / Demonstration sessions will cover: Possibilities for finishes, plinth design and construction, scaling up, and meeting current requirements for Part L.
Approximately 80% practical, 10% theory, 10% demonstration.
Standard Admission: £440 + booking fee
Will Stanwix
Will also designs, produces and supplies clay plasters and clay plaster ingredients and has begun adapting standard construction machinery for processing and applying site soils.
Will has been building with natural materials for the past 15 years, co-author of The Hempcrete Book Will is best known for building and renovating with hempcrete.
Lately, Will's passion for natural building has focussed on earth in construction and he was instrumental in the design and construction of the earth-domed children's nursery at HGMatthews in Bellingdon built with a combination of structural earth blocks and insulating hempcrete.
Will Stanwix 15th - 18th July SOLD OUT
One-Day Workshops
Tuesday 16th / Thursday 18th
1. One-Day Workshop x 2: Natural Paints and Pigment-Making
In this workshop participants can discover and experience how some natural, traditional and historical paints were (and are still) made. Plastics and VOCs free, these paints are made from simple and affordable materials that you can find easily, often in the kitchen or foraged locally
This is not only important knowledge for historic building conservation and sustainable construction, but it is adaptable to your own projects! Be it for conscious home decorating, colour addition to natural materials, Art practices from watercolours to stonework painting, choosing pigments knowingly for renovations or local-environment based work...
Day program:
Starting with a look at various minerals and how to find/choose them, we will use different extraction methods to get pure pigments from them, using local clay as well as earth and sands foraged all around the UK.
Participants will then explore various binders and paint recipes, getting an idea of what to mix pigments with to make a paint suitable for: canvas, walls, stonework, lime plaster and clay surfaces..
Recipes will include, at least: milk casein, egg tempera, wheat paste and/or "Falu Red" traditional Swedish wood paint, cherry tree gum watercolour... Maybe even beer glazes!
We'll see how to make your own casein from milk - in minutes
Make paintbrushes from natural materials, foraged and/or shop-bought (wood, feathers, animal hair, plants, cordage ...)
The end of the day will be chats and Q&A: archaeology or modern-day trade, we will try our best to answer any questions or point you in the right direction!
Feel free to bring samples of your own minerals too (clay, earth, sand, rock..) to get an opinion on pigment content/suitability making paint brushes from natural materials
80% practical // 20% theory
Everyone welcome: no prior knowledge is required! This workshop is very much a hands-on dive into a material rarely considered as part of earth building.
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How to extract pure pigments from minerals, ideally local.
Where / how to find these
What to mix them with to make various types of paints (mainly water-based artists' paints, such as egg tempera, casein, wheat paste... though it's applicable to any natural paint and interior wall painting)
Tests on watercolour paper (or other background depending on availability)
Paintbrush making: using natural, foraged or bought, materials to make different brushes
Time & set up allowing, we might try to roast pigments, make natural charcoal, etc
Make casein
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The archaeology & history of paints and mineral pigmentsTheory + good practice + regulations / warnings... all about foraging for colours
Making pigment, binders to mix them & brushes: demonstrations followed by hands-on practical sessions
Standard Admission: £110 + booking fee
Caroline Nicolay
Caroline's research was focusing on wall paintings and clay plasters in Iron Age buildings (= about 2,500 years ago), but evolved towards the architecture and natural building techniques revealed by archaeology, from earth and turf usage to chalk floors and clay hearths. She now focuses on bringing Natural Building professionals and Open Air Museums together to showcase sustainable construction in new places and show how ancient techniques can inspire a more sustainable future in the built environment & artistic practices.
Caroline Nicolay is an archaeologist and living historian specialising in bringing historic techniques and crafts to life, from paint and mineral pigment making in early history to open-fire cooking using clay pots.
Mainly working with museums and open air heritage sites, she has been running courses for a number of years, hoping to share widely some techniques that are both thousands of years old and very much used by 21st century artists and in traditional or natural construction.
Listen to Caroline talking with Jeffrey Hart on his podcast!
Two-Day Workshops
Monday 15th - Tuesday 16th / Wednesday 17th - Thursday 18th
1. Two-Day Workshop: Sculpting with Mud - an introduction to sculpting in 3D and bas-relief
The workshop aims to showcase the artistic potential of clay plaster by demonstrating its versatility and creative applications. Through hands-on exploration, participants will be invited to express their creativity using clay, fiber, and aggregate. By delving into the tactile qualities and fluidity of clay plaster, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of its workability and infinite possibilities. Furthermore, the workshop seeks to empower participants to make conscious material choices, promoting both personal well-being and the well-being of our planet.
Demonstrate artistic potential of clay: Showcase the versatility and artistic potential of clay plaster through creative approaches and a lens of natural building.
Inspire Creativity: Encourage participants to tap into their creativity using clay, fiber, and aggregate as mediums.
Explore Workability: Explore the malleability and expressive qualities of clay plaster, highlighting its infinite potential.
Empower Decision-Making: Empower participants to make informed choices about their artistic materials, promoting healthier and sustainable practices.
During the workshop, participants will have the option to work on: Individual/ small group 3D Sculptures: Participants can collaborate in small groups or choose to focus on creating their own small-scale 3D sculptures using clay plaster. This option allows for personal exploration and the development of individual artistic expressions. Bas-relief sculpture - Participants are welcome to practice relief sculpture on individual practice boards with support from Becky. This can be alongside or in place of working on a 3D sculpture piece. This is playtime! Participants can manage their time as they wish during the workshop and creative freedom and experimentation is encouraged. Becky will also have some reference images available for inspiration.
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Internal structure/ armature: Building the internal framework of the sculpture (I will make a start on these the day before!).
Mixing and Application: Hands-on experience with clay, fiber, and sand sculpture mix application techniques.
Refinement and Finishing: Techniques for refining and finishing the sculpture for a polished final result.
Introduction to Relief Sculpture: Participants will receive an overview of relief sculpture principles and techniques, including layering and texturing.
Tool Demonstrations: Becky will showcase her favorite tools for relief sculpture and provide guidance on their proper use.
Creating Neat Bevels: Practical demonstrations will illustrate how to achieve clean and precise edges in relief sculpture.
Building Up Layers: Techniques for adding depth and dimension to relief sculptures will be explored, allowing participants to develop intricate designs.
Refinement: Participants will learn methods for refining and finishing their relief sculptures to achieve polished results. -
Material components in sculpture mixes e.g. the roles of clay, fiber and sand.
Design, structure and surface preparation
Tools
Weather proofing - how to create sculptures that work with the elements.
Understanding Relief Sculpture: An overview of relief sculpture concepts, including types of relief and historical examples.
Visualizing Depth: We will discuss strategies for creating the illusion of depth in relief sculpture, emphasizing the importance of light and shadow.
Layering Techniques: Practical demonstrations will illustrate how to effectively build up layers in relief sculpture to create depth and dimension.
Expressive Texture: Participants will learn how to incorporate texture into their relief sculptures to add visual interest and tactile appeal.
Critique and Feedback: Opportunities will be provided for participants to receive constructive feedback on their work, fostering growth and improvement in their relief sculpture skills.
Standard Admission: £220 + booking fee
Becky Gilling
Last year she studied sculpture in clay with Athena Steen at the Canelo project in Arizona, and completed 2 courses in Japanese Plastering with Kyle Holzheuter. Her dynamic approach shines through in every project, whether it’s in crafting whimsical relief sculptures or creating Medicine Festival's colossal mud sculptures. Becky enjoys testing the limits of earthen materials, and believes that art and sculpture is the perfect place to experiment. Propelled by a desire to share her knowledge and make art accessible to all, Becky's workshops are lively, engaging, and free-flowing. Her journey into sustainable craftsmanship, including completing the King's Foundations Building Craft Programme, fuels her passion for bringing more beauty into the world whilst promoting traditional craft skills and natural, earthy materials.
Becky is a craftswoman, artist and plasterer, who thrives on infusing creativity into material conscious sculptures and spaces. With a decade of sculpting experience and roots in giant puppet and prop production, Becky has shifted her focus to predominantly natural materials and more permanent projects since 2019.
With her love of mud, she's traveled far and wide, leading workshops in Devon, Wales, and Washington as well as demonstrating relief sculpture in lime plaster at the Building Limes Forum in Lincoln and the Rocky Mountain Natural Building Conference in Colorado.
Becky describes herself as a ‘workshop junkie’, meaning that she believes that there is always more to learn.
2. Two-Day Workshop x 2: Clay Plastering for Beginners
Exploration of the qualities of potential ingredients for a plaster.
Choosing the right material for your purposes.
Mixing and application.
During this workshop you will work on a plastered wall, and sample boards
Practical Sessions will cover: application techniques.
Choosing ingredients, and mixing your own plaster.
Theory / Demonstration sessions will cover: materials and tool choice
Approximately 20% theory 80% practical
Course will be 6 hrs per day, 10am - 4pm.
Standard Admission: £220 + booking fee
Jamie Ingle
Jamie is a professional plasterer and owner of Earthtone, a sustainable construction company based in the northwest. Supplying and applying decorative plasters. Predominantly doing sustainable retrofit, some new builds, and heritage work.
Jamie's journey with Earth has taken him around Europe and America. Studying different materials, recipes and application techniques. He's also taught workshops in clay plastering and timber framing for students of Liverpool University and appeared on the BBC as the lead builder on a prize winning garden for Tatton flower show.
Jamie Ingle 17th - 18th Tickets SOLD OUT
3. Two-Day Workshop x 2: Earthen Floors - A practical guide to making your own Additional Places now SOLD OUT.
Practical sessions will cover Mixing, Installation, Oiling, Finishing.
Theory / Demonstration sessions will cover possible subfloor buildups, material discussions, lots of time for questions.
Approximately 40% Theory, 60% Practical
Mix design - How to design and test your mix from a range of clays and site soils. Learn the importance and roles of the 4 key ingredients (Clay aggregate, fibre & oil) and possible variations available. Option to create a custom mix for your home subsoil.
Installation - Learn how to mix the ingredients in a variety of ways suitable for home mix upto commercial installs. Practice different methods to achieve a flat and level floor. Try out different tools and see how they affect the finished surface.
Oiling - Explore different options for oiling, methods and tools
Finishing - How to finish an earthen floor. Buffing and waxing.
Standard Admission: £220 + booking fee
Jeffrey Hart
Jeffrey says, “I'm a natural builder based in the Exmoor. Keen to find the sweet spot between performance, energy efficiency, healthy materials and low embodied carbon.”
Jeffrey Hart 15th - 16th Tickets SOLD OUT
Jeffrey Hart 17th - 18th Tickets SOLD OUT
We are pleased to say that a 25% Discounted Conference Ticket price is available for those who have booked either a four-day Clayfest workshop or 2 x two-day Clayfest workshops - the full Clayfest Experience!
If you qualify for this fabulous 25% discount on Conference tickets, please contact emily@ebuki.co once you have bought your workshop tickets. Confirmation of workshop ticket purchases will be checked.