Biomorphic Sculptural Forms with CJ Jilek

$700 (2 days)
6 & 7 June
10am - 4pm

(Lunch both days and Friday PM artist talk are included in the workshop)

This workshop will explore how CJ creates botanically inspired biomorphic forms.  She will demonstrate her use of press moulds in order to create the structure of the forms, how she integrates texture into the pieces as well as discussing the engineering involved to get the pieces through the kiln.  

This is a two-day hands-on workshop providing demonstrations and hands-on making. Students will get to try their hand at sculpting forms utilising pinching, texture and carving.  Students will have more time to complete a full form and address the engineering of the forms. This workshop could cover the following topics:

• Where we find inspiration

• How to use the pinch process

• Foundational forms vs Central forms

• Construction & Engineering of forms

• Surface Development with texture and carving 

• Color application - discussion

• Drying & Firing methods - discussion

• Post firing embellishments & assembly - discussion  

• What's included

  • 1 bag of clay

  • Underglazes for decoration purposes

  • The Artist talk on Friday PM is included in your ticket price.

  • If you have a particular clay or underglaze you would like to use please bring this to the workshop

• What to bring

  Recommended Workshop Materials List for Participants from CJ:

  Below are a list of materials that you could bring to the workshop. Please don’t feel that you have to buy the exact tool mentioned. These are just suggestions and similar tools will be fine. We can also share items so that people get to try new tools. Some of these item numbers are items from the US and I’m sure you have comparable items that will be great.

  • Brushes
    - Inexpensive flat brushes - in various sizes 4, 6, 12 these will be used for sculpting. Not a job for your favorite brush!
    - Better brushes - for surface design; flat, round, liner your favorites.

  • Old cotton tea towel (will get dirty)

  • Old cotton pillowcase or small tablecloth or remnant cloth (will get dirty)

  • Your favorite texture tool

  • Organic items to create texture – peach pits, eucalypt pods, seashells, etc.

  • Sharp scoring tools

  • Rubber tip tool such as Kemper WOT Wipe out tool.

  • Mudtool – Shredder or just the blades for a Surform from the hardware store

  • Carving tools such as small wire loop tools and/or the Kemper Clean up Tool

  • Pencil and Sharpie marker

  • Sketchbook or notebook to take notes

  We have some tools to share at Clayschool as well so if you’re unable to find or have this list there will be access to Clayschool tools

• Details

  • Workshop runs 10am - 4pm both days and is a combination of demonstration and hands-on making.

  • Lunch and tea & coffee are included (Please let us know via email if you have any dietary requirements)

ARTIST BIO

Cj Jilek grew up outside of the Chicago area and found she had a few great loves: ceramics, travel, and the natural world. Cj earned her undergraduate degree in ceramics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1995. Afterwards she spent her time traveling and developing her ceramics. Cj moved to Northern California to wood fire where she created vessel forms, exploring the wood fire surface in conjunction with textures representative of the natural world.

Cj continued her travels through California and relocated to Santa Barbara where she taught ceramics for ten years with children and adults. Cj loves teaching ceramics for the opportunity it allows for a tactile experience as well as conceptual design. Cj’s background with ceramics as an art therapy medium allows her a perspective for teaching clay processes which benefits all her students.

While living in Southern California she traveled the western United States. Exploring from the sea to the deserts and all the mountains and flora between. Looking for a new direction in her art, Cj took a short-term residency at the Mendocino Arts Center, leading to her renewed interest in graduate studies. Utah State University provided her with the opportunity to study and travel; studying abroad in Australia and South Korea. She completed her MFA degree in 2010, after which Cj traveled to Poland to work in the traditional ceramic factories of Boleslawiec. Upon her return she has continued teaching for her community in the mountains of Colorado. After Cj’s love affair with snow ended she relocated to North Fremantle, Western Australia as the program coordinator for The Clay House a community ceramics studio. Teaching workshops across Australia, Cj has managed to create a nomadic lifestyle in her ceramics career and is always looking for her next workshop opportunity. Upon her return to the US she has joined the team at AMOCA Ceramics Studio.

Being inspired by her travels, Cj is creating porcelain biomorphic forms fired in oxidation with mixed media elements. Through her work she questions ideas of beauty, attraction, eroticism, adaptation and desire.