Richard Notkin Workshop: Sculptural Teapots / Narrative Teapots

This intensive weekend workshop will focus on utilizing the teapot format to create sculptural forms and narrative imagery. Richard Notkin is recognized as a master of this ouvre in clay, as exemplified by the creation of over 300 unique pieces in his “Yixing Series” of Chinese-inspired teapots. Notkin will lead students on an intensive search for the “personal teapot”. Each student will be encouraged to explore his or her deep personal passions to design two, three or more teapots utilizing thumbnail sketches and clay maquettes. Various modeling, small-scale carving and surface texturing techniques will be demonstrated by Notkin, and there will be illustrated lectures each day — one on historical Yixing teapots and techniques, the other on Richard’s development of a teapot series, from the planning/drawing stages, through prototype model fabrication, mold-making, casting/assembling/altering a finished teapot, and firing techniques. For those who wish to stay beyond 5:00 PM on Saturday, Richard will conduct a contemporary style Chinese tea tasting, utilizing Yixing teapots and several premium teas from Taiwan, followed by an informal no-host dinner at a local restaurant.