Guy Van Leemput (1967, Herentals, Belgium) studied mathematics and ceramics. He has been invited several times for an artist-in-residence at the Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China. His work has been selected for competitions and group exhibitions in his own country and in other European countries, as well as in Japan, China and Australia. At the MINO International Ceramics Competition 2014, his work “Big Anas” won the Bronze Award, it is now in the collection of the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, Japan. Guy was chosen as one of the Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artists 2020. In 2021 he was ‘recommended’ by the Michelangelo Foundation as ‘Master Artisan’. In 2022 he was a key speaker at ‘The Ceramics Congress, Australia’. More info on www.guyvanleemput.be .
Workshop description:
This 3 days workshop is an introduction to making wafer-thin bowls with flax reinforced porcelain on an inflated balloon, as well as discovering how to make a shrinking support on which the wafer-thin bowl can be hung in the kiln. You will start by getting to know the material and learning how to make very thin pieces. Guy Van Leemput will demonstrate many techniques for applying patterns with the opportunity to practice yourself. After this first ‘maiden-bowl’ is finished you will be challenged to push your limits further. New 'advanced' techniques will be shown, for which we will use a mini clay press. Each participant will make 3 bowls with one or more of the demonstrated techniques. We will also make the swinging supports that will carry the piece in the kiln. There will be time to explore techniques that suit you or that can be adapted to your needs.
Only works from the first day will be fired during the workshop.
Workshop program:
1st day (Friday, 20th March 2026)
10:00-17:00 with half an hour break
Short technical presentation of my technique: how to build a porcelain bowl as thin as paper on a balloon and how to fire it upside down in the kiln. Then we learn to know the material flax-paper-porcelain and how to work with it on a balloon, demonstration of three different techniques how to apply pattens, time to practice, in the afternoon each participant builds a first small and simple bowl, personal guidance, we learn about the supporting technique for the firing and we start to make the cylinders (in stoneware clay) and the plates (with the pouring porcelain) that we need for these supports. We also learn how to release the bowl from the balloon very gently.
2nd day (Saturday, 21st March 2026)
10:00-17:00 with half an hour break
Demonstration of advanced techniques of applying patterns, for this we use the small clay extruder, each participant can practice while building a second bowl, personal guidance.
Firing of works made during the workshops on the first day.
3rd day (Sunday, 22nd March 2026)
We give an introduction into how to design a pattern and how to divide the space on the balloon (with some simple maths). Each participant makes a bowl which is more complicated.
Kiln opening.
Participants are provided with all materials, tools and vegetarian meals every day of the workshop.
The workshop will take place in the Ogród Sztuk ceramics studio, ul. Krasińskiego 8, local 200, staircase VI, 01-601 Warszawa.
Language of the workshop: English, but Polish translation will be made if necessary.
