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From Nature to Studio & Touch to Clay

From Nature to Studio & Touch to Clay

€850.00Price
From Nature to Studio - From Touch to Clay
Exlporing Wild Clays Ceramics Workshop
with George Vavatsis
 
Saturday 13th to Saturday 20th June
 
In June 2026, Aegina Retreats invites ceramicist George Vavatsis to run a workshop in Aegina, using local clays. Although in his own personal work and research George uses stoneware, he also likes to explore the possibilities that local, Greek terracotta gives us. He has done such workshops throughout the country: in his native Thessaloniki; on the Cycladic island of Serifos; in Kalamata, in the Peloponnese and in Kavala, in northern Greece. This will be the first one in Aegina, in which marina will be assisiting him.
 
This ceramics workshop is all about working with what we have around us. A challenge that can bring limitations. Limitations that can bring surprising levels of creativity.
 
We will collect clay from nature. At the same time, we will look at the environment through the prism of a researcher – somewhat geologist, somewhat chemist, definitely observer with all our senses open. We will gather information and knowledge on how to identify and collect clay, on methods used to transform clay found in nature into a body suitable for the needs of ceramic creation.
 
The idea is to use only those resources found and available in the surrounding environment, and create the conditions that will allow us to complete our work, from wild clay foraging to final firing.
 
Through this process, you will learn:
● To recognize and then process clays found in nature.
● To transform the body into a clay suitable for the desired creative process.
● To create slips / glazes made from the materials collected.
● To complete the firing process for the ceramic pieces that we will create during the workshop.
 
Brief programme
 
Saturday, around 6pm: Welcome gathering & introductions.
Sunday: morning - excursion to 2-3 spots to pick up clay. Lunch by the sea. Back in the studio for first analysis of findings.
Monday-Thursday: work in the studio morning & afternoon. Lunch at the studio.
Thursday: load kiln in the morning. Lunch together. Afternoon programme to be discussed.
Friday morning: visit of Archaeological site & museum of Kolona. Lunch together and afternoon programme to be discussed.
Friday evening: open kiln (or Saturday morning before departure)
 
Days start around 9:30 am. Morning & afternoon sessions last about 4 hours each, with a one hour lunch break in between. Be prepared for long days with a full programme.
 
Included: workshop with materials and firing, transport to excursions, lunches, coffee, teas & snacks in the studio.
Not included: air & boat travel, accommodation, dinners.
 
To book as a group of up to 4 and stay at The Grapevine House, with breakfast included, contact us for. For more on the house, click here.
Quantity
Price Options
One-time purchase
€850.00
Nature to Studio
€425.00every month for 2 months

  • How can you pay for this course.

    There are 2 options to pay for this course:

    1. Pay the whole amount when you book the course. Payment is refundable if you cancel 30 days before the start of your course.

    2. Pay for your course 50% upon booking and the remainder 1 month later or upon your arrival, whichever is sooner. Advance payment is refundable if you cancel 30 days before the start of your course.

  • Who is the teacher?

    George Vavatsis

    George Vavatsis was born in 1974 in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he currently lives and works. He studied Visual & Live Art in Gloucestershire University, England from 1995 to 1998. In 2000, he returned to his hometown and established his own workshop, where he has been exploring as many aspects of the ceramics art as possible everu since. He has been mostly experimented on clay types, glaze formulas, natural sources and wheel throwing.

    He has been a member of the International Academy of Ceramics since 2021. His ceramic works has been shown in several solo and group exhibitions in Greece and abroad. He has participated in many ceramic symposiums around Europe and Asia. In 2012, he won the 1st prize in the 50th Panhellenic Ceramic Competition and in 2024 the 1st prize in the 1st Biennale of Contemporary Keramics, in Santorini, Greece. He teaches ceramics in various institutions and studios around Greece and regularly in his own studio too. In 2017, he created a project space named “6exi Contemporary Ceramics”, where national and international artists are invited to exhibit their work in Thessaloniki.

     

    "There are two reasons, why I became a potter and remained involved with ceramics. The wheel is the first and essential one on this experience. Inner balance, full emotion, self control and the absolute truth of technical skill are the elements of the wheel throwing practice. The eternal state of learning is the second one. Ceramics is a limitless art field, expanding our experiences and knowledge into enormous, unexpected depths. Clay demands an equal knowledge of handling and respect. It is an extraordinary experience to get feelings of such greatness out of such a simple actions."

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