Ruthanne Tudball
Internationally renowned ceramicist
Soda-glazed ceramics
Millstone Pottery has invited Ruthanne Tudball to present a 3-day workshop at our studio in
McGregor in April. The workshop will include slide presentations, throwing demonstrations, kiln
packing and soda glaze firing. Whilst in the country, Ruthanne will also give day-long workshops in
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Gauteng.
Ruthanne is an expert in the art of soda glazing, and has published a highly acclaimed book on the
subject “Soda Glazing” published by A&C Black.
Ruthanne’s ceramics are distinct in several respects. Foremost is the method she uses to create her
work. “All of my work is thrown and manipulated while wet on the wheel. In an attempt to capture
the softness in the finished piece, I do very little turning, and when the turning is done, it mainly
happens at the soft stage. After firing and transforming the clay to stone, that softness can still be
seen.” Her work is very organic and imprecise. She draws her inspiration from the natural world
around her and the energy in the evolving landscape.
Ruthanne’s second unique approach is in her firing technique. She uses a combination of wood and
gas – uses no glazes but instead slips and the heated ash to transform her work. The careful stacking
of the kiln encourages the flow of the flame and vapour through the chamber and around the pots.
“Sodium vapour glazing emphasises the marks and rhythms of making, picks out every line. Spouts
and lips for pouring, handles to invite lifting and balance, feet for stability and elegance – these are
some aspects of looking at function and sharing with others which hold my attention when making
pots. My inspiration comes mainly from the natural world around me and the energy in the evolving
landscape, celebrating the rhythms and creative forces of the earth and the human body.”
Come and learn her techniques... see Ruthanne demonstrate throwing, manipulating and assembling
pieces while fresh on the wheel. She will also share a slide presentation of her techniques for
creating slip-decorated stoneware vapour fired in a wood/gas kiln. To find out more about
Ruthanne, visit her website: www.ruthannetudball.com.
Take Hennie Meyer’s advice: “Everyone working with clay should attend this workshop, whether
they throw or not. Ruthanne works with clay in a magical way, really understanding and working
with the properties of soft clay. I think this is the workshop that people will refer to as the one they
wish they had attended."
The 3-day workshop will be held at Millstone Pottery in McGregor, from 26 to 28 April 2013 and will
cost R3 000, including meals. You will have an opportunity to put pots into a wood-fired soda kiln
during the workshop.
The 1-day workshops, at a cost of R450 per person, will be held at:
 Art in the Forest, Cape Town on 23 April
 NMMU, Port Elizabeth on 3 May
 The Pottery Studio, Gauteng on 7 May
To book, or for more information, please contact:
McGregor: Nina Shand or Paul de Jongh, 023 625 1599, 072 544 2145, info@millstonepottery.co.za
Cape Town: Bianca, Almarie or Christine, 021 794 0291, info@artintheforest.com
Port Elizabeth: Lisa Walker, 082 516 9220, ceramics.easterncape@gmail.com
Gauteng: Colleen Lemkuhl, 011 463 7262 or 073 481 0889, colleen@potterystudio.co.za