Ceramics meets plants and painting

Jingshan Ceramics Experience Class

Jingshan’s pottery experience course is different from general pottery experience courses. The course will go deep into nature to collect plants and clay, allowing participants to get in touch with the source of pottery materials and integrate plant painting into the pottery making process.

Course Details:

• Plant collection: Participants will go to nearby hills and fields to collect their favorite plants. The studio is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, and the surrounding plants are lush during the rainy season. You can collect your favorite plants for pottery printing and painting.

• Clay Collection: Instead of using regular clay, participants will collect local clay to use in making pottery. This process increases the emotional connection and helps participants understand the relationship between soil and pottery.

Contents of Ceramics and Color Experience Course:

• Handmade Pottery: Learn the basic techniques of hand-made pottery.
• Outdoor Materials Collection: Gather soil materials and learn basic techniques for mixing and using cosmetic clay to decorate and color pottery.
• Underglaze painted pottery: Learn how to paint underglaze pottery.
• Production Two pieces of pottery (Handmade and painted).

Target audience:
Adults or children over 4 years old.

Course duration: 2.5 hours (9:30-12:00, 13:30-16:00)

environment:
The studio is located in a small courtyard at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. There are dense loquat trees in the yard that provide shade. Free tea and fruit snacks are also provided in the yard.

Course Fees:

• A/ Single: ¥298 (2 pieces of pottery)
• B/ Parents and children: ¥298 + ¥100 (2 pieces of pottery)
• C/ Parent-child self-production: ¥498 (4 pieces of ceramic works)

Jason's recommendation:

"Jingshan is Guo Ying's online name and also the name of her ceramics studio. Originally this was an article about her ceramics experience, but I felt it was very special, as it contained more of her memories of Dali and her sincere understanding of the origins of ceramics, so I decided to share it separately. She was worried that the text was not perfect and asked me if it needed to be revised. I said, 'No, it's fine this way.' The best writing is to sincerely express your inner feelings rather than focusing on technical writing skills."

“I believe Jingshan can provide a great pottery experience because in addition to teaching pottery techniques, she conveys her understanding of plants, soil, and painting, which are incorporated into the pottery that participants can take home. When we decided to do the pottery experience, she said, ‘I want this to be more than just teaching kids; I want adults to feel the beauty and joy of pottery, too.’”

“Her studio is in a beautiful, spacious courtyard at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. There is a clear stream nearby, and you need to cross it and pass the waterfall to reach the studio. The pottery-making process involves collecting plants and clay from the valley, which will be used in the final pottery production. It will be a very special and unforgettable experience.”

— Jason

Be with the things you love <br>Jingshan

Many years ago, I remember that I first came to Dali in 2009. At that time, the shops on Renmin Road were sparse and simple. I walked along the way, passing by rental shops, noodle shops, and shoe repair shops with sewing machines. The shop owners didn't seem to care whether there were customers outside the shop, but just lived a simple and leisurely life.

At an intersection, I saw a canvas sign that read "Tushan Culture". Through the dark wooden windows, the lights inside were dim. Walking in, a row of small wooden stools were placed on a low wooden table. A customer was kneading clay. The owner was wearing simple cloth clothes and cloth pants, chatting casually with the person next to him. I sat down and kneaded the clay slowly. I kneaded a pony without any skill. The shape was rough, hard and plain, but I liked it very much. The owner said to leave it in the store and fire it before sending it to me, but for some reason, I was very attached to this unfired clay, so I wrapped it up and took it back home more than 3,000 kilometers away.

This pony has never been fired in a 1200 degree kiln, but I love it. I've moved a lot over the years, and a lot of things are no longer with me. But this little, solid piece of clay is still with me. The pony has had chips and scratches on its edges over the years because it hasn't been fired. Looking at it, it feels like it has also been recording the passage of time and sharing life's experiences with its owner. It's a recorder of time. Looking back now, it's really magical.

As I gradually came into contact with ceramics, I found that I really liked combining painting, which conveys life stories, with ceramics. I don't necessarily know a lot about ceramics, but through ceramics, I found a way to express and record life. Although I don't have a deep foundation in traditional ceramics, I have become more proficient through diligent practice. On the other hand, it is also a pleasure to explore new methods and expressions with fewer restrictions. Ceramics is infinite, and this is its charm. For every temporary owner (or creator) of a piece of work, there are always some shared moments and memories with ceramics. The cheerful colors or soft and rustic touch of the shape will evoke memories of certain moments.

I want to treat pottery as a camera, to be a craftsman who records life with heart. It is also a silent companion that accompanies you throughout your life.

Finally, I hope everyone can find the time they are willing to invest in their ordinary life.

Learning scenario:

Study Space and Ceramics and Painting

Students collecting clay