Tony Ferguson Current Works Available

Potter & Sculptor

Resume Current Work in Progress Classes Workshops Available An Interview

Workshops Schedule for 2005--email or call to book workshops

February 26, Ernest Miller Studio, contact fergyart@yahoo.com for information.

March 10,11, Lake Superior College, contact fergyart@yahoo.com for information.

Slide/Digital Presentations

1. Tony Ferguson: New Anagama Works

This presentation will be on new work produced in the last 1-3 years of wood firing in Tony Ferguson’s anagama. New work is comprised of functional vessels and metaphorical sculptural forms. The different way glazes, air born ash, placement of work in kiln, and how hydro-reduction techniques affect the surfaces of these forms will be included in the presentation. Clay body types, percentage of feldspar (Cornwall, potash, Custer) and how they affect ash placement and buildup on work, atmospheric glazes, residual salt fuming on shinos, temmoku, oribe glazes and others will also be addressed simultaneously with the presentation of the works. Requires digital projector system, TV, or slide projector.

2. Websites for Artists

This presentation will review multiple successful artist's websites, address what makes these sites successful, examine good and bad design issues and why they do or don't visually or practically work for the average user. The presentation will also address developing and personalizing your own website, consistency, how to make a site that is easily navigable, how to make changes and maintain your website. The instructor will also discuss the technical aspects of working with your ISP (Internet Service Provider), finding a hosting company that can accommodate your needs, buying a domain name and other related subject matter important to artists who want to learn to create their own website and run their own show. Requires digital projector system, TV, or slide projector.

3. Building a Back Yard Raku Kiln

Wouldn’t it be nice to learn how to build your own raku kiln that you can fire in your backyard without disturbing your neighbors? This presentation will detail step by step the building of two different types of raku kilns utilizing the exoskeleton of an outdoor fireplace and garbage can. Issues related to setting work, and firing techniques including pre and post reduction effects in raku will be covered. This presentation will also cover the use of current industrial ceramic materials to obtain the most efficient means to fire raku for the hobbyist or professional clay artist resulting in kilns that can be rolled into a shelter or covered if left outside after the firing in about 30 minutes or less. Current kilns built by the instructor have over 130 firings on them. Requires digital projector system, TV, or slide projector.

4. Photography for Artists see example:

This digital image/slide presentation teaches viewers how to shoot 3D Art including: how to build a continuous light box, what kind of lights to use, how to set up and organize the professional copy stand, how to obtain diffused, dramatic lighting and gradation from fore to background using a variety of materials including formica, photo paper, masonite, etc. for a total cost of under $500. This workshop/presentation also teaches you how to professionally shoot slide or digital images of your artwork for print, slides, or website and will address file formats, uploading images, cropping, color adjustment, etc. Various images will be looked at demonstrating various lighting set ups, including trouble shooting, photo manipulation do’s and don’ts, color management, etc. The instructor will address detailed specifics on how to use automatic, program, and manual settings to obtain optimum results. A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Requires digital projector system, TV, or slide projector.

Hands On or Demonstration Workshops

1. Document Your Work--A Photography Workshop

In this “do it yourself” workshop, participants will leave with the ability to document work with either digital or film based cameras. This workshop will emphasize the digital media and cover the techniques necessary for creating prints, slides, and digital images for such applications as juried exhibitions, art fairs, documentation, grant applications, catalogues and the web.
We will build/setup an overhead continuous light box, side diffusion light, and cover the effective use of reflectors, types of lighting, and how to effectively setup and use a copy stand. I will provide materials that cover in detail how to build/setup a professional copy stand (table, background, overhead light box, side light, and reflector) for costs under $500. I will also discuss some of the commercial products available.
Participants are welcome to bring one to three art works (less than 24” in height in either direction) and will have an opportunity to have work photographed. Requires materials to build a copy stand and light box or access to an existing setup where artwork can be photographed.

2. Web site building for Artists--How to build your own professional website using Microsoft FrontPage and other web design software. This workshop will review multiple successful artist's websites, address what makes these sites successful, examine good and bad design issues and why they don't visually or practically work for the average user. The workshop will also address personalizing your own website, consistency, how to make a site that is easily navigable, how to make changes and maintain your website. The instructor will also discuss the technical aspects of working with your ISP (Internet Service Provider), finding a hosting company that can accommodate your needs, buying a domain name and other related subject matter important to artists who want to run their own show. Requires digital projector system, TV and or computer lab.

Hands on Kiln Building Workshops

1. Building the Dragon Kiln--The personal wood fired Anagama that you can fire by yourself or with a partner. This workshop provides hands on instruction in the complete building, philosophy, and practical application of an anagama for functional and sculpture work within a 24 to 30 hours firing cycle with a 11 foot long by 4' x 4' anagama kiln. Firing, hydro-reduction, soaking and other such techniques will be addressed in the workshop and through the firing of the kiln. With a crew and materials on site, this kiln can be built in 2 to 3 days or less. For an example of this kiln, look at my section "wood kiln" above. Requires site, materials, etc.

2. Building your own Raku Kiln--How to build your own raku kiln that you can fire in your backyard without disturbing your neighbors. This workshop utilizes current ceramic industrial materials to obtain the most efficient and practical means to fire raku for the hobbyist or professional clay artist. In this workshop you will build with the instructor (or your very own) a portable raku kiln that can be fired by yourself because of the unique design and modularity of the kiln. Current kilns built by the instructor have over 130 firings on them. Kilns can be rolled into a shelter or covered if left outside after the firing in about 30 minutes or less. Requires site, materials, etc.

Hands on Hands off Example Clay Workshops

(I am flexible and can adapt to your needs)

1. Anagama Wood Firing Workshop (typically Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

(Wood may be cut and stacked prior)

Day 1 bring bone dry or bisque to kiln, Glaze & Load, Candle

Day 2 start firing in morning/cut & stack wood

Day 3 fire off kiln in afternoon or evening

Day 4, 5,6 cool

Day 7, unload

2. 10 day Workshop in Osceola, WI -Friday thru 2nd Sunday

Clay & Anagama Wood Firing Workshop (typically Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Day 1 Throw and sculpt on site, camp on land or local hotel

Day 2 Throw and sculpt on site

Day 3 Throw and sculpt on site--all trimming completed by evening

Day 4 Cut & Stack Wood/Prep Kiln/Start Glazing (leather or bone dry)

Day 5 Finish Glazing, load kiln, dry out kiln & candle

Day 6 Fire

Day 7 Fire off afternoon

Day 8, 9, Kiln cooling

Day 10 Unload kiln

3. One Day Demonstration Workshop

Saturday

9:00 - 12:00 Throw & alter on Potters wheel works in clay

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 4:00 Trim and assemble works in clay

4:00 - 5:00 Slides

4. Five day Single Firing Workshop

Day 1 Everyone make pots & trim. Dry overnight

Day 2 Make glazes, glaze demo, glaze works, load kiln & candle overnight

Day 3 Fire kiln, turn ups, Fire off late at night

Day 4 Cool kiln, slides, artist demonstration, potluck

Day 5 Unload kiln, discussion of works

5. Three weekend workshop (at an art center, university or pottery facility)

“Bone Dry”-A “raw” or single firing workshop with Tony Ferguson. This workshop takes place over the course of 2 weeks and 3 weekends for folks who work during the week. In this workshop, Tony Ferguson, Minnesota/Wisconsin traditional single fire artist will teach you how to successfully create forms, glaze and single fire pottery or sculpture in the gas kiln to cone 10+. He will particularly focus on Traditional and American Shino, ash glazes as well as various other glaze combinations and glazing techniques including techniques learned while living in Korea. He will also discuss single firing in the wood kiln, problems & solutions with bisque and single firing, demonstrate his various forms, & attend to your questions & concerns.

Day 1 Saturday

9:00 – 12:00 Everyone makes pots/I coach & help & make pots

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 6:00 Everyone makes pots

6:00 – 7:00 Dinner on own

7:00 -- 9:00 Continue making pots.

Day 2 Sunday (works are setting up or drying)

9:00 – 12:00 I demonstrate

12:00 – 1:00 lunch on own

1:00 – 9:00 Everyone continue making pots—All works must be trimmed by 9:00p.m.

(Pots fully dry over week)

Day 3 Saturday

9:00 – 12:00 Demo glaze Raw Pots & Everyone glaze together

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 6:00 Finish Glazing: Left to dry/clean bottoms if time

Day 4 Sunday

9:00 – 12:00 Clean bottoms/prep kiln & start loading Kiln

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 4:00 Finish Loading/Start firing

4:00 – 5:00 Slides

Day 5 Monday

8:00 Turn ups/set reduction/Fire off kiln. This is not a workshop day but anyone can hang out around kiln during firing & experiment, demonstrations, slides, fun.

Day 6 Saturday

10:00 Unload kiln, questions/discussion, evaluation, bye bye.

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