Suvira McDonald's work is a confluence of multiple ceramic techniques and disciplines, having produced a broad range of ceramics for 30 years. He fires work with wood or gas, maintaining an extensive palette of reduction glazes. His kiln is an anagama which he fires for three days.

About the Workshop

"Overall, I would like to produce a relaxed and casual atmosphere in the sessions.

I envisage the workshop to be an introduction to how I approach a typical firing cycle. It will involve:

• throwing small pots off the hump,
• throwing a series of medium sized works,
• rolling slabs to prepare for sculptural assemblies,
• throwing a large pot in sections and assembling them
• trimming, as weather allows, both on the wheel and by hand carving

The format will essentially take the form of my demonstrations followed by observation and commentary on participants’ workings. With much of my thrown work I alter the forms at various stages of drying so there will be frequent exchanges and discussion intermittent throughout the time together.

If time permits I would like to present images of my works over the last 10 years or so and will have examples of some of the more recent pieces on hand to promote discussion.”