Jane du Rand Birds (24–26 May 2024)
Jane du Rand Birds: 3-day Intensive Workshop with Jane du Rand
6–9pm Friday, 10–5pm Saturday and Sunday 24–26 May 2024
This is the third in a series of intensive workshops led by Jane du Rand at Plant Empire in 2024. Immerse yourself in ceramics for a full weekend in May and learn from an internationally renowned artist to learn how to create stunning birds in all their glory using clay.
Birds feature regularly in Jane du Rand's ceramic mosaic work. Since moving to Australia in 2014 and taking up bushwalking, Jane has developed a deep love of the native flora and fauna, and Australian native birds in particular. Her art celebrates Australian native birds, their beauty and movement, as well as their habitats and the lush foliage that cradles them. Jane's work explores the exquisite and delicate nature of the bird as a metaphor for the fragility of the environment facing climate change.
In this special workshop held over 3 days, you will learn from Jane du Rand to design and create 3-dimensional bird sculptures for ceramic and mosaic works. In preparation for the workshop, you might like to print images of particular bird species that you would like to create, although reference materials and taxidermy birds on loan from the Queensland Museum will also be on hand to inspire you.
The workshop begins on the Friday evening where we will meet up over a casual beer (or other beverage of your choice!) and pizza and plan out our work for the weekend. We will study the reference materials and your images to start work on designs for the pieces we will make over the weekend. We will look at possible textures, shapes and patterns that we have found in nature, and learn how to translate these elements into our work. Jane will show you possible formats for your work and ways that you can use your inspiration to make a finished piece.
Saturday's session starts with some demonstrations from Jane on how to make birds as 3-dimensional sculptures or in relief, along with native flora to accompany the birds. Jane will show you special techniques that she has developed for her own work to create fine details down to the last feather. We will spend the rest of the day making our own birds with one-on-one help from Jane as you are making your work. You can choose to make one significant standalone work, or a number of smaller pieces that you can incorporate in other works. You will also be able to use ceramic moulds that Jane has made to press repeated botanic elements for your work.
The final day of the workshop begins with a demonstration by Jane on how to use underglaze, oxides, stains and glazes to add colour and light to bisque-fired works. The rest of the day will be spent finishing off your piece/s ready for drying and firing. Your finished work will be bisque-fired after the workshop ready for you to collect from Plant Empire two weeks later (or for us to post back to you if you have travelled to attend the workshop). You will then be responsible for glazing and final firing of your work.
About Jane du Rand
South-African born, Ipswich-based Jane du Rand creates three-dimensional ceramic mosaic landscapes inspired by the native flora and fauna she encounters while bushwalking west of Brisbane. Originally trained as an architect, Jane’s intricate designs have been incorporated into the architecture of civic buildings, public spaces and private homes in Europe, the UK, the USA, South Africa and Australia.
Jane's accomplishments include being a finalist in the 2023 Siliceous award for ceramic excellence and she was one of 6 artists showcased in the 2023 Museum of Brisbane exhibition "Clay: Collected Ceramics" with her piece "Brisbane Bush Turkey" now held in the museum's collection. She was awarded "Best of Show" at the 2017 Ipswich Art Award, she was a finalist in the 2020 and 2022 Queensland Regional Art Awards, the 2018 Ipswich Art Award, and the Mercedes Benz Award for South African Art Projects in Public Spaces in 2009. Her solo exhibition "Living in Ipswich" was presented at Ipswich Art Gallery in 2020 followed by a second solo exhibition "Green Red and Black" in 2023. Jane's work features in many public spaces in south-east Queensland, with her most recent large-scale public art installation "All the Birds Singing" being commissioned for the Mental Health Unit at Ipswich Hospital which opened in 2024.
More reasons to attend
All levels of experience are welcome for this workshop, and all materials and equipment for the workshop, including clay to make your birds and bisque firing, will be provided. Please wear closed shoes and an apron if you are worried about staining your clothes. This workshop is targeted for adults, but is also suitable for teenagers or tweens who are committed to their art.
We will be serving beautiful food and drinks to make this intensive workshop an extra special experience for you and to allow you to focus entirely on your art for the whole weekend. Catering includes a casual dinner on the Friday night, followed by unlimited barista coffee with snacks on arrival, morning tea, a plated lunch, and afternoonses over the weekend. For catering purposes, please let us know if you have any dietary requirements as a note with your online registration.
Cost: $950 / $855 (Multi-pass)
Multi-pass discount: Sign up for 2 or more Plant Empire events, or register 2 or more people for the same event, to receive 10% off the ticket price (discount will appear at checkout).