Courses throughout the year
Esperanza offers a number of week-long courses given at her studio located in a traditional residential neighbourhood at the foot of the Alhambra woods in Granada, Andalucia.
Esperanza
Born in Melilla, raised in Malaga, as a seventeen year old she travelled to London. There she studied ceramics for a B.A at Camberwell School of Art (1977-81) and an M.A. at the Royal College of Art (1982-85). In 1988 she set up home and studio in Granada, Southern Spain, from where she continues to work and teach. She has regular exhibitions of her work both at home and abroad... her many exhibitions you can find listed in our News section here, and her pieces are present in private collections and museums throughout the world. For full information regarding Esperanza and her work look through this website.
Location
So much has been said of Granada, it needs little introduction, and it is not just the Alhambra that lends to its fame! There is the old Moorish area of the city .... the Albaicín (a UNESCO World Heritage Site); Sacromonte, the Gypsy barrio; the innumerable squares, renaissance churches and monasteries; the vibrant night life and Granada's famous tapas...... More info on Granada at the following official website: http://www.turgranada.es/index.php
The House
The house, with the workshop accessed from its central patio, was renovated by Esperanza and her partner Richard in the mid- 80's. It is perched on the side of the Alhambra hill with views to the front overlooking the city, and behind the green swathe of the Alhambra woods. The neigbourhood is composed of a maze of pedestrian cobbled streets, where car horns are replaced by the sound of birdsong, yet in just 5 minutes you can walk down to the centre of the city with all the necessary shops, bars and restaurants.
If you have checked out this website you will have seen that Esperanza is a multi-faceted artist producing ceramics, paintings, drawings, prints etc.
With her ceramic work we also see a continual evolution from her time at college in the 70's to the present. Thus she can draw on her wealth of personal practical experience to impart classes in the different techniques that she herself has used.
These are the main characteristics of the courses:
- One week course running from Sunday to Sunday, at various times of the year.
- Maximum of 4 pupils on any one course.
- Suitable for beginners and/or experienced potters.
- Each person attending will receive individual attention, and the wishes/needs of each person will be carefully discussed before joining the course.
- The main areas which could be addressed are as follows.
- throwing
- modelling (coiling/pinching/slabs)
- techniques of Raku firing
- techniques of Terrasigilata and Pit firing
- surface decoration - incision, spray-glazing, slip, burnishing
- tile decoration (including the andalusian traditional "cuerda seca")
- decoration of tableware (supplied by us)
The Week's Schedule
- Sunday; arrival.
- Monday to Friday:
- Studio tuition/work with Esperanza: 9.30am-1.30pm.
- Lunch at local recommended restaurant, or where you are accomodated: 2pm - 4.30pm.
- “Informal” use of studio 5pm - 7pm.
- Friday night: setting the kiln to allow work to be available for participants for travel on Sunday. (Alternatively, work could be shipped later at participant’s expense)
- Saturday: Free day...possible visit to the Alhambra
- Sunday: return home of participants.
Costs
Total Tuition Fee: price on application contact Esperanza here
This includes: 5 days tuition / All materials / Firings / Drinks and mid-morning snacks.
General conditions:
- 30% tuition fee non-refundable deposit.
- 70% balance due 6 weeks before course start date.
- minimum group number of one person, maximum of four.
- Non payment would result in course reservation going to person on top of waiting list
- Payments made via Paypal or Bank Transfer.
- In the unlikely event of cancellation of the course by Esperanza....all money paid would of course be refunded to the payer.
Accomodation
- We will have no problem finding accomodation for you close by. There are many hotels, cheaper priced hostals (pensiones), and self-catering apartments in the area, which we would be happy to recommend and organize for you.
Arriving in Granada
There are regular rail and coach connections between Granada and all major Spanish cities.
Granada airport is a half hour drive from the city with regular shuttle buses or taxis to take you in to the centre.
It is a small airport dealing mostly with national flights especially from Barcelona and Madrid, although there are some international destinations: currently with British Airways flights connecting with London City Airport.
Another option, and usually cheaper, is to fly in to Malaga airport, and take a coach from there to Granada (approx. 2 hours from Malaga coach station).
When you confirm a booking with us, we will of course send you detailed arrival instructions.
