Cote-d’Azur coast, France
Saint Raphael, Cote dAzur
Azure allure in Saint Raphael
Numerous artists such as Ceczanne, Monet, Matisse, Corbusier, Capron, Renoir, Massier and Picasso, to name a few, were attracted to the Cote D’Azur for its radiant light, enriching hues and captivating vistas. Ceramicist Lauren Kearns, on a recent visit, was so impressed by the vibrancy of Saint Raphael, nestled between the Massif L’Esterel Mountains and the Mediterranean, that she decided to establish a studio there for herself and visiting resident artists. She discovered that the rugged ochre outcrops, red cliffs, numerous inlets and coves, juxtaposed against the emerald and azure waters, had an irresistable presence that was very invigorating.
IaRex l’Atelier/IARE studio, St Raphael
Lauren has created a spacious, fully equipped studio environment in a quiet location, bathed in natural light and in close proximity to local markets, cafes and eateries. An invitation has been extended from Lauren to all artists from professional to casual to join her program and interact with other resident artists and participate in some of the workshops while also imbibing the rich culteral heritage and embracing the beautiful, idyllic enviroment.
Saint Raphael is easily accesible to the Nice Airport, directly by bus. By car along the coast it is 1h to Nice, 1hr to Antibes, 40 minutes to Cannes, 1h2 to St. Tropez with many charming villages in between. The train station is in the center of the town, with a train direct to and from Paris. The outdoors is easily accessible, by car and bicycle, as are main European cities by train.
Saint Raphael IARE studio
International Artists Residency Exchange – I.A.R.E
Saint Raphael, France
Lauren Kearns
Lauren acts as a surpervisor, instructor, mentor, co-ordinator and artist for the International Artists Residency Exchange in Saint Raphael, bringing 37 years of experience as a ceramic artist.
‘My primary interest in creating is to make objects which are used in daily life, that bring us beauty and joy. I feel that creating objects from hand, in ways that have existed throughout time, is vital and necessary. I hope my work reminds people of the art of the hand made. In the use of objects and appreciation of art, one’s life is enriched, as it serves as a reminder of history and the connections we have to the arts.’
Lauren Kearns porcelain bowl
Lauren Kearns ceramic teapot
Lauren Kearns porcelain fruit design dish
Lauren Kearns in studio
Lauren Kearns porcelain biomorphiic bowls
Porcelain tea cup – Lauren Kearns
Lauren Kearns porcelain lidded vessel
Lauren Kearns porcelain plate
Lauren Kearns porcelain tiger pattern platter
Lauren Kearns porcelain tea cup
Lauren Kearns porcelain platter
Lauren Kearns porcelain bowl
Lauren Kearns porcelain teapot with botanical decoration
Lauren Kearns porcelain platter
Natasha Dikareva
Natasha recently conducted a “Dreams in Clay” and “Elements” workshops at IARE, St. Raphael
Natasha Dikareva
‘Adele’ ceramic sculpture — Natasha Dikareva
‘Beyond Solitude’ – Natasha Dikareva
32inches height
‘Aqualady’ — Natasha Dikareva
Fishwife’s Birthday Teapot; sculpture by Natasha Dikareva.
‘Girl with a lion’ sculpture – Natasha Dikareva
Natasha Dikareva–‘Unspoken Sorrows’
Natasha Dikareva teapot and cups
‘I’ll Take You to See the Future’ — Natasha Dikareva
‘Mnemosyne’ — Natasha Dikareva
Natasha Dikareva– ‘Evolution of Shell Dweller’
‘Muse of Ancient Wanders’ – Natasha Dikareva
24 inches height
‘Madame Butterfly’ — Natasha Dikareva
‘Queen Bee’ sculpture bust –Natasha Dikareva
Natasha Dikareva
Bisque fired sculptres — Natasha Dikareva
IARE Studio, St. Raphael
Natasha Dikareva — ‘Time To Dream’
Natasha Dikareva — ‘Lolita’
‘Quan Yin’ — Natasha Dikareva
Natasha Dikareva ‘Shell dweller’ participant
Current and future workshops
Andrew Martin
14th October – 25th October 2019
This workshop will focus on designing and slip casting complex forms with “simple” molds. Our goal is to explore new or latent ideas. Participants should come with a clear goal and willing to take risks. This two-week workshop will be an intuitive and practical exploration of how to work with patterns and molds, beyond the repetition of forms. The emphasis will be on using paper cut-outs to develop forms for molds and casting, and two-dimensional pattern-making for constructing three-dimensional forms.
Andrew Martin – ‘Kimino’ teapot
Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin — Lidded Jar
Lorna Meaden
April 9-18, 2020
In this one-week workshop in Saint Raphael, France, participants will refine and expand their vocabulary of functional form. We will begin with making simple pots for daily use such as cups and bowls. We will move on to stretch our ideas about function, including more complex forms such as pitchers, ewers, scoops, spoons, and serving dishes. While focusing on form, we will explore surface decoration. Investigations of surface will incorporate texture, and line. Our pots will be altered, stamped, and drawn on. We will not miss the chance to absorb the cultural opportunities offered by southern France! All skill levels welcome. Bring your ideas and sense of adventure.
Lorna Meaden ceramic bottle
Lorna Meaden Mug
Lorna Meaden teapot
Lorna Meaden — ‘Salt and Pepper shakers’
Carol Guthro
May 11 – 22, 2020
In this 10 day week workshop Carol Gouthro will demonstrate her signature Segment Mold Process. Learning Carol’s innovative mold making technique will allow you to incorporate pleated, undulating and expressive forms into your ceramic vessels and sculptures, like those we marvel at in Carol's masterworks. We will also work with wooden drop molds. Carol will demonstrate how to combine, cut and re-assemble shapes to arrive at many differing expressions of form.
We will follow Carol’s rich, multi-layered approach to surface from wet clay, bone dry to bisque. Techniques for creating depth and texture will be explored, including the use of textured skins to wrap forms and clay sprig molds to embellish. Focus on color and pattern will be given through numerous demonstrations using slips, underglazes, stains, wax, shellac and paper patterns. Carol will share the many processes that she has developed in over 30 years of working with clay.
Carol Guthro botanical sculpture
Carol Guthro — Ripe #3
12″ x 24″ x 12″
Carol Guthro — ‘Effleurescence gouthroii’
‘
Carol Guthro
Carol Guthro – “Aurlia gouthroii Undulate”
‘Anthozoa gouthroii viridis’ teapot — Carol Guthro
Ripe #4
Cullowhee Arts Artists Workshops, Retreats and Art Trips
14 Sep 2020 – 23 Sep 2020
Join Cullowhee Arts and Master Potter, Pat Taylor, for this exciting opportunity to travel in Southern France, study master works of the early modern to mid 20th century and take your inspirations into ceramic studio at laRex l’Atelier, Saint-Raphaël, France. The 12 days include 8 days in the studio and 4 Art-inspired Day Trips.
Museo Chaggal
Deb Schwartzkopf
15th October – 26th October 2020
Led by Seattle-based studio potter, instructor, and inspiring artist Deb Schwartzkopf, this exploratory workshop is for everyone working in clay with an interest in tableware. Come and discover the many ways functional forms can be pieced together from thrown and hand-built parts.
Let’s explore tableware. Come design and create your own place setting! This hands-on workshop is a guided, creative time. We will start with a Plate, Bowl and Cup… And then move into vases, pitchers, and platters! Identify and investigate the relationships within and between different forms. How does the plate meet the table? How is the
meal framed? Is the handle comfortable? What gesture are you capturing in your pitcher? There are so many elements to consider in the creative processes of designing and making.
Deb-Schwartzkopf teapot
Deb Schwartzkopf
Deb Schwartzkopf green teapot
Deb Schwartzkopf pitcher
Doug Peltzman
19th April – 26th April 2021
This is a workshop fit for beginner to experienced makers. We will focus in on designing, making, and finishing high fire porcelain tableware in an electric kiln. The relationship between form and surface decoration will be explored through practice, demonstration and discussion. Doug will share his methodologies on carving and inlaying slip into leather hard clay and bisque fired clay. As a group, we will spend time collecting imagery and textures to apply to the surface of our work. We will discuss the meaning and intention behind the pots we make and look to “play” as a way to explore new ideas. Doug will also share his strategies for glazing and making pots to hold runny translucent glazes. This class will provide an array of tools and techniques for using texture, line, and color in your work. Taking your ideas and concepts to the next level can be tricky, together we can share our experiences and help push each other to develop our work beyond our expectations.
Doug Peltzman bowls
Doug Peltzman
Doug Peltzman mugs
Doug Peltzman ceramic teapot
Jan Edwards Workshop
Handbuilding Pots for your Table : for All Levels of Experience
30 Apr 2021 – 12 May 2021
Don’t you wish you had a good Fish Platter, or a tall Vase, or perhaps a set of Sushi Plates? You name it… we’ll try to make it. We will spend our time exploring a multitude of ways to make pots for the table…bowls, cups, plates, pitchers, platters, butter dishes, whatever we want to make, without the use of a potter’s wheel.
We’ll use Terra Cotta Clay and colorful slips and stains to embellish our pots… the traditional Mediterranean materials. There’s a cornucopia of decorative techniques to be explored. Your aesthetic will dictate the look, be it classic or crazy, wild or sublime. After our pots are fired in both bisque and glaze firings, they are beautiful and safe to use for food and drink.
Jan Edwards platter
Jan Edwards bowl
Sue Tirrell Workshop
Indelible: Pottery as a vehicle for personal storytelling and expression
14 May 2021 – 23 May 2021
Explore the connection between form, narrative and surface design by drawing, painting and carving on leather-hard clay. Bring a sketchbook of your favorite source material and be ready to incorporate new sensory and cultural influences to create a library of imagery unique to your time in beautiful Southern France! Participants will be guided in the process of distilling these ideas into dynamic, colorful surface design; giving individual stories universal appeal.
This workshop is appropriate for makers of all levels. Participants should be comfortable constructing simple vessel forms or tile—hand-built and/or wheel-thrown—to be decorated in the leather-hard state using sgraffito, mishima, trailing and painting techniques. The pace of the workshop will allow for everyone to explore their own studio practice as well as area attractions such as museums, hiking, beaches and food! Take home a narrative keepsake that can’t be purchased in a tourist shop!
Sue Tirrell — ‘Allegory of Wildfire Triptych’
2019
More details and pricing here for all workshops
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The Côte d’Azur is also home to so many museums and cultural attractions:
Nice: Marc Chagall National Museum — Biot: Fernand Léger National Museum
Vence: Matisse’s Chapel of the Rosary — Cagnes sur Mer: Renoir Museum
Vallauris: The Picasso National Museum — Cannet: Bonnard Museum
Nice: The MAMAC — Saint Paul de Vence: Fondation Maeght
Miquel Barcelo – ‘LAlycastre’ 2018
Fondation Carmignac
Provence Alpes Cote d`Azur
Cote d’azur coastline
Provence Vineyard knight sculpture
Vintage French Riviera poster
Statue of the Archangel Raphael in the park Jardin Bonaparte, Saint-Raphael
Cape of Dramont, Île-d’Or
Côte d’Azur, France
Esterel mountains
