The Jules Verne workshop was awarded the ATELIERS D’ART DE FRANCE label.

Created in 1868, ‘Ateliers d’Art OF FRANCE’ is a famous federation that gathers 6000 professionals of art that work and create in their own workshops, mastering perfectly their technics. Federating while seeking debates and defending French art workshops, to serve both the patrimony of France and creation, ‘Ateliers d’Art OF FRANCE’ is a place for art professionals to exchange with institutional actors, public authorities and society at large.

  • The Jules Verne workshop is a creative space dedicated to the art of clay, that welcomes students of all levels of experience.
  • Multi-generational public.
  • Adults and teenagers of 15 years old or more.
  • Beginners that wish to discover clay, modelling, sculpture and ceramic.
  • Upper intermediate individuals that want to improve their skills.
  • Advanced creators and conceptors.

Remarks: 

  • During the year, some classes will be specifically dedicated to ceramic.
  • Raku firing internships are organized on a regular basis to welcome those seeking out discovery and nature.
  • The Jules Verne Workshop isn’t open or accessible to the public outside classes hours. I work there on my personal creations and projects. I thank you in advance for your much appreciated collaboration. 

 

SUPPORTING YOUR CREATIVITY:

  • A place of exchange where everyone can learn through the experience of others, progressing at his own pace in terms of looking for ideas.
  • Explore clay by learning technics (modelling sculpture, ceramic and raku firing internships).
  • A personalized support for each student, step by step, guiding progresses in a relaxed, convivial and tolerant atmosphere in order for everyone to free its imagination and creativity.
  • Each blooming will be favored in order to develop the singularity and creativity of students. Discovering the joy to learn through creative freedom in order for everyone to express and reveal themselves: the emphasis will be placed on creation and making of personal projects. The student will also be able to work on suggested themes that will be supported by documents, and able to inspire himself from models or copies.
  • Learn to see. Observation is essential to start working on a creation, a model, a sculpture. It is necessary to feel and experience the structure, directions, proportions, plans, inclinaisons, etc. Everything that enable to schematically elaborate the creation before getting into details and finitions.
  • Work clay it is learning to see and feel with hands to experience the pleasure of touch. You have to tame it and anticipate its reactions by correcting and looking out for breaches, hardening, cracking, fissuring… Not enforce a way of proceeding but help to see and understand the volume in its elaboration, its positioning, its accidents.

 

A SPIRIT OF SHARING AND EXCHANGING

  • The life of the workshop is characterized by openness and exchanges, oriented towards fusions between modeling sculptures, ceramic and other modes of creation influenced by « third-places » from the DIY spirit to marketplaces where interdisciplinary is at the base of inspiration.
  • Each student is invited to participate at the events of the workshop – direct sell of sculptures created at the workshop and other celebrations (exhibits, meetings, happy hours), in a true atmosphere of sharing.
  • This diversity goes harmoniously with the sprit of the place and gives the Jules Verne workshop all of its originality.
  • A ‘friendly clays’ space is located next to the workshop; there, everyone can share coffee and tea, read books about sculpting and ceramic, adding even more conviviality to the place. These times of meditation, conviviality and rest are ideal for creation.

THE PLACE

  • The Jules Verne workshop is located in Assigny in the department of Seine-Maritime, in the High-Normandy region. Charming and typical little village of the French countryside, where I grew up, with only 330 inhabitants. The village is surrounded by fields with cows, farms, and the sea is only 7 minutes away from Criel-sur-Mer along with the highest cliffs of Europe; not so far is also St Martin-en-campagne, with its aquatic complex and skating rink.
  • 15 minutes away from Mers les-Bains-Eu-Le Tréport, also named the « tree sisters », as well as Dieppe, along with their beaches, ports, local fisheries, casinos, Belle-Époque houses, swimming pools, bowling and thalassotherapies.  On one side is the baie de Somme, and on the other one the côte d’Albâtre.  
  • The workshop is exceptionally located; an old dependance of a tiny castle just like in fairytale, true vegetal lung at the very heart of the village along with its park of ancient trees and its fields.
  • The place has been welcoming artists from all over the world for a few years now – they live there as part of an artistic residency. Novelists, painters, comedians, musicians, embroiderers, etc. 
  • All the ingredients are gathered so spend a truly unique and creative stay in a calm and wild setting – an invitation to be inspired.

 

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