
CRAFTMANSHIP
NEWS

Workshop week with Cindy
After a long run-up, we were in a state of excitement when we ended up in Cindy's garden.
At a long table, in an atmospheric natural environment, for a first acquaintance, we received a gift.
A coffee / tea cup, with our own name.
Rotated, baked by Cindy and provided with her own beautiful glaze. Seen and known, that's how it felt. It set the tone.
It soon became apparent during the inventory that we would only make something of it that week with peace and patience, that we would learn from her experience and calm gait.
The excitement turned to a calm consciousness.
We sat there with seven women on a sunny Monday morning in September.
We know each other well, our spontaneously grown company, with our own identical aprons and individual skills.
A women's company, completely different in terms of ceramic arts, with its own wishes and dreams
It would be an intensive week.
There was room for that, Cindy looked closely, knew what kind of people we were and responded to our questions, she gave relaxed lessons about clays, materials to work with, and looked sharply with an experienced look at each of us .
Audrey, Cindy's sister, did the catering. As creative and knowledgeable as Cindy is with clay, her sister is a culinary surprise with food, prepared with care and attention. Also for vegetarians and raw food goers. Every day was a moment to look forward to.
Two ladies mastered the revolving box. Cindy gave the stamp: "There is potential in that. Practice and practice again". She easily transforms the clay mountain that turned sadly off the record in her press into usable clay again, and nothing was too crazy as far as she was concerned, when we let another product shoot from our hands off the turntable with an ashamed head.
The other five women have made large and small pieces of work, art and useful objects.
We learned to use the clay roller and the wall press to form round clay tubes. So that we can also get started in our studio.
As a group we did an evening pitfire. The fire was tended and kept burning by her husband. Very exciting to unpack the results after a night of smoldering… ..
Raku firing was another part, the glazed bird houses came out completely different, we continue with this technique in our own oven.
Unfortunately, everything comes to an end, as different as we are, that's how we left.
Everyone in their own phase of our ceramic development, this week was a strong stimulus.
Worth repeating.
At a long table, in an atmospheric natural environment, for a first acquaintance, we received a gift.
A coffee / tea cup, with our own name.
Rotated, baked by Cindy and provided with her own beautiful glaze. Seen and known, that's how it felt. It set the tone.
It soon became apparent during the inventory that we would only make something of it that week with peace and patience, that we would learn from her experience and calm gait.
The excitement turned to a calm consciousness.
We sat there with seven women on a sunny Monday morning in September.
We know each other well, our spontaneously grown company, with our own identical aprons and individual skills.
A women's company, completely different in terms of ceramic arts, with its own wishes and dreams
It would be an intensive week.
There was room for that, Cindy looked closely, knew what kind of people we were and responded to our questions, she gave relaxed lessons about clays, materials to work with, and looked sharply with an experienced look at each of us .
Audrey, Cindy's sister, did the catering. As creative and knowledgeable as Cindy is with clay, her sister is a culinary surprise with food, prepared with care and attention. Also for vegetarians and raw food goers. Every day was a moment to look forward to.
Two ladies mastered the revolving box. Cindy gave the stamp: "There is potential in that. Practice and practice again". She easily transforms the clay mountain that turned sadly off the record in her press into usable clay again, and nothing was too crazy as far as she was concerned, when we let another product shoot from our hands off the turntable with an ashamed head.
The other five women have made large and small pieces of work, art and useful objects.
We learned to use the clay roller and the wall press to form round clay tubes. So that we can also get started in our studio.
As a group we did an evening pitfire. The fire was tended and kept burning by her husband. Very exciting to unpack the results after a night of smoldering… ..
Raku firing was another part, the glazed bird houses came out completely different, we continue with this technique in our own oven.
Unfortunately, everything comes to an end, as different as we are, that's how we left.
Everyone in their own phase of our ceramic development, this week was a strong stimulus.
Worth repeating.

WORKSHOPS Wheel throwing
There are 2 fun wheel throwing workshops on the agenda in June.
Unique five-day course!
Is pottery your passion or do you want to discover it in yourself, practice your skills and get inspired.
In the course of these 5 days, many techniques are covered. From the basic throwing techniques required for making a cylinder, bowl and flat shape to more complicated tricks for the more experienced potter. The learning is customized, as much as is possible, to the needs of individual students. The courses are suitable for both beginners or more confident potters. Guidance and help is given throughout.
For all levels: beginner and advanced.
Unique five-day course!
Is pottery your passion or do you want to discover it in yourself, practice your skills and get inspired.
In the course of these 5 days, many techniques are covered. From the basic throwing techniques required for making a cylinder, bowl and flat shape to more complicated tricks for the more experienced potter. The learning is customized, as much as is possible, to the needs of individual students. The courses are suitable for both beginners or more confident potters. Guidance and help is given throughout.
For all levels: beginner and advanced.

Art project former GRESWARENFACTORY Reuver
Work on the art project in the old factory has been going well up to now. The artwork is constructed with old demolition materials that were released from the factory during the demolition.
And we are currently working hard on the realization of the second part, namely the 3D printing with clay of portraits of old employees.
To be continued!
And we are currently working hard on the realization of the second part, namely the 3D printing with clay of portraits of old employees.
To be continued!

CLAYFUN AT HOME
From March 31: Especially for these (covid 19) stay-in days and for children who like to play with clay: FREE CLAY!
On Monday and Friday morning at 10:00 am I have clay packages in the chest in front of my house window that is te take for free. You will also find inspiration in the window. Information and short explanation videos can be viewed via the link at the bottom of this page. You can also follow the progress via my facebook page. (link is in this site)
If you would like to have your own creation baked, you can put your workpiece back in the box when it is ready. Pack well in plastic with your name and telephone number or email address.
When the piece is dry I will bake it for you and send you a message when it is out of the oven and ready. I cannot say in advance how long it will take. That depends on the amount, thickness of the workpiece and the number of workpieces that are received.
Greetings, Cindy.
On Monday and Friday morning at 10:00 am I have clay packages in the chest in front of my house window that is te take for free. You will also find inspiration in the window. Information and short explanation videos can be viewed via the link at the bottom of this page. You can also follow the progress via my facebook page. (link is in this site)
If you would like to have your own creation baked, you can put your workpiece back in the box when it is ready. Pack well in plastic with your name and telephone number or email address.
When the piece is dry I will bake it for you and send you a message when it is out of the oven and ready. I cannot say in advance how long it will take. That depends on the amount, thickness of the workpiece and the number of workpieces that are received.
Greetings, Cindy.

INTERNSHIP
My name is Marta Kovalska and I'm a student of sculpture and intermediary faculty at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk. I spent this summer at Cindy Heldens ceramic studio. It was my first time internship abroad, so I was really excited as to what was going to await for me there. My experience turned out much better than I could have ever anticipated. Thanks to Cindy I felt comfortable and inspired. She gave me a lot of theoretical knowledge and also she was ready to help me all the time I was working with ceramic. She told me about techniques she used in her artwork, taught me wheel throwing and I was so happy to master this new to me thing. There was also enough time scheduled for my own experiments. This internship was a good combination of professional skills and friendly relationships. I think it was a wonderful start into art or ceramics for me. Now I am trying to continue a ceramic practice and I am happy that I can always count on Cindy's advice.

"Working with CLAY makes me feel at home"
I feel happy when I work with clay. I'm from Syria. I have been working with clay since I was 18 years old. In Syria I had an exhibition of my work, there was a lot of interest for it. My language coach in Roermond brought me in contact with Cindy and she invited me to come and work in her studio. Now I can work with clay again with Cindy wich makes me very happy! Rana.

Feels like a holiday
The throwing week at Cindy’s was my first clay experience on the pottery wheel.
What a wonderful week I had, it felt like a little vacation close to home. The environment, playing with the clay, eating and being together with nice people made this week unique. Cindy taught me the principles of throwing in her calm way. Because we alternated the working in the studio with a walk with the dog in the rural area in Beesel, raku, pitfire and koffie breaks and lunches these were very varied and relaxed days. I immediately signed up for my next vacation at Cindy’s.
Liselore.
What a wonderful week I had, it felt like a little vacation close to home. The environment, playing with the clay, eating and being together with nice people made this week unique. Cindy taught me the principles of throwing in her calm way. Because we alternated the working in the studio with a walk with the dog in the rural area in Beesel, raku, pitfire and koffie breaks and lunches these were very varied and relaxed days. I immediately signed up for my next vacation at Cindy’s.
Liselore.