Artistry in Clay & Lime
Earth Plasters, Earth Floors, Built-in Clay Furniture,
Clay & Lime Moldings, Natural Paints
cost $795 (includes lunches)

April 24 - May 1, 2010
(saturday evening - saturday afternoon)
This course focuses on various ways these two beautiful materials can be used in the construction of a building. In addition to being natural and breathable (vapor permeable) they are, easy and fun to work and have unlimited potential for artistic applications.
Workshop Schedule
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Photos of Previous Workshop Bldgs
Earth Plasters
The plastering techniques that we use are a combination of methods that have been inspired by traditional methods used in Japan, Mexico, Germany, the American southwest and our own work. We emphasize those techniques that can be easily learned and applied without the need for complex tools.

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Clay or Earth Plasters

Straw/Clay – Containing very high amounts of straw or other fibers this clay plaster is very resistant to cracking, requires little fussing when it comes to proportions, can be applied very thickly and is very weather resistant in many climates. Additionally, it is easy to shape and can be used to create moldings and other sculptural forms. Used primarily as a one-step plaster coat over straw bale exterior walls or a base coat on interior walls.

Sand/Clay – This type of mixture contains a higher percentage of sand and is most applicable for finish plaster, particularly for interior walls.

Clay Slips – Can be used to achieve a desired color or appearance . They are an easy way to achieve a smooth wall surface and with additional time and patience can be polished to a high sheen.

Exterior Use of Clay Plasters. Making them work on the outside of a building either by the geometry of the building or through stabilization with other materials.		 Lime Plasters

Lime/Sand – Most lime plasters are a mixture of lime and sand. They are applicable wherever a harder surface or additional weather protection is needed. However, marble can be also be used to achieve an even harder as well as polished surface.

Exterior Lime Plaster - Typically we use lime over a substrate of earthen plaster. This involves preparation of a good key for the lime and choice of appropriate technique whether it be a "harled" (thrown -on) coat or troweled and floated..

Limewashes – The traditional finish and maintenance coat for exterior lime plaster is a limewash which is simply a mixture of water and lime.They can also be used for interior walls Color can be added to create soft beautiful tones.

Fresco – For bright and rich colors, many pigments and water can be mixed together and applied over damp lime plaster. This is essentially the same method used by the great Renaissance painters to create their murals.
Clay molding around arched window. High straw-clay plaster on exterior straw bale wall. Lime plasters painted with pigment and water while plaster is still fresh (fresco.) a reception room in the straw bale office building in Cd. Obregon, Mexico.
Earth Floors
Earth and Lime floors can be the answer for those looking for a comfortable and easy to care for floor surface. They can be built as part of new construction or installed over existing concrete slabs. Done well, these floors can be durable, easily maintained and can be finished simply or highly polished. How to mix, construct and seal various types of floors will be covered. In that we are continually in the process of improving and simplifying our earthen floor procedures, participants will have a chance to learn the most current information.

Participants will learn how to insulate with natural materials, add thermal mass for solar gain and install around radiant floor heating.
A poured earth floor using an orange colored clay.
Built-in-Clay Furniture
& Sculpted Clay & Lime Moldings
One of the most popular aspects of our work in Mexico has been the furniture built from clay, straw, reeds and other local materials. Included are shelves, seating, tables, and the like. In addition to being inexpensive to build, these built-in clay features and moldings add both beauty and hand-crafted character to any building.
Natural Paints
Modern latex paints, for the most part, produce flat uninteresting finishes that are toxic. Manufactured natural paints, although they offer some remedy, are generally much more expensive and beyond the budget of many. Many natural paints are easy to make and require only a few inexpensive ingredients. They can be applied to almost any type of wall surface including latex, gypsum, cement, sheetrock, or wood.

The course covers paints made from::

Casein - Lime - Natural Oils - Clay Paints - Natural Pigments and Fillers.
Workshop Schedule
Registration Information
Registration Form