Mud Home News, June 2024
Clay Plaster in a Modern Context, Workshops, and an Amazing, but Fragile Off-Grid World.
Hello Mudsters,
May you all be as cruddy as possible this month, wherever you sit on this glorious planet. Here in England summer drifts in and out, along with the ebb and flow of the estuary. Sun, rain, wind, and cloud all vie for sky space, and the swans proudly tow their fluffy charge of eight cygnets past my window each morning. Meanwhile, I’ve been stretching into new domains with my clay plasters and paints, as you’ll see below.
Of course, this month I’m also preparing for my first clay plaster workshop in seven years, in beautiful Romania. Last chance for the early bird pricing for that, so don’t miss out! You can see more details of that further down this email.
Clay Plaster in a Modern Context
This spring I was tested a little, as I had an apartment in a town to redecorate. Being a stubborn type, I still managed to complete it using clay paints and plasters, and I’m thrilled with the result. Render, sculpture, and clay paint— it’s all there.
We often think of clay plaster as something only to be used on a mud hut on a remote mountain. I find that people are afraid of using it in a modern context, and most definitely look alarmed halfway through the application process:) But clay is very versatile. Depending on how you finish it, it can look rustic or smooth, boho or contemporary, farmhouse or Bauhaus.
My Clay Plaster Workshop in Romania – Last Chance for the Early Bird Price
My clay plaster workshop in Romania really is a bargain. I’m only charging £220 for the four-day workshop. That early bird price ends on the 21st of June, so don’t miss out, because this may well be my one and only workshop in the region.
There are many accommodation choices depending on how much luxury you want, with the most inexpensive being camping for just £90 for 3 meals a day. It really is a special opportunity, so make the most of it.
What will you learn on the course?
Where to find clay and how to turn it into a usable material for plaster.
How to test your dirt.
How to mix earthen or clay plaster for the best results.
What each ingredient in the plaster does.
The difference between clay plaster and cob.
How to add the various layers when rendering.
How to repair and maintain the plaster.
How to use a Japanese trowel (and other trowels too).
How to use sponges to create amazing finishes.
Techniques for sculpting the plaster into...well anything!
How to embed things like mirrors or tile into the plaster.
Off-Grid World on the Oregon-California Border
Dan Schultz and his friends created an incredible off-grid world on the Oregon-California border. He is a survivalist type and proud of it, but whether you’re into that scene or not, there are some very impressive features to be viewed in this video. The Earthship Solarium is truly phenomenal. It stretches across the hillside, nearly the length of an American football field, and provides a variety of fruit and vegetables all year round.
This video will give much food for thought however, not least because this carefully constructed reality was tragically completely destroyed in the Smith Complex Fires last year. In a strange way it reminded me of my own experience, which while very different in essence, made me realise just how fragile our off-grid worlds can be, and how elusive self-sufficiency is. Ultimately, we are all in this world together and we all affect each other. No amount of goats, canning, and assault weapons will save you from a forest fire, flood, or earthquake.
Nevertheless, this is an incredible off-grid setup, and I’m so glad Kirsten got to visit it so that it was documented. For me, the beauty of these alternative lives is the pioneering of new technologies, ideas, and lifestyles that are considered impossible until someone gets up and does it.
So is it pointless going off-grid then? If we were to ask Dan whether he regretting setting up that amazing world, or whether he’d rather have stayed playing it safe in the day job, I’m pretty sure I know what the answer would be. Nothing is forever in this world, and everything is subject to change at any minute. Does that mean we should just hide from life and forego our dreams? Pah! Not in my book.
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Very best wishes,
Atulya K Bingham
I would love to join these types of workshops, I hope there will be another one after July 🤍