Tag: pottery

Intro to Ceramics – September

This is a 4 week class, specifically for adults,  in which you will be introduced to the basics of throwing (working on the wheel) and hand building.

You will be introduced to techniques to throw a pot on the wheel, as well as hand building with slabs. This is a great class to build a strong foundation in pottery giving you skills in hand building and pottery and how to combine the two skills for success – even at a beginner’s level!  The class will meet Wednesday Evenings in September from 6 -8  pm. The days will be September 9, 16, 23, and 30. The class is limited to 4 adult people – meaning you will get good one on one instruction. The outline of the class is as follows:

Week 1:

      • You will throw 5 balls of clay (time permitting), of which you will keep 3 that you like. Focus is on centering
      • We will make a slab plate and use sgraffito to decorate
      • Review of different ways to finish or decorate your pots.

Week 2:

                  • You will trim the pots you made from the previous week. How to trim a pot
                  • You will make 1 slab bowl and use texture to decorate
                  • You will throw 4 balls of clay, time permitting, of which you can keep 2 of your finished pots. Focus is on shaping.
                  • Review pots that you have made. Discuss ways that they could be finished /decorated/glazed.

Week 3:

              • You will learn about different techniques to finish your pots. The plate you made in the previously will be finished with a  method called sgraffito.
              • You will trim your pots not trimmed
              • You can decorate any of your pots using whatever method you like -time permitting

        • Week 4:

                • You will glaze all your pots previously made.

      Your pots will be available for pick up within 3 weeks of your last class. If you know you are going to miss a class, you might consider taking this  class another month. 

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      To sign up for this class – click here

    • Please review my studio rules prior to signing up for a class or workshop.

 

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Raku Open Studio – August 28

This workshop is for folks who have familiarity with clay, and want to try something new. Last summer we had so much fun with raku. Our hope is to do that again this summer. 

You have seen the fun on “The Great Pottery Throwdown”. Now you can try it yourself! A fun way to end the work week. There are no prerequisites to attend this workshop.

This will be run the same as the regular open studio – with a couple of differences:

  • clay limited to 3 pounds.

  • Given the small size of the actual raku kiln, items made will be limited in size. Please try to keep your pieces no bigger than 6″ x 6″

  • No more than 3 pieces.

  • wheels are not guaranteed – I have found , though, that potters are very good about sharing resources. If you choose to make something on the wheel, you need to plan to come back to another open studio to trim it. 
  • there are no prerequisites, but you should have experience working with clay. 
  • At least 4 people need to sign up for the class to take place. 
  • if you are a regular open studio attendee, you will not be able to work with your raku piece during regular open studio times. Raku clay has a different firing temperature and it is important that the regular studio clay does not mix with the raku clay. The studio is also too small to pull out raku materials during regular open studio. 

  • This workshop is for Friday, August 28, from 3 – 5 pm. 

The next raku firing is dependent on:

  • Are there enough pieces to fill the kiln?
  • Is the weather suitable? ( no rain in the forecast, not too hot, not too cold, not too windy)
  • Are there enough folks to help with the firing? At least 6 are needed

The next firing will be will be in September.

Please familiarize yourself with the studio rules before committing to this class.

 

Make a Raku Leaf Bowl

You have seen the process on the Great Pottery Throwdown…now come do it yourself. Raku is the fun, instant gratification (most times), playing with fire, pottery process. The kiln reaches temperature fairly quickly, and the pots are pulled out of the kiln red hot, placed into a container of combustible materials, which then ignites. Once the fire is really going, a lid is put on the bin, extinguishing the fire. What happens is that the glazes, through the reduction of oxygen, turn cool metallic colors. Clay that is not glazed turns black through the carbonization of the combustibles. 

Raku leaf by artist Jill Egan

This workshop will take place Friday  August 28  from 3 -5   pm.  It is suitable for folks who have no experience working with clay of raku, but given the nature of raku – not suitable for young children. 

In this workshop, you will be a given a slab of clay, into which you will press a larger leaf. I plan to use catalpa leaves that are about 7-8 inches long. That leaf is then shaped around a plaster mold, or you can put a hole in it to hang for wind chimes. Once it is dry, it is fired, and made ready for you to come back and glaze it.  

You need to sign up for the actual raku firing that will take place in September.  There is no additonal cost for the firing, but whether the firing take place will depend on the weather, and if I have enough folks to help. If the temperature is over 90, or if rain is forecasted, or I don’t have enough people to help, I need a minimum of 6, the firing will be postponed. 

Class will start promptly at 3 pm. 

Some of the results from recent raku firings at Old School Clay

More leaves by Jill Egan

These are a couple of good videos about raku – if you are not familiar with the process.

 

Please familiarize yourself with the rules of the studio before committing to this workshop.

 

Make a Raku Ghost

The crackle white that can be created with the raku glazes lends itself perfectly for making  a ghost that will add additional fun to the fall table.

You will be provided a slab of clay to make your ghost. You will be led through the steps to assmble the pieces. Come back the following week when a firing is scheduled to glaze and fire your pieces. 

Once your ghost is made,  it will be bisque fired. This firing burns out the organic material from the clay, and makes it sturdy enough to be glazed. Come back the following week to glaze and fire your  ghost. 

I am hoping to have 8 people per firing to help. You will sign up for a firing  on the Old School Clay website that works with your schedule. The day you sign up, you will glaze your  ghost.  Then we will do the firing. There will be no additional charge for the firing.  If it is too hot or rain is expected, the firing may be cancelled or rescheduled or postponed. I have yet to post the firings for September, but they will likely be on a Friday evening- and at least 2 are planned, maybe more depending on how many folks will need to fire. 

These are a couple of good videos about raku – if you are not familiar with the process.

We will try to do the next raku glaze firing August 25, from 5 – 7, come at 4 pm if you need to glaze, but this is subject to weather and temperature. I also need at least 6 folks to help with the firing. If you can’t make the August date, there will likely be other firings in Septmber – but once it gets cold, raku is done for the year.

To sign up for this workshop, click here

Please familiarize yourself with the rules of the studio before committing to this workshop.

 

Make a Raku Fish

You have seen the process on the Great Pottery Throwdown…now come do it yourself. Raku is the fun, instant gratification (most times), playing with fire, pottery process. The kiln reaches temperature fairly quickly, and the pots are pulled out of the kiln red hot, placed into a container of combustible materials, which then ignites. Once the fire is really going, a lid is put on the bin, extinguishing the fire. What happens is that the glazes, through the reduction of oxygen, turn cool metallic colors. Clay that is not glazed turns black through the carbonization of the combustibles. 

This workshop will take place Friday August 14 from  6 – 8   pm.  It is suitable for folks who have no experience working with clay or raku, but given the nature of raku – not suitable for young children. 

Fish by Alicia

In this workshop, you will be a given a slab of clay, 8 x 11 inches,  during which you will be led through the steps of creating a fish that you can hang on your wall. The metallics of the glazes are perfect to replicate the shininess of fish.    I would request that during this workshop – you will only make a fish. Come with an idea of what you want your fish to look like – you can even bring a template for the fish, and I can help you create it. Please, nothing bigger in any direction of 9 inches. The collaboration and creative process of sharing ideas, leads to all making a better product.

Some of the results from recent raku firings at Old School Clay

Once your fish is made, it will be bisque fired. This firing burns out the organic material from the clay, and makes it sturdy enough to be glazed. Once the piece has been bisqued, you will be notified. You will then come pick up your piece and hold it until the raku firing you sign up for happens. 

During the summer, I will be doing raku firings. I am hoping to have a minimum of 6 people per firing to help. You will sign up for a firing  on the Old School Clay website that works with your schedule. The day you sign up, you will bring your fish and glaze it. Then we will do the firing. There will be no additional charge for the firing.  If it is too hot or rain is expected, the firing may be cancelled or rescheduled or postponed.

These are a couple of good videos about raku – if you are not familiar with the process. 

We will try to do the raku glaze firing August 28 , 6 – 8 pm, but this is subject to weather and temperature. I also need at least 4  folks to help with the firing. 

To sign up for this workshop, click here.

Please familiarize yourself with the rules of the studio before committing to this workshop.

 

Make a Planter

Do you have a plant that you love and want to create a planter that will show off just how unique or pretty it is?

Join us Sunday afternoons in April for this beginner class to make a planter.  The planter with feature a textured outside and attached saucer for drainage. You can add holes to make it a hanging planter, or just leave it to sit beautifully on your table or windowsill. The planter will be a maximum of 7 inches tall by 5 inches wide – you can make it smaller, if needed. We’ll use different items to add texture to the outside for visual interest – or you can leave it plain and just let the glaze do its magic. The planter will be made using slabs of clay and molds, but finished on the wheel.  The class will be limited to 6 students and will involve sharing of the wheels.

The class will meet two days. The first day we will make the planter. You will then come back the following week to glaze the planter. The days will be Sunday, April 23 and 30 from1to 3 pm. The first class will likely take the full 2 hours, the second class will probably be just one hour.

Your planter will be ready for pick up within 3 weeks following the last class.  

Please familiarize yourself with my rules of the studio before committing to this class. 

To reserve your seat, click here.

 

Make a Planter

Do you have a plant that you love and want to create a planter that will show off just how unique or pretty it is?

Join us Thursday afternoons in February for this beginner class to make a planter.  The planter with feature a textured outside and attached saucer for drainage. You can add holes to make it a hanging planter, or just leave it to sit beautifully on your table or windowsill. The planter will be a maximum of 7 inches tall by 5 inches wide – you can make it smaller, if needed. We’ll use different items to add texture to the outside for visual interest – or you can leave it plain and just let the glaze, whatever colors you choose,  do its magic. The planter will be made using slabs of clay and molds, but finished on the wheel.  The class will be limited to 6 students and will involve sharing of the wheels.

The class will meet two days. The first day we will make the planter. You will then come back the following week to glaze the planter. The days will be Feb 16 and 23 from 4 to 6 pm. The first class will likely take the full 2 hours, the second class will probably be just one hour.

Your planter will be ready for pick up within 3 weeks following the last class.  

To reserve your seat, click here

PLease familiarize yourself with my rules of the studio before committing to this class. 

Learn to Throw – March/April 2023

Learn to throw on a potter’s wheel. Group lessons limited to 4 students. This class is specifically for adults.  Price is for 8 two hour classes and includes materials. The class will cover centering, throwing techniques, trimming and glazing . Techniques to decorate a pot, including adding clay, carving, sgraffito, and use of underglazes and washes will be covered.

This is primarily focusing on beginner techniques. Click here for a course outline .     8 week class outline.   If you have taken this class before, I have suggested a modified version of this class for you. Sign up for this class, and we can work on the projects detailed in this post. This Adult class will take place Monday evenings starting March 6, 13, 20, and 27 and April 3, 10, 17, and 24  from 6 – 8 pm. It will run 8 weeks. 

No refunds allowed. Throwing on the wheel requires a certain amount of strength, it also requires that your hands will get dirty. If you are not sure you have the strength to do it, or will appreciate the wonderful tactile nature of the art, I would suggest an intro to throwing class first. 

To reserve your seat, click here.

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the studio rules prior to signing up. 

 

Intro to Ceramics – Sundays in March

This is a 4 week class, specifically for adults,  in which you will be introduced to the basics of throwing and ceramics. You will be introduced to techniques to throw a pot on the wheel, as well as hand building with slabs. This is a great class to build a strong foundation in pottery giving you skills in hand building and pottery and how to combine the two skills for success – even at a beginner’s level!  The class will meet Sunday afternoons,  1 – 3 pm, March 5, 12, 19, and 26. The class is limited to 4 adult people.  The outline of the class is as follows:

  • Week 1:

      • You will throw 5 balls of clay, of which you will keep 3 that you like. Focus is on centering
      • You will make 1 slab plate 
      • Review of different ways to finish or decorate your pots.
      •  

    • Week 2:

                • You will trim the pots you made from the previous week. How to trim a pot
                • We will make a slab bowl and use texture to decorate
                • You will throw 4 balls of clay, time permitting, of which you can keep 2 of your finished pots. Focus is on shaping.
                • Review pots that you have made. Discuss ways that they could be finished /decorated/glazed.

              Week 3:

                    • You will learn about different techniques to finish your pots. The plate you made in the previous week will be finished with a  method called sgraffito.

                  Week 4:

                    • You will glaze all your pots previously made.

          Your pots will be available for pick up within 3 weeks of your last class.

        •  

          To reserve your seat – click here.

        • Please review my studio rules prior to signing up for a class or workshop.

Open Studio – Jan 5

This will be a test for the month of January to see if there is any interest in an open studio during the day on Thursdays. The time will be from 10:30 am – 1 pm. 

Feeling creative!? Join us Thursdays from 10:30 – 1 pm to make your own creations. I will be available to provide technical assistance for you to achieve your clay ideas. Pretty much no limit on what you can make. 

This will be a test run for the month of January, where clay and materials are  included in the price.  If you make something at home, or take something home to work on, you will be charged an additional fee for glazes and/or  firing.  If you have never done an open studio before, it is good to come to the workshop with the intention of making 3 things (3 plates, mugs, bowls…) You may not make all 3, but you will get a good start on them. I will help you with technical advice for construction of your design.  If you plan to work on the wheel, you need to plan on at least 2 more open studios, one more to trim your pots, and a final one to glaze. 

Prerequisite: 2 previous classes or workshops with me, or a completed 4 week or more class. Limit of 4 people per class. 

This workshop is best for students who can work independently, and are comfortable with the rules of the studio.

Click here to reserve a seat.