workshop – Page 8 – Old School Clay and Ceramics

Make a Mug

Join us on October 7 and 14 from 3 – 5 pm to make the mug shown, or one very similar, that reflects your very own creativity! This mug, which is about 5 inches tall, and holds about 12 ounces, is oven and dishwasher safe, microwavable and food safe.

During this 2 day workshop you will be led through the steps to make your very own mug. The first day, which will take about 2 hours, we will make the mug, and cover different ways to decorate your mug. Once the cylinder is made, you can finish it any way you want. A number of different methods of decorating your mug will be covered, including use of texture, use of underglazes and stencils, and sgraffito, a popular Italian method of decorating pottery. The second scheduled day, we will finish the mug . Depending on how much is done the first class, the second class could take an hour to 2 hours. Your mug will be ready for you to take home within 2 weeks of you finishing it.

This class is dependent on the pottery wheels I ordered being delivered mid-September, as anticipated.

No experience necessary!

The class is for 8 people. Grab a friend and make an afternoon of it.

I have been teaching pottery and ceramics in a variety of situations, for all age groups, for more than 30 years. I absolutely love teaching and sharing my love of clay with others.

Buy Tickets Here: Mug

Learn to Throw – Group lessons for adults

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

Three Intro to Throwing classes will be offered this fall. One class will be for adults, and two others for teens. This Adult class will take place Sunday afternoons, from 5 – 7 pm starting October 3. It will run 8 weeks: October 3, 10, 17, 24 and November 7, 14, 21, and 28*

*There will not be class on October 31 so that those with children can be present for family obligations.

5/17/21 – Due to covid, pottery wheels are backordered, with delivery expected mid-September 2021. If wheels are not delivered in time, your money will be refunded, and/or the class rescheduled.

For tickets, click here: Sunday lessons

Make a Bowl

Made from a slab of clay, molded over a form, and finished on the wheel, you will be led through the steps to make a bowl. The bowl will be big enough for a small serving bowl, or an extra large serving of ice cream for one. We will cover different ways of adding texture and making a foot which can either be low or tall like a pedestal as shown. No experience needed. The class will meet October 4 and 11 from 4 – 6 pm. The first class we will focus on making the bowl, it will likely take the full two hours depending on how much detail you add. During the second class we will glaze the bowl. Once glazed the bowls will need to be fired and will be available for pick up within two weeks.

Buy tickets Here: Bowl

Make a Spaghetti Plate – October

During this 2 day workshop you will be led through the steps to make your very own plate. The first day, which will take about 2 hours, we will make the plate, and cover different ways to decorate it. The plate is made from a slab of clay, molded, and then finished on the wheel. Once the plate is made, you can finish it any way you want. A number of different methods of decorating will be covered, including use of texture, use of underglazes and stencils, and sgraffito, a popular Italian method of decorating pottery (as shown on the plate pictured). The focus will be on using the sgraffito method, but you can finish it as you like, but the class focus will be on creating a concentric sgraffito design of black, white, and a minimal amount of red as accent. The second scheduled day, we will finish the plate. Depending on how much is done the first class, the second class could take an hour to 2 hours. Your plate will be ready for you to take home within 2 weeks of you finishing it.

The workshop will take place October 19 and 26 from 7 to 9 pm.

Buy tickets here: plate

No experience necessary!

The class is limited to 4 people. Grab a friend and make an evening of it. We will be sharing 1 wheel among 4 people, so we will have to take turns to finish the plate. I hope the 4 wheels I ordered in April will be in, in which case I will expand attendance to 8 people, but I am doubtful.

I have been teaching pottery and ceramics in a variety of situations, for all age groups, for more than 30 years. I absolutely love teaching and sharing my love of clay with others.

Half Day Clay for GDRs Students

According to the school calendar, it looks like Friday, September 24 and October 8 are half days. This class is specifically for 3rd and 4th graders and will be limited to 8 students. It will take place over 2 days. The first day, September 24, we will make a mug. Weather permitting, time will be spent outside collecting leaves that will be used to decorate the mug. The second day, October 8, we will glaze the mug and make a small plate to match. All pottery made will be microwavable and dishwasher safe. The class will take place from 12:30 until 3 pm. Attendance will be required for both classes. Finished products will be available for pick up with in two weeks from the class at Prescott.

The mug will hold about 12 ounces, while the plate (or saucer) will be about 5 inches wide.

The plate shown is an example of how leaves will be used to decorate.

Masks will be required.

Get Tickets Here; GDRS half day

Learn to Throw – Group lessons for teens

Learn to throw on a potter’s wheel. Group lessons limited to 4 students. A great opportunity for your children this fall. 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

Four classes are scheduled for the fall. Two classes will be for adults, and two others for teens. This Teen class, for younger teens, 10 – 14, will take place Tuesday afternoons, from 3:30 – 5:30 pm starting October 5. It will run 8 weeks: October 5, 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. There will not be class on October 12.

Click here for tickets: 10 – 14 years

Learn to Throw – Adults

Learn to throw on a potter’s wheel. Group lessons limited to 4 students. There is nothing more satisfying than taking a lump of clay and making something functional. 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

Three classes are scheduled for the summer. One class will be for adults, and two others for teens. This class is for adults and will take place Wednesday evenings, from 6 – 8 pm starting October 6. It will run 8 weeks: October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17, and 24*.

For tickets, click here: adult wheel

5/17/21 – Due to covid, pottery wheels are backordered and are not expected to be delivered until sometime mid- September 2021.

The November 24 class may be rescheduled, depending on people’s schedules.

Zentangle and Clay

Join us for this multimedia fusion workshop where clay and mindfulness combine for an uber creative experience. Certified zentangle teacher, Donna Spencer, will start the first of 3 classes to share her knowledge of zentangle. Zentangle is defined as ” a form of meditative doodling that has patterns, or tangles, put together to form a Zen-tangle.” What we will be doing in this workshop is adding texture to a platter that you will make using stamps, that you will also make, in a manner consistent with zentangle design.

During the first workshop, Donna will lead you through some selected zentangle patterns. You will take that knowledge to create a zentangle design of your own on paper – about the size of the eventual platter you will make. You will then take that knowledge and create clay stamps which will be used on your own clay platter.

The next week, Sept. 22, you will make a clay platter. Your stamps will have been “fired”, so that they will be hard enough to stamp the clay, and can be used on your platter. The platter is about 14 x 11 inches*. The final platter will be oven proof, dishwasher safe, and microwavable.

The last day (Sept 29) of the workshop, week 3, will be spent refining your platter and glazing.

The combination of clay, where you take a lump of clay and turn it into something beautiful and functional, and zentangle, is surely one of the most mindful activities ever created.

Here is a fun example of how one potter uses stamps in his pottery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=354&v=d2iQ3bGJ2uE&feature=emb_title

Buy Tickets Here: Zen and Clay

This is a platter Donna made using a glazed zentangle design on a clay platter.

Donna and I will be making prototypes for this class over the next couple of weeks so I hope to have better examples to show.

The class will meet September 15, 22, and 29 from 6 to 8 pm.

Prototype trays in process:

Here are examples of zentangle design used on pottery from the internet (It requires joining pinterest which is free); zen pottery

Make a Garden Fish (Or Bird)

There are catfish, dogfish, why not garden fish? In this workshop, you will make a fish (or bird), about a foot long, or two smaller, perfect for adorning your garden. Using a template, or making one of your own design, you will be led through the steps to make a fish similar to the ones pictured. The fish have a layer of glass melted over them, giving them a sparkle when the sun hits in the garden. The fish are two sided but only one side can have the glass. I have had my fish outside all winter for two years, now, with no impact on them. Driftwood and birch not included. This workshop will take place Monday, August 23 and 30 from 3 – 5 pm. Two hours is saved for each workshop, but it is likely the full 2 hours will not be needed. The workshop is limited to 8 attendees. All ages welcome, though, out of an abundance of caution, vaccination is required, as are masks, until further notice.

Buy tickets Here: Bird.

Make a Toad or Fairy House

What?! You say your toads and garden fairies are homeless? Now, you can build them their very own safe and secure home, out from under foot, perfect for your garden. This particular house is ten inches tall and 7 inches wide.

You will make a ceramic home using slabs of clay and different textures to create that one of a kind home. You will be led through basic construction, and helped to design any embellishments you want to add, within the time allowed. The first class, August 24 from 3 to 5 pm, will be spent constructing the home, the second, August 31 from 3 to 5 pm, will be spent glazing. After you make and glaze your house, your finished house will be available for pick up, at Prescott, within 2 weeks.

Both classes will likely take the full two hours allotted. This workshop is limited to 8 people.

All ages welcome, though I recommend age 10 and above. What a great way to spend time with the family before school starts.

Theoretically, these houses can be left out all winter, but it is not advisable.

For tickets, click here: Toad House

Toad and Fairy Houses made by other students: