Classes Overview

Registration

Information for Students

Session 1:  Mon., January 9 - Sat., February 25

Hand Building Classes

Further Explorations into Hand Built Ceramic Art

This class is for ceramic artists who wish to continue developing their own distinct personal style, reaching for more powerful creative options. Artists who create free-standing 3D sculpture, relief wall pieces, and hand built vessels are invited to participate in this class and work on new avenues of exploration. Class demonstrations are given weekly on hand building techniques and challenges, including many ways of working in harmony with the distinct personality of clay. During class sessions, artworks in process will be considered for their aesthetic and design qualities. Do surface treatments relate to the forms they sit upon? Do they convey the motion and feeling intended, expressive of the original concept? Can we push beyond our current limitations as we attempt to project a new idea into our work? This class is an avenue to expand the ceramic artist's palette of self-expression, to work with other clay artists, and exchange new ideas. All skill levels are welcome, beginning through advanced.

Wednesday mornings, 10:00-1:00
Session 1:  January 11 - February 22
Instructor: Caroly van Duyn

Sculptural Hand Building

This class will focus on making sculptural forms in clay.  As well as the technical questions of how to best construct pieces, we will ask the more conceptual questions surrounding content and purpose.  We will learn how to choose a surface treatment that best expresses the idea or spirit of the piece.  Class time will be divided between more general demonstrations, individual instruction and work time.  All levels are welcome, but students should come with ideas about what they want to make.

Tuesday evenings, 6:30-9:30
Session 1: January 10 - February 21
Instructor: Sarah White 

Tile Making 

Tile making has its origins in ancient Babylon, with glazed bricks having been found in present day Iraq dating back to about 575 BC.  In this class, we will look at several different methods for making tiles. Techniques will include tile cutters, carving, and press molds .  We will experiment with various surface treatments such as glazing and image transfer methods.  We will consider tile design aspects such as sizing, display arrangements (as individual tiles or in complex arrays), and installation locations (on the floor or on the wall).  Whether a beginning or continuing student, class projects will be tailored to individual skills and interests. * Please note that this class begins in the second week of the session.

Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:30
Session 1:  January 19 - February 23
Instructor: Gillian Parke

Wheel Throwing Classes

Wheel Throwing: Beginning and Beyond

This class will teach the basics of centering, opening, and throwing a ball of clay. As you begin to master the cylinder form on the wheel, you will learn to transform that basic shape into everyday, useful forms such as mugs, vases, and bowls. You will also learn basic glaze application techniques. We will use stoneware clay and fire our pieces in the electric kiln. This class is appropriate for beginning students. h

Tuesday evenings, 6:30-9:30
Session 1:  January 10 - February 21
Instructor: Nancy Garrett 

Continuing Wheel

This class is for beginning to intermediate students who understand the basics of centering and pulling up, but would like additional guidance to refine their skills. Students' skill levels and particular interests will direct this class. Topics may include learning specific new forms (pitchers, plates, lidded pots, etc.), throwing larger, attention to details (handles, feet, rims), and surface decoration. Participants will have the option of firing in the gas kiln. Each instructor teaches from his or her own style and interests, creating a range of experiences for students who take this class with different instructors. 

This class is intended for advanced beginners and beyond. While the focus will be on [subtitle edited to make grammatical sense], continuing wheel students who want to work on and receive guidance for independent projects are also welcome.

Tuesday mornings, 10:00-1:00
Session 1:  January 10 - February 21
Instructor: Deborah Harris

Pottery for Geeks

Klein bottles, Cadogan teapots, spheres-within-spheres, sliced tori, whistles, radiolarians, and more—who knew math- and science-inspired forms could be so fun? Throwing functionality (mostly) to the wind, the focus of this class will be to experiment and give voice to our inner geek.

Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:30
Session 1: January 10- February 21
Instructor: Elizabeth Paley 

Mountains Out of Molehills 

Come push the boundaries of your comfort level with clay in this class devoted to increasing the amount of clay you are able to handle on the wheel, and taking you beyond the height and width your vessels seem to fall into.  This wheel throwing class will focus on making larger forms, including bowls, jars, vases and platters.  Instruction will include using coils, stacking, centering in stages and sectional throwing to help students create taller and wider ceramic vessels.  Goals will include throwing taller, wider, more evenly, and at the very least doubling the amount of clay you can handle on the wheel.  Glazing and decorating will be discussed if time and interest allows.  Students should be comfortable centering and throwing 2+ pounds of clay. 

Monday evenings, 6:30-9:30
Session 1:  January 9 - February 20
Instructor: Ronan Peterson

Throwing and Finishing Utilitarian Pots 

This class will be for potters who know the basics of  throwing and who are interested in making useful everyday pots. The emphasis in this class will be on proper wheel technique, finishing methods and critique of designs. For students with enough motivation and time I will assign “homework” which will give them exercises to hone their skills.

Saturday mornings, 10:00am-1:00pm
Session 1:  January 14 - February 25
Instructor: Marsha Owen

Glazing and Firing Classes

Introduction to Cone 6 Reduction 

Now that Claymakers has switched over the cone 6 reduction firing in place of cone 10 reduction firing, the studio has been getting some stellar pots that any seasoned potter would have trouble telling if it was cone 6 or cone 10.  This class is geared towards students who may not have much experience firing in reduction and would like an introduction to the glaze types and glazing techniques that would improve results and increase their understanding of ceramic process.  We will look at the studio’s offering of shinos, celadons, iron saturates, and copper red glazes, and possibly test some new glazes to add to the Claymakers palette. 

This class is open to wheel throwers and handbuilders, although any making demonstrations will be conducted on the potters’ wheel.  Firing schedules, glaze composition, and clay body choices will all be discussed in this special firing class.  The class will culminate with a cone 6 reduction firing and discussion of the results achieved through the firing.  Students should come with a willingness to experiment and try out a different atmosphere for firing to stoneware temperatures.

Wednesday evenings, 6:30-9:30
Session 1: January 11 - February 22
Instructor: Ronan Peterson