TEAPOTS!

Friday Oct 23 & Oct 30, 9am-12pm

2 Day Intermediate wheel throwing workshop

with Kristin Gruenburger

$245

Throw a Total Teapot: 2-Day Intermediate Wheel Intensive

• Skill Level: Intermediate (You should be totally fine centering and throwing a 2–3 lb cylinder on your own)

• The Goal: Wheel-throw all the pieces—body, lid, and spout—and assemble them into a badass, drip-free teapot.

Making a teapot on the wheel is a rite of passage for any potter. It’s not just about making one cool shape; it’s about throwing four different parts that actually fit together, balance right, and pour perfectly without making a mess.

Day 1: Throwing All the Parts (3 Hours)

• The Teapot Body: Using about 2 lbs of clay) and learn how to shape a tight gallery so your lid doesn't fall out later.

• The Perfect-Fit Lid: Grab your calipers! We’ll throw matching lids on the wheel and measure them down to the millimeter so they lock into your teapot body snugly.

• The Spout: You'll learn how to choke the clay to get a sharp, clean tip that cuts off water cleanly (goodbye, annoying drips).

Day 2: Assembly & The Physics of Pouring (3 Hours)

• Trimming & Tuning: Trim a clean foot ring on your pot, and finish up your lid knob.

• The Built-In Strainer: Before the spout goes on, we’ll use hole-cutters to drill a clean grid of strainer holes right into the belly of your pot.

• The Big Merge: Cut your wheel-thrown spout at an angle to fit the body's curve. Score, slip, and blend it seamlessly so it doesn't crack or pull away in the kiln.

• Pulling the Handle: Pull a fresh clay handle and attach it directly opposite your spout. We'll show you how to align the handle so the pot feels completely weightless when you pour.

Instructor

Kristin Gruenburger

Advanced Wheel Throwing and Altered Forms Intensive Workshop

Monday, October 5, 10am-3pm (lunch break from 12-12:30pm)

This five hour intensive will focus on altering wheel thrown forms.  Through demonstrations and directly working with participants as they hone their skills, students will be given practical ways in which to further their craft. 

*Students must have wheel throwing experience at an intermediate level

Bio

Matt Johnson has been working in ceramics for more than 30 years, and is now the studio manager at the Carbondale Clay Center in Carbondale, CO.  He regularly shows his work and teaches both beginning and advanced classes in Carbondale and elsewhere when possible.  @mattjohnsonclayandwood

*Cancellation Policy - All cancellations incur a $20 admin fee. Beyond that, cancellation withing 30 days get 100% refund. Cancellations 2 weeks prior, 50% refund. No refunds after Sept 26.

Brushwork on Clay

Thursday Sept 17, 9am-12pm

& Friday Sept 18, 9am-12pm

2 Day workshop

with Laura Cooper Elm

$245

• Join Laura Elm for 2 days of hands on glazing fun using the humble brush. Laura happily shares her wealth of knowledge and experience as a classically trained painter and many years as a graphic illustrator translated for the ceramic world.

  We will cover how to produce a variety of effects with stain, slip and underglaze colors using brush strokes to design patterns. Create a multitude of effects from fine elegant lines to thick bold strokes and everywhere in-between. Mimicking paint with glaze can be tricky, but with the right brush for the right job and a little practice, can be managed to full glorious effect. You will gain a clear understanding of how each brush you select is an important part of your ultimate result.

  The composition of the surface in regard to the overall shape of the pottery is also of great importance. For practice, using historical techniques, you’ll invent your own free hand designs based on geometry and symmetry to apply directly to your pottery - no drawing or painting experience necessary!

  Feel free to bring your own paper and brushes. We will have plenty on hand to use for demonstrating and experimenting. If possible, bring several pieces of greenware, bisque ware, tiles or plates to work on.

  -produce a variety of effects with stain, slip and underglaze colors using brush strokes to design patterns

  -mimic paint with glaze

  -invent your own free hand designs based on geometry and symmetry

  -no drawing or painting experience necessary!

Instructor

Laura Cooper Elm

@cooperelm

Saturday August 8

10am-1pm

$85

Teacher: Beth Parker

Native American rain sticks are an integral part of indigenous cultures. They are known for their distinctive sound that mimics rain. Join Beth Parker to make your own unique rain stick using hand built ceramic techniques from carving to painting underglazes. No experience required!

Price includes all materials and firings.

Tuesday, August 18 & Wednesday, August 19

10am-2pm $275

2 day demonstration style workshop with Steve Belz

Demonstrations on:

• Slab built textured cups and plates

• Thrown porcelain bottles with a terra sigillata burnished surface

• Building a solid clay sculpture and hollowing it out

• Using plaster hump/slump molds

*This Workshop has a 30 day Cancellation Policy

Instructor

Steve Belz @stevebelz

June 24 & 25, Wednesday & Thursday 10am-4pm

2 day surface design

workshop with Rita Vali

• explore a range of decoration techniques including sgraffito; Mishima; paper, vinyl and silk screen stencils

• use paper and Gelli plates to print onto clay

• experiment and play with the techniques on leather hard tiles and cups

• students are encouraged to bring leather hard pieces to decorate

Emphasis is placed on curiosity, playfulness, and discovering new possibilities that you can incorporate into your own studio practice.

*This Workshop has a 30 day Cancellation Policy

Instructor

Rita Vali @ritavaliceramic