Classes & Workshops
‘The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves.’
-Joseph Campbell
Classes
I teach year-round at City Clay in Charlottesville, VA, Mondays through Thursdays in both the afternoon and evenings. Classes are 2.5 hours per week with open studio time. The Fall through Spring classes are from eight to ten weeks sessions. In the Summer, classes are eight weeks. If you are interested in learning more or about taking a class, please visit www.cityclaycville.com
Classes:
- Intro to Basic Wheel Throwing
- Intro to Basic Hand Building
- Imtermiediate/Advanced Hand Building
- Altered States
- Surface Design
- Animal Sculpture
Classes
For more information regarding classes, please see the City Clay website:
Basic Hand Building
Basic Hand Building classes are for absolute beginners. Students will use slabs to make press-mold pots, cups, pitchers, and trays. Surface design techniques like water etching, decals, stamping, and glazing will be covered.
Basic Wheel
This class are for absolute beginners and those who want a refresher. Students will learn basic wheel skills while making lots of funny mistakes and big messes. So come make bowls, cups, and vases, from start to finish, and don’t forget to bring a sense of humor.
Altered States
Opens up new possibilities for your work as you explore ways to make pots by combining wheel thrown forms with hand-building techniques. Students need to have basic skills with both throwing and hand building, and enough curiosity to experiment freely.
Intermediate and Advanced Hand Building
Students taking Intermediate/ Advanced Handbuilding should be familiar with slab construction, glazing, storing clay and our general studio procedures. Depending on the group, projects may include slab boxes, slab vases, teapots, and sculpted forms as well as more studies in surface design.
Keepsake plates
These 6 by 6 inch plates commemorate a special drawing by a loved one – a grandchild, a son or daughter, in my case my great nephews. I work with you to create a sweet memory.
If you are interested in having a plate created with your own custom artwork please contact me below.
Workshops
My workshops are packed with demonstrations, discussions and hands-on clay work. What we can accomplish will depend a lot on the length of time we have together and the intended audience.
Basic Hand Building
Basic Hand Building workshop is for absolute beginners. Students will use slabs to make press-mold pots, cups, pitchers, and trays. Surface design techniques like water etching, decals, stamping, and glazing will be covered.
Build a Better Beast
This workshop uses components of hand building to design and create creatures. We will build our creatures from the ground up using a hollow slab form technique. We will use an additive process to flesh out the forms. The student should have basic hand building experience and a willingness to explore new ideas.
Underglaze Transfer
This workshop is open to both wheel throwers and hand builders. This is a fun way to add surface design to your work. In this workshop we will create two different types of transfers. The first is using a stencil to create a pattern and the second is free form. You will need several completed leather hard pieces on which to apply the transfers. I recommend having smooth-sided pieces so we can apply the transfer easily. If you have your own underglazes, please bring them. So come and explore something new!
Lanterns
In this workshop, we will learn how to use slab construction, pottery wheel, and sculptural techniques to create unique lantern shapes. It is important to cut a nice design in your luminary so the light can shine through it. We will create patterns by cutting or punching out the clay. We will use basic circular punches, drills and cut out tools to create our design. Then, by adding interesting decorations we will give the piece personality. They make a great gift for family and friends.
Animal Whistles
All kinds of musical instruments can be fashioned from clay, with one of the simplest being the clay ocarina. Flutes, whistles and ocarinas are known as airduct flutes and they come in many shapes and sizes. Their common characteristic is an airduct assembly, which makes it easier for a novice to play, since it removes the requirement that a player carefully position their mouth and lips in the precise way necessary to get a proper tone.
Surface Design
This workshop will provide students with the opportunity to explore and develop a variety of techniques and designs on samples and on their own work. Using a wide range of methods like stamping, fabric rolling, sgrafitto, etc., student will create layers of color and texture that relate to the form of the pot or sculpture. Use your own leather-hard work you bring to the workshop.
Get In Touch
Have an idea for a workshop you would like me to teach? Let’s talk!
I will travel within the United States to deliver workshops tailored to meet the goals and objectives of students and potters.
My workshops are packed with demonstrations, discussions and hands-on clay work. What we can accomplish will depend a lot on the length of time we have together and the intended audience.
Once I have received a Workshop Request, we can make a phone appointment to review the details and solidify a plan. Most of the time I will get back to you in a day, though if I am on vacation or teaching, it might take an extra day or so.