HOME / ADULT POTTERY CLASSES

Class Schedule 2010

Beginner to Advanced Wheel Throwing

Monday Nights 6pm-9pm with Todd Scholtz

Tuesday Nights 6pm-9pm with Brian Klapmeyer

Wednesday Nights 6pm-9pm with Bob Putnam

Thursday Mornings 10am-1pm with Cathy Broski

Saturday Mornings 9:30am-1:30pm with Joe Smith

Members $135.00 Includes 25# bag of clay of your choice, glazes and firing costs.
Non-Member $170.00 Includes 25# bag of clay of your choice, glazes and firing costs.

Each student will be taught on an individual basis and projects will increase in difficulty as their skills develop. Beginners will learn the basic skills of throwing on the wheel. These include wedging, centering, and throwing simple forms. Intermediate techniques involve creating lids, handles, and throwing larger forms. Advanced techniques involve altering a thrown vessel and adding hand built features. All students will explore the variety of glaze techniques using our 30+ different studio glazes. Whatever your skill level may be, all you have to decide is which class best fits your schedule!

Sign up any time. Students meet for 4 weeks in a row on the day they've signed up for. Please meet with your instructor for make up classes.

Intermediate to Advanced Wheel Throwing

Thursday Nights 6pm-9pm with Anne Mulvihill

Members $135.00 Includes 25# bag of clay of your choice, glazes and firing costs.
Non-Member $170.00 Includes 25# bag of clay of your choice, glazes and firing costs.

Students who have grasped the basics of wheel throwing can expect to learn how to make complex forms and to consider the aesthetics of the forms in relation to their function. They will learn primarily advanced wheel throwing techniques with some hand built features. The class atmosphere is fun and challenging and students will self-critique. There may be opportunities where the class will take feild trips and have group shows in art fairs.

Sign up any time. Students meet for 4 weeks in a row on the day they've signed up for. Please meet with your instructor for make up classes.

Basics of Glaze Formulation

Instructor: Paul Storms

Session 1: (SATURDAYS) January 9, 16, 23, 30 (3pm-6pm)

Session 2: (SATURDAYS) Febuary 6, 13, 20, 27 (3pm-6pm)

Session 3: (SATURDAYS) March 6, 13, 20, 27 (3pm-6pm)

Session 4: (SATURDAYS) April: 3, 10, 17, 24 (3pm-6pm)

Session 5: (SATURDAYS) May 8, 15, 22, 29 (3pm-6pm)

Session 6: (SATURDAYS) June 5, 12, 19, 26 (3pm-6pm)

Members $135.00 (Per Session)
Non-Member $170.00 (Per Session)

Please enroll before the first class. You will not be able to enroll for the current class in mid-session.

This class will give students an understanding of basic glaze chemistry and how to make their own glaze. The class will focus on types of glazes, glaze materials, glaze mixing and glaze application techniques. Also each student will learn how to make a fusion button test, line blend, and how to check the specific gravity of a glaze.

Function of Pottery

Instructor: Melissa Lind

Session 1: (SATURDAYS) January 9, 16, 23, 30 (1pm-4pm)

Session 2: (SATURDAYS) Febuary 6, 13, 20, 27 (1pm-4pm)

Session 3: (SATURDAYS) March 6, 13, 20, 27 (1pm-4pm)

Session 4: (SATURDAYS) April: 3, 10, 17, 24 (1pm-4pm)

Session 5: (SATURDAYS) May 8, 15, 22, 29 (1pm-4pm)

Session 6: (SATURDAYS) June 5, 12, 19, 26 (1pm-4pm)

Members $135.00 (Per Session) Includes 25# bag of clay of your choice, glazes and firing costs.
Non-Member $170.00 (Per Session) Includes 25# bag of clay of your choice, glazes and firing costs.

Please enroll before the first class. You will not be able to enroll for the current class in mid-session.

This class is for the intermediate to advanced potter that would like to make their forms more appealing and functional for the public and who may be interested in selling functional work. This class will discuss the function of the cup. There are many things in everyday objects that most people don't notice. The responsibility of the designer of an object is to make the object not just appealing, but functional. You wouldn't buy a couch just for the beautiful designs on the fabric if it were not comfortable. Nor would you want to use a cup that was pretty but really uncomfortable. This class will look at the different aspects of a cup and we will discuss why we choose the dinnerware we do. This class will help you step outside of just sitting down to throw. You will learn how to make your pottery more comfortable to use and more beautiful.

Advanced Handbuilding

Instructor: Shannan Kaffenberger

Members $135.00 (Per Session)
Non-Member $170.00 (Per Session)

Please enroll before the first class. You will not be able to enroll for the current class in mid-session.

Hand building The 4 Elements: Texture, Expression, Gesture, & Form

Each four-week session will highlight a different technique of Hand building Tool Making, Coil, Slaps, & Pinching. We will explore how Texture, Expression, Gesture, & Form, effect each technique of hand building. The first four classes will be the basis for the subsequent classes, which is ideal if you are a beginner, but if you are only interested in a particular four-week class that is ok too.

Hand Building Session 1: TEXTURE Creating and using tools.

Thursday 4/1/10: 6-9pm:
• Create clay tools from clay using found objects, objects from nature and by carving with tools.
• We will discuss the clay and how it can be made into tools and its surface altered.
• We will make press stamps and create our own personal signature stamp.
• We will also explore how to texture the clay surface.
• Students should begin think about what influences their creativity and inspires them.

Thursday 4/8/10: 6-9pm:
• Using the bisque fired clay tools we made in the previous class we will create two projects:
  1. A personalized "name" tile that will serve as the center piece to a continuing project. (6 x 6 using a tar paper template) The tile will explore the personality and personal influence of each student.
  2. We will be rolling a slab, then making a slab vase. This project will be decorated using the stamps made in pervious class. Continuing tile making into next week and prepare students to explore 4 major elements of their own life and influences.

Thursday 4/15/10: 6-9pm:
• We will begin with a glaze demo, including an explanation of techniques and proper application for clean firing using the bisque fired projects from the previous weeks.
• Then continuing with the “Name” tile created in the previous week and applying the 4 requested ideas students will create a series of 4 smaller (3 x 3) companion tiles that will integrate into a final finished tile composition which reflects each individual students’ personality and inspiration.

Thursday 4/22/10: 6-9pm:
• Glaze multi-paneled wall tile if complete, or finish up any loose ends.

Hand Building Session 2: Coil EXPRESSION, a dialogue with clay.

Thursday 5/6/10: 6-9pm:
• The language of coiled clay: Learn to listen to the clay, how to read it and be sensitive to moisture, and how it talks to you as you build.
• Learn to create volume and how to push it's limits.
• Projects will consist of 2 vessels:
  1. A figurative influence.
  2. A classic vessel form.
• Instruction will include: Attention to fundamentals of ceramic form, the lip, the volume, and the foot of a vessel.

Thursday 5/13/10: 6-9pm:
• Discuss the possibilities of altering the form using paddles and clay tools and stamps.
• Finish the pieces by discussing the drying process and how it will be affected by the size of the piece.
• You will understand how to maintain the piece through a lengthy building phase.

Thursday 5/13/10: 6-9pm:
• Glaze bisque fired projects.
• We will begin with a glaze demo, including an explanation of techniques and proper application for clean firing using the bisque fired projects from the previous weeks.
• Students may continue with a new project.

Thursday 5/27/10: 6-9pm:
• Glaze any unfinished projects and tie up all loose ends.

Hand Building Session 3: Pinching To reveal GESTURE

Thursday 6/3/10: 6-9pm:
• Create animals and figures using the pinching method.
• Incorporate the tools created in previous classes to aid in forming the figures.
• We will discuss how you can incorporate these types of forms with a vessel or animate them in their own environments.
• We will create rattles, pods and bowl forms using the pinching method, applying the texture.

Thursday 6/10/10: 6-9pm:
• We will roll a slab and, then using multiple cut outs of the same form ( simple cookie cutter designs), create a bowl or platter using another vessel to stabilized the form while building.
• We will use these repeated clay cutouts slightly overlapping the edges with pressure and slip.

Thursday 6/10/10: 6-9pm:
• Glaze bisque fired projects.
• We will begin with a glaze demo, including an explanation of techniques and proper application for clean firing using the bisque fired projects from the previous weeks.
• We will combine a pinch pot with elements learned from coil pots, following the organic gesture of vessel.

Thursday 6/10/10: 6-9pm:
• Glaze and tie up any loose ends.

Hand Building Session 4: FORM the Slab

Thursday 7/1/10: 6-9pm:
• Design and create a box using a slab.
• Cut and form a box using tarpaper templates.
• Discuss the importance of smoothing the clay on both sides and other obstacles associated with slabs.
• Students can use any template of a box they want. The tarpaper will enable all types of forms.

Thursday 7/8/10: 6-9pm:
• Continuing from the previous class we will remove the tarpaper template and finish the box.
• We will finish the box with details of textures.
• The boxes can be ornamented with all types of details like: feet, handles, sgfaffito, slip applications, and others.
• Students are free to explore other forms using templates.

Thursday 7/15/10: 6-9pm:
• Glaze bisque fired projects.
• We will begin with a glaze demo, including an explanation of techniques and proper application for clean firing using the bisque fired projects from the previous weeks.
• Using the slab slump method, students will mold a vessel using objects they have brought to class such as a ball, bowl, platter or large sea shell.
• Students will be asked to complete the form using other hand building method already explored in previous classes.

Thursday 7/22/10: 6-9pm:
• Glaze any unfinished projects.
• Tie up all loose ends.

Additional information

You will need to bring the following to class for each session:

Basic kemper tool kit.

Found objects such as: sea shells, walnuts, anything textural you can think of, costume jewelry, cutlery, sole of a shoe, textured fabric, etc...

A ball, bowl, platter or large sea shell for use as a slump mold. (See session 4 details)

Old pillow case.

Old wooden rolling pin.

Old plastic container with tight fitting lid.

Large plastic sheeting, or dry cleaning bag.

Cheap small paint brush *for wax resist application.

An open mind and creativity!

Artwork by Bob Putnam

"Balance"
By Cathy Broski

By Anne Mulvihill

copyright KCCG 2008