Handbuilt Clay Ghost & Ghost Dish

Sat Oct 4th 12pm-2pmInstructor Erin Hoekzema

Get spooky and creative in this playful handbuilding clay class! In this one-session, you’ll sculpt your very own adorable clay ghost and a matching ghost-shaped dish or tray—perfect for holding jewelry, trinkets, or Halloween treats.Finished pieces will be kiln-fired and ready for pickup within a few weeks.Come get your hands dirty and craft something boo-tiful!

Take Flight

Learn subtractive sculptural technique where you take material away to release the form, think Michaelangelo, while rendering bird forms in clay, wood and stone. You will work with wire loop tools in clay, chisels and rifflers in stone and learn the cabriole technique to create your unique designed by you bird forms.

Mon Oct 6-27, 6-8pm

Location: Sculpture Studio

Leaf Plates (Rooting Around)

Impressing fallen fall foliage into clay will reveal it’s structure in amazing detail while making a serviceable food safe serving dish sure to attract attention.

Oct 11, 2-4pm

Location: Hidden Lake Gardens

Please note if you are not a member of Hidden Lake Gardens you will need to pay the entrance fee. 

Raku Face Jugs

Face jugs have a long tradition around the world. In the southern United States, the first examples date to the mid-1800’s and were crafted by enslaved African American potters who created these unique pieces for various purposes. In the furst session of this class you’ll be provided with a basic wheel-thrown jug to decorate using hand-building techniques to create a face that is uniquely yours! In the second session you will glaze your piece and we will fire it in the Raku kiln for you to take home that day.A little bit about Raku:Raku firing is a very hands on firing process that creates a very unique finish. Pieces are glazed then placed into the raku kiln where they are fired up to approximately 1800 degrees. Once the kiln reaches temperature the pieces are removed with tongs then placed into barrels filled with a combustible material such as saw dust or straw the closed. This creates a reduction rich environment, meaning in order to burn, the fire has to get the oxygen molecules out of the Clay body and glazes. This is how the rich coppers are developed and the clay body turns black.Students must wear close toe shoes and be prepared for live fire during the second session of this class. All materials will be provided.

 October 11th and 25th 2-4pm

Tea Time

Design and create a fully functional teapot with cups and saucers, sugar and creamer while learning about pouring vessels and lids. We will try out your creations at a tea room at a mutually agreed on sixth session with a special tea time.

Saturday, Oct 18-Sat Nov 22, 10am-noon (5 weeks)

Location: Clay Studio

Max:11 students

Instructor: Pi Benio

Chip and Dip

In an introduction to the potters wheel learn how to “throw” a bowl and a plate that once joined together create a fully functional piece for housing your chips and salsa to entertain your guests.

Sunday Oct 19, 2-4pm

Location: Clay Studio

This class will cover the shape of the face and correct placement and modeling of the features: eyes, mouth, nose and ears. Faces will be slow dried, fired and ready for students to pick up in 2-3 weeks. After firing, the faces can be glazed or painted.

Thurs. Oct. 23, 6-8:30pm Tools and clay provided 

Sculpture studio

The Full Figure

 This class will explore sculpting the full figure, including correct proportions, how to build a structure that stands on its own and hollowing out the piece for firing. Students will work with photographs of 4 views of a clothed model. Sculptures will be slow dried, fired in a kiln and ready for pickup in 3 to 4 weeks for a finish of paint, glaze or other medium of the student’s choice. Some clay experience is helpful.

Oct. 28, 29, 30, (T, W, Th)6:00-8:30pm