Clay/Pottery ClassesSyllabus
Recommended Text: Clay A Studio Handbook By: Vince Pitelka
The first 4-6 classes of each session will start with a demonstration of the weeks technique or project, at quarter after the hour. As soon as you get to class get started. Set-up your work area, get out your pieces in progress and unwrap them. If you are not interested in the demonstration/project you may work quietly. After instruction I will come around to everyone individually to answer any specific questions you might have about what your are working on.
You may makeup ONE class per session. The best way to do this is to try to come to a makeup class the same week you miss. I teach the same topic all week. Class times at NWAC are Tuesdays 9-12, 12-3, 6-9pm, Wednesdays 9-12 and 6-9pm, and Fridays 12-3 at FW. Please try to come to the class you are signed up for on a regular basis.
Open labs are held at NWAC Wed. 12-3 and Sat. 10-2, and Fridays 9-12 at FW. You must be able to work independently. Open labs are NOT for make up classes. Open labs are for you to improve your quality not quantity of pieces. There are plenty of bad pots in the world.
We have a limit of 10 glazed fired pieces per session. I will bisque what you can make in class but the glaze limit is 10. Maximum size is 10"x10"x10". Pieces that are larger will be evaluated individually. All work must be your own and created during class time.
**If you are making pieces to sell, you must stay with-in the 10 pieces limit. I am here to help hobby potters and hobby clay artists. If you are a professional or sell enough to support your habit, you should be doing this in your own studio. I should not be doing your firing. I can advise you on the set up of your own studio and kilns. This is a classroom studio, we are here to learn. Student work and experiments go through these kilns and you must be ready for certain percentage of failure due to no fault of your own.
When working in this studio please purchase and use only Cone 10 Clays. When purchasing clay from Marjon’s please have them write the type and cone on the bag, and you write your name. Clay that is not appropriately marked will be removed from the studio. Recycle your own clay. We do not recycle your clay for you in this studio. Thick clay water and or glaze water is to be dumped in the appropriate barrel outside. Your clay scraps go back in your bag. All clay tools and buckets are washed in the settling bucket in the sink. All glaze tools are to be washed in the appropriate bucket in the glaze room. I recommend starting your own potter’s tool kit using the basic potter’s tool kit and a bucket or box to carry it in. Marjon’s is the only local clay store. It is located at 426 W. Alturas. It is one block north and one block west of Oracle and Grant. The phone # is 624-2872. They are open 9-5 Mon-Fri and 10-2 on Saturdays.
Please keep a reference journal or sketch book. Fill the journal with ideas you come up with when you aren’t here, so that when you are here you have your ideas all set up and use your time wisely. We also track our pieces in this classroom. Please write it down every time you put a piece on the "to be bisqued" rack or "to be glazed" rack. Please leave your tracking paper in the file box.
Identify all pieces in process with your name on a clothes pin clipped onto the plastic. Please identify all pieces with your initials or mark before sending through the bisque fire. You may use a bit of iron oxide on a thin brush to make your mark or carve it DEEPLY into the clay with a pencil over a piece of plastic.
If you are only taking one session, you must finish all work prior to last class, you cannot return after your session to work on your pieces.
Classroom Safety
1. Leave all valuables in your vehicle or at home. DO NOT take off jewelry in class.
2. PLEASE wear closed toed shoes in this classroom.
3. Tuck in loose fitting clothing and sleeves and tie back long hair.
4. Read and sign the Classroom Safety Sheet.
5. DO NOT CREATE CLAY or GLAZE DUST IN THE CLASSROOM!—this is very IMPORTANT.
Classroom etiquette:
Cell phones are answered and talked on outside of the classroom.
Most people are here to work, not to chat. 3 hours goes by very quickly in clay.
Your allotted table space is ½ of a table.
Do not make dust in the classroom, this includes blowing clay or glaze dust off of your piece.
NO clay or glazes down the drain in the sinks, use the settling bucket in the sinks..
PLEASE clean-up after yourself and others. Keep your KARMA jar full.
