CERAMICS
CAC offers 3 different ceramic learning opportunities; Intro to the Wheel 8 week session, Open Ceramics Studio and 2nd Saturdays: Ceramics Focus Workshops. Scroll down to find information on them all.
Classes and workshops are small enough to receive a lot of individual attention. Please register/pay in advance. Email with questions: info@calistogaartcenter.org
New start date! Still time to join.
intro to ceramics - WHEEL THROWING, Session 4
Instructor - Amanda Bury
8 week session,
Tuesday April 23rd - June 11th
Session cost - $325
Welcome to the wonderful world of wheel-throwing! A skilled potter will make throwing look effortless, but anyone who has given it a try knows it is anything but. In this eight-week course, we will break it down so you can build solid foundations that will keep you learning and growing for years to come. Whether you’re brand new to throwing or looking to get back into your practice this class is the perfect place to start. We’ll teach you the best techniques for every step, from wedging and throwing clay on the wheel to trimming and adding handles as well as glazing our final creations.
Clay, glaze and firing costs are included. The CAC has basic throwing tools for you to use. We will provide details here soon, on what to buy if you would like your own.
*We recommend taking this or another Intro to Ceramics class before attending the Monday & Wednesday Open Ceramics Studio.
or pay with paypal
student work unglazed
OPen Ceramics for 16 years+*
Monitor/Ceramics master: Kristen Easters
Available each Monday and Wednesday (unless otherwise noted*)
Fee options - MONTH passes and drop-in available.
5:00pm - 8:00pm
This open format studio time is geared towards students who have had a basic introduction to ceramics before. An experienced monitor will be present to help participants with questions as you work on individual projects.
*We recommend that you have taken at least an Intro to ceramics class and have a basic understanding of hand building/throwing, wheel maintenance, glazing before enrolling in this ceramics open studio format.
Monthly Session Cost: $125.00. Starts the beginning of each month.
8 classes monthly (usually, closed some holidays)
Ceramics Class Drop-In Fee: $25 (Drop-in fees max out at $125 which allow the same privileges as monthly participants.)
There is a limit to number of participants. For drop-in, if you want to pay with cash or check when you arrive, you should email to communicate your intention to come so we are aware: (info@calistogaartcenter.org)
Materials fee: standard clay is $30 (25lb bag of clay & glazes) Special request clays: porcelain / black / dragon fruit clay - $35
2nd Saturdays - Ceramics Focus
The 2nd Saturday of each month, guest ceramics artists and teachers will highlight a particular technique. Some prerequisite skills might be necessary for these workshops. Workshop times may be different for each one depending on the instructor. All materials and necessary firings included. Students registered for a month ceramics pass, get a discount for that months workshop.
March 9th - Hunter Smith: On and Off the Wheel: Building Composite Forms (10am - 2pm)
This workshop will encourage students to explore ways they can alter and build onto simple thrown pieces to create larger or more complex works. We will be thinking about integrating basic throwing techniques with elements of hand building - such as slab, pinching, and coil-building. Participants who already have some experience on the wheel but want to explore some more intermediate concepts in their work might find this workshop particularly beneficial.
Workshop Fee - $50 Registered month pass participants $40
NEW DATE - May 12th - Miriam Owen Nature Printed Clay Tapas Dishes (11am - 2pm)
Create a set of unique tapas dishes imprinted with collected nature.
Miriam will instruct you how to make small plates, 5-7 inches in diameter from slabs of clay and imprint with nature to decorate. Bring flowers such as fuschias, leaves with strong veins, grasses or texture objects to imprint the clay.
CAC will fire and glaze and let you know when your pieces are ready for pickup. Please allow up to 2 weeks for the firing process to be completed.
Suitable for all levels of experience.
Ages 12+
Workshop Fee - $50 Register month ceramics pass participants $40
May 11th - Mary Duman: Biomorphic Ceramics (10am-1pm)
Learn how to create nature inspired sculptures and pottery. Mary will discuss how she gathers inspiration for her ceramics from her hikes during a short artist talk and presentation of her artwork. Afterwards, she will demonstrate her techniques for creating unique nature inspired sculptures and pottery, including reductive sculpting, stamping, and simple sprig mold techniques. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own biomorphic sculpture or pottery with Mary's guidance and support. No experience required.
Workshop Fee - $50 Registered month pass participants $40
June 8th - Hunter Smith: Teapots, Assemblage, and Clay-Play/Integrating hand built and thrown (10am - 2pm)
This intermediate workshop will focus on demonstrations in addition to quick and fun exercises to get participants thinking about assembling and making pieces in a more dynamic way. The form we will focus on primarily is the teapot but the skills and ideas we will discuss can be applied to other types of work as well. The goal is to break down a more complex form and approach it with a sense of play. Participants might not create finished pieces during this workshop but the ideas we will explore can enhance their work moving forward.