6 Week Introduction to Hand Building Pottery

A great opportunity to get your hands dirty and to learn the basics of hand building ceramic objects! Students will learn about the properties of clays and how to create both decorative and useful objects. Along the way we will discuss the many different methods of hand building such as pinch pots, coil built pots, soft and stiff slabs and the variety of tools and techniques used in creating and decorating these forms.

The instructor, Danny Blumenfeld, has been creating wheel throwing pottery and hand built ceramic objects on and off for over 20 years and is a member of the Carolina Clay Matters pottery guild. He has studied under a variety of different instructors at CPCC, Clayworks and at Penland School of Craft, incorporating everything he has learned into his style of working with clay. He currently a contract employee at Clayworks teaching both hand building and wheel throwing.

Classes will consist of six sessions held on the same day and time each week and will focus on developing the basic skills needed to make and decorate one of a kind vessels and sculptural forms.

Each class consists of a demonstration and hands on instruction and assistance. Danny will work with each student individually while they are learning the basic skills and will offer assistance as needed.

The six week program is as follows:

Class 1: Discuss the properties of clay, different processes that may be used in creating ceramic objects, timing as it relates to the process and some of the tools needed to create successful pieces. We will also make a pinch pot and some stamps if time allows.

Class 2: Refine the pieces begun in class 1 and make a coil built pot.

Class 3: Make a textured soft slab mug using the slab roller, roll out extra slabs for class 4 and refine the coil built pot.

Class 4: Build a stiff slab box and continue refining any previous projects.

Class 5: Last session for wet work!! We will discuss different ways of adding texture and color to leather hard clay and will add some finishing touches to our creations.

Class 6: Final session. Discuss glazes and the glazing process and students will glaze their own work with assistance as needed from the instructor.

Enrolled students will have access to the studio at any time to work on their ceramic projects as long as there is a member present to let them in.

Students will be working with stoneware clay and glazes. They are the same materials used in the production of high-fired stoneware which is fired to 2118 to 2165 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in pieces that are all food, microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe.

The class fee includes all the tools and materials (including one 25-lb bag of clay), shelf storage and the ability to fire 5 finished pieces. Additional pieces may be fired at the usual studio rate based on the size of the object.

IMPORTANT: Class is open to ages 16 and up, though minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. The adult must purchase an additional ticket to attend the class.

Please wear appropriate clothing for getting clay on.

Pottery pieces not picked after 30 days will be discarded.

Class may be canceled due to low enrollment in which case a full refund will be issued.

Host or Publisher MakerSpace Charlotte