Wednesdays 7-9:30pm
Course Description: This is an ideal course for students that have completed our Beginner Wheel Throwing class or have other recent ceramic experience. This course will help you gain technical skills to make functional pottery and incorporate unique, decorative elements into your work. Topics include handles, lids, teapots, throwing off the hump, and creating altered forms. Pieces finished with your choice of our studio glazes will be food safe and fully functional.
Course fee includes unlimited practice clay, use of studio equipment, tools, and bisque & glaze firing for up to 10lb work (additional firing for a fee).
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CLASS SYLLABUS
Each intermediate course is tailored by the teacher with the goals of each set of students in mind. Specific course outlines will be determined Week 1. Below is a sample syllabus with possible projects.
Week 1:
- Studio orientation and introductions
- Wedging, centering, throwing demonstration
- Demo: Matching forms.
- Goal: Keep 2-3 of your most identical cups. Throw many cups, attempting to repeat the shape, profile, height, thinness of wall with the same amount of clay. Attempt to rely on no additional tools, just hands, water, and sponge.
Week 2:
- Demo: Trimming demonstration, tap centering.
- Demo: Finishing pots: burnishing the feet, creating refined pots.
- Demo: Surface decoration: carving, adding impressions and slip texture, considering how glaze choices affect surface decisions.
Week 3:
- Demo: Throwing off the hump: making tiny items, small bowls, as well as lids and spouts
- Throw parts to later assemble a teapot, pitcher, other assembled pottery.
Week 4:
- Demo: pulling handles, different handle styles, trimming and finishing lids
- Demo: students’ choice, upon request (Closed forms/bottles; platters; colanders/pierced forms, etc.)
- Last week to work with wet clay (unless registered for next session)
Week 5:
- Discussion on what glaze is, and reading test tiles properly
- Demo: using studio glazes (and decorative wax resist)
- Last week for trimming, handles, greenware clay. All work must be on the cart for bisque firing by the end of class on Week 5.
- All non-continuing work and clay will be reclaimed and recycled at the end of Week 5.
Week 6:
- Final week, finishing glazing
- Demo: layering glazes, using wax resist for designs
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