(NOTE: As of October 29th, 2024, there will be no class on 11/27 and the course has been extended by one week to the pre-scheduled make up date noted below.)

Decorating your clay projects can be a lot of fun. Enjoy how to make simple techniques into sophisticated designs! This class plays with colored slips and underglazes, use of stencils and transfers, wax resist and masking, foam stamps, slip trailing and brush techniques. We will work with slabs for hand building forms or tiles with the goal to integrate our projects with decoration techniques. Students will glaze and fire their work at the end of the class. Students are also welcome to bring bisque fired pieces and/or test tiles to use in class.

(In the event that BAC has to cancel a class session due to weather or facility emergencies, please note the pre-scheduled make up date for this course will be Wednesday, December 11. More information on our policies for cancellations can be found HERE.)

CLASS MATERIALS

A materials fee has been included in the cost of this course and students will be provided with a basic ceramic tool kit.

Students registering for this class must also purchase the Ceramics Class Materials Fee including clay, glazing, and firing. Due to limited kiln space and studio capacity students are limited to two sleeves of clay per course. Per the instructor's recommendation, students registering for this class should purchase the “95400 White Clay” option. If you have leftover clay purchased from BAC in the last year, the clay purchase requirement can be waived.

Students are also welcome to bring bisque fired pieces and/or test tiles to use in class.

ACCESSIBILITY

NOTE: This class will be held in Berkshire Art Center’s Ceramics Studio at Citizens’ Hall, Stockbridge. Our Ceramics Studio is located on the basement level of the building so stair use is required. In addition, restrooms are located on the basement level of our building so stair use is also required.

For all classes held at Citizens’ Hall in Stockbridge, please note our historic building has narrow doorways and is not equipped with an elevator. Our bathrooms, ceramics studio, and 3D studio are accessible via stairs only. We welcome and make every effort to accommodate learners of all styles and abilities. Please contact us if you have questions about accessibility to our building and classes before registering!

BEGINNER (All classes are appropriate for beginners unless otherwise specified in the title)

• New to clay with little to no experience working with clay as an artistic medium, or have taken a few classes but want a refresher/practice reinforcing basic skills.

• Little to no knowledge of wheel throwing or trimming.

• Little to no experience with sculptural techniques such as coiling, slab work or pinching.

• Little to no knowledge of the basics of glaze application.

• Little to no knowledge of different types of kiln temperatures/atmospheres.

ADVANCED BEGINNER

• Must have 6 months of wheel throwing experience and the ability to throw a 1 lb cylinder.

INTERMEDIATE:

• Have taken at least one year of ceramic classes and want to continue building skills.

• Ability to wedge clay.

• Familiar with the terms: greenware, leather/cheese hard, and bone dry clay.

• For Wheel Throwing: Ability to center on a potter’s wheel and throw and trim basic forms (cylinders, bowls) unaided.

• For Handbuilding: Ability to roll a slab unaided and build basic forms using the techniques of pinching, slabs, or coils.

• Knowledge and some experience with glaze application and basic understanding of different kiln temperatures and atmospheres.

ADVANCED:

• (all of the above)

• Have 3 plus years of ceramic class experience.

• Able to create a body of work with either the potter’s wheel or using sculptural/handbuilding techniques.

• Working knowledge of glaze application, surface decoration, and familiarity with different kiln atmospheres and cone temperatures.

• Confident and experienced in glaze application and identifying different types of glaze.

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