Ariel Bowman
June 26th-30th 2023
Animals in Clay
9:30-4:30 Tuition $750
Walk on the wild side and learn to sculpt animals in clay!
In this five day hands-on workshop participants will create animals of their choosing using solid building methods.
Ariel will demonstrate the basics of solid construction and how to use an armature to create an 18 inch sculpture. Some clay sculpture experience is necessary for students who want to create larger pieces, but beginners are also welcome if they want to work smaller.
Clay modeling demonstrations will include a variety of techniques for sculpting animal anatomy and creating accurate proportions based on scientific observation. Discussions will focus on animal expression, gesture, and the use of maquettes and sketching to plan out larger works. Participants will learn how to hollow, reassemble, and detail their personal animal sculptures over the course of the workshop.
Ariel will also share her techniques for creating different animal textures including how to make silicone texture mats. Each student will create their own texture mats for future use. Other discussions will include creating environments and context for animal figures, and ways of making clay look like other materials by integrating mixed media with ceramics.
In the final days of the workshop, glazing animal sculpture will also be discussed including experimenting with commercial glazes and using slow cooling programs in electric kilns. Participants will have the opportunity to try out glazes and stains on test tiles that they create and plan a future surface for their finished sculptures.
Instagram: @ariel.bowman
Lakyn Bowman
July 7th-9th 2023
Mono-Printing on Clay
9:30-4:30 Tuition $550
In this three day hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to mono-print on clay surfaces.
This technique utilizes underglazes and colored slips to transfer hand drawn images onto the participants leather hard clay.
Lakyn will be demonstrating her method to achieve aged and weathered surfaces on a red clay base. Students will also learn how to apply handles post decoration without messing up the design.
The workshop teaches tips on composition and spacing and how that plays an important part in the end results of this diverse technique.
Instagram: @lakynbowman_art
Curt LaCross
July 24th-28th 2023
Sculpting the Human in Clay
9:30-4:30 Tuition $750
During this intensive five day hands-on workshop participants will learn the exciting and unconventional methods LaCross uses to fabricate striking life-like subjects .
Curt will show how he builds his realistic subjects, demonstrating various surface techniques.
First, participants will explore the possibilities of working on an armature. He will discuss anatomy, the construction process, and conceptual development.
Later, LaCross and participants will spend time refining their sculptures and will delve into the post-firing processes Curt uses to achieve his strikingly cosmetic exteriors. Students will be introduced to new approaches on how to address surface.
The workshop will cover working with resins, various acrylics, and tools. This promises to be an innovative and informative event in which participants will execute LaCross’ methods to fabricate their own sculpted piece.
Instagram: @thebulldozer
Workshop Images: 2021
CJ Niehaus
August 4th-6th 2023
Narrative Surfaces
9:30-4:30 Tuition $550
Clay as a 3D canvas has been a focus of mine for many years. Finding my voice and looking for ways to express it lead me to the use of underglaze (UG) pencils. The soft, sketchy lines allow me to indulge in my love of drawing while creating objects for home in porcelain, marrying the narrative with the object.
In this three day hands-on workshop, I will be sharing my journey of using various surface techniques. We will explore preparing the surface, setting the pencil, shading and underglaze washes.
This workshop will also involve soft slab techniques and discuss interesting forms that enhance the overall design.
Students will bring bisque-fired pieces to work on. Porcelain or porcelaneous bodies are best suited to my technique . There will also be test tiles to experiment on.
Instagram: @cjniehaus
Helen Otterson
October 7th-9th 2023
Alternative Firing
Beyond Raku
9:30-4:30 Tuition $550
This three-day hands-on workshop focuses on alternative firing techniques, including naked raku, horse hair, metal can saggar, aluminum foil saggar firing.
Helen will teach you how to make and fire foil saggars. She will discuss firing techniques, cover the complexities of using Ferric Chloride, discuss various combustibles, and share slip and terra sigillata recipes.
Students will bring bisque-fired pieces to experiment with the various alternative firing techniques. Details of the size and number of pieces will be discussed before the workshop.
Instagram: @ottersonceramics
Workshop Images: 2021