Courses:
Clay - Beginning
Wheel I: (72 hours)
This course introduces students
to pottery making. They
will learn to center up
to 1.5 pounds of clay on
a wheel, turn, trim, and
glaze basic forms. Additional
topics covered include throwing
off the hump, the operation
of a pottery studio, clay
bodies, kiln loading and
firing, basic pottery vocabulary,
safety issues, along various
firing techniques including
oxidation, traditional raku,
and horsehair.
Clay – Beginning
Wheel II: (72 hours):
Designed for the individual
who’s only exposure
to the wheel was in Beginning
Wheel I, this course allows
the student to continue
to develop the all important
centering and basic and
throwing skills, increasing
the production of finished
pieces.
Clay - Intermediate
Wheel: (72 hours)
This course covers the basic
elements of designing and
producing thrown pieces
with an emphasis on increasing
production, enhancing design,
reducing clay waste; and
wall/bottom thickness. Lidded
vessels, surface decorations,
the use of sketching to
enhance design, and the
use of the torch in throwing
are introduced. At the conclusion
of the course students should
be able to center up to
6 pounds of clay, produce
a variety of functional
pieces including bowls,
pots, plates, platters,
casseroles, stemware, pitchers,
and bottles; apply surface
decorations, apply glazes,
assist with the operation
of an electric kiln including
shelf maintenance, and use
of the pug mill. Prerequisites:
Completion of Beginning
Wheel II or special permission
from the instructor.
Clay – Handbuilding:
(42 hours) Students will
concentrate on a variety
of handbuilding techniques
including pinch pots, coils,
strips, slabs, extrusions,
and chunks. Topics covered
will clay bodies, bowls,
vases, bottles, tiles, sculptures,
handled items, jewelry,
stamping, incising and a
variety of glazing and firing
techniques. At the conclusion
of the course students will
have completed a number
of projects demonstrated
proficiency in handbuilding.
Clay - Lidded Vessels:
(42 hours) During this course
students will concentrate
on lidded vessels with an
emphasis on good design
and production. Topics include
sugar bowls, casseroles,
lidded candy dishes, lidded
canisters, lidded bottles,
butter dishes, and teapots.
The use of the extruder
and slab roller will be
incorporated into the design
of items. At the conclusion
of the course students will
be proficient with at least
four lid forms, including
cutting lids from closed
forms and the use of hand-building
tools. In addition, students
will have enhanced their
surface finishing techniques
including glazing. Prerequisites:
Completion of Intermediate
Wheel or special permission
from instructor.
Clay – Joined
Vessels: (42 hours)
This course will concentrate
on the design and production
of joined pieces including
large footed pieces, large
pitchers, stemware, teapots,
and handled items. The use
of the extruder and slab
roller will be incorporated
into the design of items.
At the conclusion of the
course students will be
proficient in throwing a
variety of joined pieces
and utilization of handbuilding
tools. In addition, students
will have enhanced their
surface finishing techniques
including glazing. Prerequisites:
Completion of Intermediate
Wheel or special permission
from instructor.
Clay – Distorted
Vessels: (42 hours)
Students will concentrate
on distorting the thrown
vessels producing ovals,
squares, and amorphous shapes
from the thrown article.
At the conclusion of the
course students will have
produced a variety of functional
pieces which have taken
on a secondary form from
the original and enhanced
the surface with a variety
of glaze and finishing techniques.
Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Ceramic Surfaces
– Majollica:
(42 hours) Using an old
Italian style of painting
with glazes, students will
enhance their sense of color
and design of the surface
in this course that focuses
more on the surface than
the article itself. Prerequisites:
Completion of Beginning
Wheel I or special permission
from instructor.
Ceramic Surfaces
– Altering:
(42 hours) During this course
students will concentrate
on a variety of techniques
for enhancing the ceramic
surface. These include cutting,
carving, surface expansion,
faceting, piercing, sprigging,
stamp making, stamping,
paddling, and cracking.
At the conclusion of the
course students will have
a body of work which demonstrates
knowledge of a wide variety
of surfacing techniques.
Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Ceramic Surfaces
– Liquid Clays:
(42 hours) Students will
learn the use and application
of several liquid clays
including terra sigillatas,
slips and engobes, mocha
diffusions, casting slips,
Egyptian paste, naturally
colored clays, neriage and
nerikomi. At the conclusion
of the course students will
have produced a body of
work that demonstrates mastery
of the use of a variety
of liquid clays as decorations
to the ceramic surface.
Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Ceramic Surfaces
– Glaze Fabrication:
(42 hours) The fabrication
of a variety of glazes for
use on a variety of clay
bodies will be the focus
of this course. Particular
emphasis will be placed
on safety and function.
At the conclusion of the
course students will have
produced a body of work
that demonstrates mastery
of developing, mixing, and
firing custom made glazes.
Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Ceramic Surfaces
– Brushing, Trailing
and Soft Stamps: (42
hours) During this course
students will learn a variety
of glaze application techniques
including brushing, dotting,
resisting, banding, use
of crayons, screening techniques,
ceramic pencils, and underglaze
pens. At the conclusion
of the course students will
have produced a body of
work that demonstrates mastery
of a variety of glaze surface
techniques. Prerequisites:
Completion of Intermediate
Wheel or special permission
from instructor.
Ceramic Surfaces
– Spraying:
(42 hours) Students will
learn the use of airbrushes
and spray guns for the application
of glazes and underglazes
with particular attention
to safety during application.
At the conclusion of the
course students will have
produced a body of work
that demonstrates mastery
of a variety of spraying
techniques. Prerequisites:
Completion of Intermediate
Wheel or special permission
from instructor.
Firing –
Beginning Raku:
(42 hours) Producing items
for raku firing, developing
raku glazes, applying raku
glazes, building a raku
kiln, firing, and safety
will be the focus of this
course. Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Firing –
Advanced Raku:
(42 hours) During this course,
students will concentrate
on finishing and surface
techniques, post-firing
techniques, and be introduced
to raku jewelry. Upon completion
of the course students should
have produced a body of
work that demonstrates technique,
form, and design. Prerequisites:
Completion of Beginning
raku or special permission
from instructor.
Firing –
Horsehair & Pit Firing:
(42 hours). Students will
concentrate on the design,
production, and finishing
of a variety of non-functional
horsehair items and construction
and use of pit kiln. Topics
will include form, terra
sigillatas, pit fire kiln
construction, firing, and
application techniques.
At the conclusion of the
course students will have
a body of work that demonstrates
mastery of the technique.
Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Firing –
Wood Firing: (42
hours) During this course
students will concentrate
on fabrication of pieces,
their glazing, and firing
in a wood fire kiln as well
as in construction and models
of the wood fire kiln. At
the conclusion of the course
students will have produced
a body of work that demonstrates
mastery of wood firing.
Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Firing –
Salt/Soda Firing:
(42 hours) During this course
students will concentrate
on fabrication of pieces,
their glazing, and firing
with the use of salt, soda,
and other additives to the
kiln. At the conclusion
of the course students will
have produced a body of
work that demonstrates mastery
of salt and soda firing.
Prerequisites: Completion
of Intermediate Wheel or
special permission from
instructor.
Pottery Tool Making:
(42 hours) The
design and construction
of simple tools for use
in the studio, including
wedging tables, cut-off
tables and wires, extruders,
hand tools, and kiln furniture
will be the focus of this
course. Emphasis will be
placed on skills and use
of the tools, materials,
and construction. Upon completion
of the course students will
have constructed a variety
of tools.
Clay – Special
Topics: (3 –
12 hours) From time to time
guest artists will demonstrate
and lecture in areas of
their expertise. As a result,
students will be exposed
to a variety of clay artists
from across the country.
Clay Design –
Special Studies:
(72 hours) This course provides
a format for students to
explore personal interests
in clay design with the
assistance, guidance, and
approval of the instructor.
Upon completion of the course
students will have completed
a body of work as specified
in the student-instructor
– designed contractual
agreement. Prerequisites:
Special permission from
instructor.
Clay Business –
Festival Planning, Execution
& Participation:
(42 hours) This course provides
students with the opportunity
to plan an art and craft
festival, conduct it, and
participate in it. Working
with the instructor, students
in the class will conduct
the Mountain Shapes and
Colors Art and Craft Festival.
Topics taught will include
team building, planning,
marketing, advertising,
recruiting artists, exhibition
layout, funding sources,
and booth display. Upon
completion of the course,
students will have conducted
a successful art and craft
festival and raised money
to support scholarship funds
for students in the program.
Clay Business -
REAL: (48 hours)
During this course students
will explore various aspects
of a business in clay including
developing a mission statement,
strategic marketing, pricing,
legal organization, record
keeping, financing, studio
set up and inventory control.
At the conclusion of this
course students will have
completed a business plan.
Clay Business -
The Business of Art Seminars:
(3 hours) A variety of seminars
will be offered covering
topics pertinent to craft
artists. As a result of
attending these seminars,
students will gain a greater
insight into the business
of their art, making it
more profitable for them.
Course Duplication:
Students may take any given
course twice at the standard
registration fee. Upon registration
to a course for the third
or more times, they will
have to pay at the self
supporting rate. Students
may repeat a course on their
own volition or upon the
request of the instructor.
Special
Credit Students:
With permission of the instructor
and space permitting, students
may register in classes
without the intent of earning
a certificate in the program.
However to pass the course,
they will subject to the
same rigor as the certificate
student.
Master
Potter Certificate Program | Meet
the Faculty & Staff | Photos
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