Ceramics
Our Ceramics Department is one of the oldest and most well established departments at Southwest School of Art and serves nearly 500 adult students each year in a positive, creative, community atmosphere. The ceramics program offers classes on hand-building, wheel-throwing, raku, glazing, digital embellishments and much more. Students also have the opportunity to participate and learn from visiting artists during workshops that are offered frequently throughout the year.
Ceramics Note
Students registering for ceramic classes should be physically capable of lifting up to 25 lbs. Intermediate and advanced students will be required to spend time outside of the scheduled class period to load, fire, and unload kilns (under appropriate supervision). Currently, students registered for an in-person studio ceramic class will only be allowed practice time on the same day their class is scheduled on. Open studio hours will not be available at this time. Students registered for online classes will have assigned times to drop-off and pick-up work from firing as well as for in studio glazing.
Ceramics Material List
Materials List
Classes not listed here will either have required materials in the class description, discuss needed materials during the first class, or the materials will be supplied.
Ceramics Course Descriptions
These are the course descriptions only. Please scroll down to Quantity and Pricing to register.
1001 | Introduction to Throwing | Studio Class
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Lyn Woods
Dates: Thurs, 2/11/2021 to 4/8/2021 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $280.00
This class will focus on the basic skills of wheel throwing-centering, opening, and pulling vessels-followed by learning to form bowls, cylinders, and cups. Students will also learn to evaluate form and how form serves a vessel's function while working in mid-range clay and glazes in the electric kiln. *See Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for this class will be on Thursdays from 5:30 - 10:00pm only. No class Apr 1.
1030a | Throwing Skills | Studio Class
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Ed Escobedo
Dates: Sat, 2/6/2021 to 4/3/2021 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $280.00
Expand and refine your throwing skills through the forming of bowls, cups, lids, pitchers, and the assemblage of two-part forms. Presentations and discussion will cover how to integrate form with function as well as an array of surface decoration techniques. *See Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for the Saturday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00pm and the Tuesday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00 only. Prerequisite: Students should have completed at least two introductory to wheelthrowing courses. (No class Mar 27)
1030b | Throwing Skills | Studio Class
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Lyn Woods
Dates: Tues, 2/9/2021 to 4/6/2021 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $280.00
Expand and refine your throwing skills through the forming of bowls, cups, lids, pitchers, and the assemblage of two-part forms. Presentations and discussion will cover how to integrate form with function as well as an array of surface decoration techniques. *See Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for the Saturday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00pm and the Tuesday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00 only. Prerequisite: Students should have completed at least two introductory to wheelthrowing courses. (No class Mar 30)
1071 | Handbuilding Sculptural Forms | Studio Class
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Andy Bally
Dates: Thurs, 2/11/2021 to 4/8/2021 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $280.00
Handbuilding is the fundamental construction method used to create sculptural ceramic forms. Students will undertake a variety of projects that incorporate slab construction, round and flat coil construction, pinch-forming methods, solid and hollowing construction, as well as surface texturing. Working in low-fire clay and glazes, learn how to use these materials for the purpose of handbuilding and decorating sculptural work. Prerequisite: Students must have completed a minimum of one introduction to handbuilding course. Tuition covers glaze materials and kiln firing; however, students should anticipate additional fees for clay, specific glazes, and some tools. *See Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for this class will be Thursdays from 9:30am - 2:00pm only. No class Apr 1.
ON-1002 | Beginning Handbuilding | Online
Level: All Levels | Instructor: Michael Foerster
Dates: Tues, 2/9/2021 to 4/6/2021 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Studio: Online | Building: Online
Tuition: $275.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $260.00
Registration closes Jan 31. Fundamental handbuilding skills and techniques will be covered including pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction with focus on fun and artful forms as well as surface techniques to add decorative elements to make the work truly one-of-a-kind. Low-fire Longhorn Red clay will be used; a clay and materials kit can be purchased through Road Runner Ceramics. A curbside drop-off date will be set by your instructor for the firing of your work. See Ceramics Note and materials list. No class Mar 30.
ON-1037 | Terracotta Planters | Online
Level: All Levels | Instructor: Ryan Takaba
Dates: Sat, 2/6/2021 to 3/13/2021 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Studio: Online | Building: Online
Tuition: $230.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $215.00
Registration closes Jan 31. Goodbye winter and hello spring-welcome in the idea of warmth and sunshine with terracotta planters for your spring flowers. Instruction will cover basic handbuilding skills like pinch pots and coil building along with decorative techniques and ornamentation to create one-of-a-kind planters embracing the richness of the unglazed terracotta clay. Low-fire Longhorn Red clay will be used and can be purchased through Road Runner Ceramics. A curbside drop-off date will be set by your instructor for the firing of your work. See Ceramics Note and materials list.
ON-1068b | Studio Concepts: Developing an Idea | Online/Studio Hybrid
Level: Intermediate/Advanced | Instructor: Maria Gould
Dates: Wed, 2/10/2021 to 4/7/2021 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Studio: Online | Building: Online
Tuition: $275.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $260.00
Registraion closes Jan 31. Challenge yourself to develop and produce a coherent body of work around a central concept or idea and carry it through to a physical form. The language of art, craft, and the principles of design are employed to help you make formal and conceptual decisions. These choices will be discussed, edited, and reworked with the help of the instructor and studio-mates culminating in a final body of work. Prerequisite: Students must have completed at least two advanced level classes and can select which temperature range they desire to work in. See Ceramics Note and materials list. A curbside drop-off date will be set by your instructor for the firing of your work, and students may arrange with the instructor for 2 hours of on-campus ceramic studio time following the online portion of the class. No class Mar 31.