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.
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Course details (meeting times, tuition, etc.) are listed below.
Ceramics Course Descriptions
These are the course descriptions only.
1001a | Introduction to Throwing | Studio
Level: Beginning | Instructor: John Bogovich
Dates: Sat, 6/5/2021 to 7/31/2021 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295 | Friends: $280 | Sessions: 8
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 the Saturday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00pm, the Monday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm, and the Wednesday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm only. No class Jul 24.
1001b | Introduction to Throwing | Studio
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Lyn Woods
Dates: Mon, 6/7/2021 to 8/2/2021 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295 | Friends: $280 | Sessions: 8
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 the Saturday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00pm, the Monday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm, and the Wednesday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm only. No class July 26.
1001c | Introduction to Throwing | Studio
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Ed Escobedo
Dates: Wed, 6/9/2021 to 8/4/2021 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295 | Friends: $280 | Sessions: 8
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 the Saturday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00pm, the Monday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm, and the Wednesday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm only. No class Jul 28.
1002 | Beginning Handbuilding: Terracotta | Studio
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Maria Gould
Dates: Fri, 6/4/2021 to 7/16/2021 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $270 | Friends: $255 | Sessions: 6
Fundamental handbuilding skills and techniques will be covered including pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction with focus on fun, artful, and utilitarian forms. Surface techniques to add decorative elements to make the work truly one-of-a-kind will also be covered. The class will work in low-fire terracotta clay and glazes and learn how to use these materials for the purpose of handbuilding. See *Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for this class will be from Fridays 5:30 - 10:00pm. No class Jul 9.
1030a | Throwing Skills | Studio
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Ed Escobedo
Dates: Tues, 6/8/2021 to 8/3/2021 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295 | Friends: $280 | Sessions: 8
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. This class will use high fire Balcones clay and gas fired reduction glazes. *See Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for the Tuesday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm and the Thursday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00pm only. Prerequisite: Students should have completed at least two Introductory to Wheelthrowing courses. No class July 27.
1030b | Throwing Skills | Studio
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Andy Bally
Dates: Thurs, 6/10/2021 to 8/5/2021 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295 | Friends: $280 | Sessions: 8
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. This class will use high fire Balcones clay and gas fired reduction glazes. *See Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for the Tuesday class will be from 5:30 - 10:00pm and the Thursday class will be from 9:30am - 2:00pm only. Prerequisite: Students should have completed at least two Introductory to Wheelthrowing courses. No class Jul 29.
1071 | Handbuilding Sculptural Forms | Studio
Level: Intermediate/Advanced | Instructor: Hollie Lyko
Dates: Mon, 6/7/2021 to 8/2/2021 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $295 | Friends: $280 | Sessions: 8
Handbuilding is the fundamental construction method used to create sculptural ceramic forms. Students will undertake a variety of intermediate/advanced projects that incorporate slab construction, round and flat coil construction, pinch-forming methods, as well as surface texturing. The class will work in low-fire Terracotta clay and glazes and 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 Mon from 9:30am - 2:00pm only. No class July 26.
ON-1068 | Independent Study | Online Hybrid
Level: Intermediate/Advanced | Instructor: Hollie Lyko
Dates: Sat, 6/5/2021 to 7/31/2021 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Studio: Online | Building: Online
Tuition: $275 | Friends: $260 | Sessions: 8
Independent Study is designed for the motivated ceramist that wishes to pursue self-driven projects with the guidance and input of an instructor and other ceramic peers. You should come prepared to the first class with ideas for a series or body of work that will be the focus of this studio practice. Students will have the opportunity to come to campus to use equipment during practice time. Prerequisite: Students must have completed at least two advanced level classes and can select which temperature range they desire to work in. See *Ceramic Note. Practice time to work on and complete projects for this class will be Saturday from 4:00 - 6:00pm only. No class Jul 24. Registration closes May 31.