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).
Studio Access
Our ceramics building features door code access. Registered students should contact the Office of the Registrar at 210.200.8217 or 8227, prior the first class to receive the current access code.
Ceramics Course Descriptions
1001a | Introduction to Wheelthrowing
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Rebecca Andresen
Dates: Mon, 6/4/2018 to 7/23/2018 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $275.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $260.00
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 stoneware clay and high-temperature glazes.
1001b | Introduction to Wheelthrowing
Level: Beginning | Instructor: John Nelson
Dates: Tues, 6/5/2018 to 7/24/2018 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $275.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $260.00
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 stoneware clay and high-temperature glazes.
1002 | Introduction to Handbuilding: Low-Fire
Level: All Levels | Instructor: Cecilia Hancock
Dates: Tues, 6/5/2018 to 7/24/2018 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $275.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $260.00
Handbuilding is the fundamental construction method for creating sculptural ceramic forms. Students will undertake a variety of introductory projects using handbuilt and free-form construction methods that include pinch-forming, round and flat coil construction, and slab construction, as well as techniques for surface enhancement. Students will work in the low-temperature firing range and will be introduced to an array of surface glazing techniques.
1030a | Throwing Skills: Vessel Forms
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: John Nelson
Dates: Mon, 6/4/2018 to 7/23/2018 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $280.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $265.00
Focus on expanding and refining throwing skills while concentrating on specific thrown forms. Presentations and discussion will help students understand how to throw and construct vessels that integrate form with function. NOTE: Section A will focus on the handle and how it visually responds to a vessel form. Section B will focus on the foot and how it visually responds to bowl form. Both sections will spend time on these two important elements that make both a cup and a bowl a pleasure to use. Students will also be introduced to an array of surface decoration techniques and how to load and unload downdraft gas kilns. Prerequisites: Students must have had at least two introductory level throwing classes.
1030b | Throwing Skills: Vessel Forms
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Lyn Woods
Dates: Tues, 6/5/2018 to 7/24/2018 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $280.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $265.00
Focus on expanding and refining throwing skills while concentrating on specific thrown forms. Presentations and discussion will help students understand how to throw and construct vessels that integrate form with function. NOTE: Section A will focus on the handle and how it visually responds to a vessel form. Section B will focus on the foot and how it visually responds to bowl form. Both sections will spend time on these two important elements that make both a cup and a bowl a pleasure to use. Students will also be introduced to an array of surface decoration techniques and how to load and unload downdraft gas kilns. Prerequisites: Students must have had at least two introductory level throwing classes.
1034 | Totem Structures
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Cecilia Hancock
Dates: Thurs, 6/7/2018 to 7/26/2018 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $280.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $265.00
Students in this class will use handbuilding or wheelthrowing techniques to create stackable forms for building a personal totem-like structure. Students will be guided in finding a cohesive theme, whether it's abstract, figurative or symbolic. There will be demonstrations on installation techniques and materials needed to complete the project; however students should be comfortable with their chosen constructing technique. Each student will create one structure with aminimum of three sections and a maximum of seven and not exceeding 6-feet in total height. Students will purchase their own installation materials in addition to clay. See *CERAMIC NOTE. Prerequisite: Students must have had at least two previous handbuilding classes.
1066 | Studio Concepts: Series & Critique
Level: Intermediate/Advanced | Instructor: Jared Theis
Dates: Mon, 6/4/2018 to 7/23/2018 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $280.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $265.00
In this class, students will challenge themselves to produce a coherent body of work addressing concept and the design principles. At the end of the session, a formal critique will be held to analyze the work produced during the session. Throughout the term, a series of critique exercises will be used to develop the skills needed to critically voice and write about the work being viewed. All students will need to spend time with the loading, firing, and unloading of their work. This class is open to both handbuilding and wheelthrowing techniques, however there will be no demonstrations. Instead, there will be weekly discussion on topics including setting up a studio for individual practice, equipment installation, setting up a website, researching opportunities in the field, and exhibiting work in galleries. See* CERAMIC NOTE. Prerequisite: Students should have a minimum of one intermediate handbuilding or one intermediate throwing class.
1105a | Ceramics 101: Happy Hour
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Kimberly Rumfelt
Dates: Tues, 6/12/2018 to 7/24/2018 | 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $210.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $195.00
Looking to have a break from the week? Don't worry about coming dressed to impress, ditch your office best and enjoy creative social time with new people while learning the basics of constructing with clay. Section A will cover basic handbuilding skills, like pinch pots and coil building, along with decorative techniques like slab cut-outs to create one-of-a-kind pieces will be covered. Tuition includes one bag of clay, glaze materials, and use of tools. Additional clay and tools are available for purchase from the ceramics studio. No class Jul 3.
1105b | Ceramics 101: Happy Hour
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Kimberly Rumfelt
Dates: Wed, 6/13/2018 to 7/25/2018 | 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $210.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $195.00
Looking to have a break from the week? Don't worry about coming dressed to impress, ditch your office best and enjoy creative social time with new people while learning the basics of constructing with clay. Section B will proved and introduction to wheelthrowing clay with focus on creating bowl forms. Tuition includes one bag of clay, glaze materials, and use of tools. Additional clay and tools are available for purchase from the ceramics studio. No class Jul 4.
1131 | Folded Vessels
Level: New | Intermediate | Instructor: Rebecca Andresen
Dates: Thurs, 6/7/2018 to 7/26/2018 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $280.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $265.00
Using paper patterns and templates, students will construct handbuilt functional vessels. Patterns and templates will aid students in visualizing the ceramic form in new ways and allows for adjustment of angles, planes, and structure before the building process begins. Demonstrations will cover forming and slab building techniques. Students will be encouraged to use slips and underglazes to create complementary patterns for their work; the class will work with high temperature clay and glazes in the natural gas kiln atmosphere. See *CERAMIC NOTE. Prerequisite: Students must have had a minimum experience of one class in both introductory handbuilding and wheelthrowing.
1135 | Alternative Cooking with Clay Pots
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Linda Perez
Dates: Thurs, 6/7/2018 to 7/12/2018 | 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM and Sat, 6/30/2018 & 7/14/2018 | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $280.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $265.00
Clay pots made it possible to transform cooking from the simple roasting of foods over fire or hot coals to a whole new expanded concept. With clay pots, new and different foods could be cooked, especially those requiring liquids such as grains or legumes. This class will pay homage to the cooking vessel and recreate some of the more common and important ones from egg bakers to cazuelas, or casseroles and bean pots to tagines. We'll learn to use them, as well, by having not one but two Saturdays of preparing class-selected recipes in the pots we make and enjoying the results together. Who knows, you might end up with a family cooking treasure that gets passed down from generation to generation. *CERAMIC NOTE. This class will be using "Kitchen Clay 762" by Standard Ceramic Company which will be available for purchase from the studio. Prerequisite: Students must have either intermediate handbuilding and/or wheelthrowing experience.
1900 | Jingdezhen Pottery Workshop
Level: All Levels | Instructor: Jennifer Datchuk
Dates: 6/18/2018 to 7/7/2018
Studio: Off Campus | Building: Off Campus
Tuition: $1,750.00 | Members/Seniors (65+): $1,750.00
Spend three weeks living and working in Jingdezhen, China, the Porcelain Capital of the World in workshops provided by local ceramic artisans. A series of workshops will run Monday - Saturday each week for three weeks; topics include blue and white decoration, carving, on-glaze painting, and flower making as well as a day trip and a museum trip. Click here to make your deposit.