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 Material List
Material list is either listed in the class description, will be discuss during the first class, or the materials will be supplied.
Registration
Fall 2019 Registration Dates
Friends of SSA: Online | Tues, Aug 6 at 9:00am
Phone | In-Person | Thurs, Aug 8
Open registration | Tues, Aug 13
Ceramics Course Descriptions
1000 | Ceramics 101: Introduction to Clay
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Kimberly Rumfelt
Dates: Wed, 9/18/2019 to 12/4/2019 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $340.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $325.00
Ceramics 101: Handbuilding offers an energetic, yet relaxing way to unwind from the work week. Ditch your office duds and enjoy creative social time, and make new friends while learning clay basics. Fundamental handbuilding skills and techniques will be covered including pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction with focus on fun, artful, and utilitarian forms as well as surface techniques to add decorative elements to make the work truly one-of-a-kind. Instruction on glazing for mid-range electric kiln firing will also be covered. Clay and tools will be available for purchase from the studio. No class Nov 27.
1001a | Introduction to Wheelthrowing
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Ryan Takaba
Dates: Wed, 9/18/2019 to 12/4/2019 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $340.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $325.00
This class will focus on the basic skills of wheelthrowing-centering, opening, and pulling vessels-followed by learning to form bowls, cylinders, and cups. From there the possibilities are endless. Students will also learn to evaluate form and how form serves a vessel's utilitarian function as well as learn about working in mid-range clay and glazes in the electric kiln. Clay and tools will be available for purchase from the studio. No class Nov 27.
1001b | Introduction to Wheelthrowing
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Ed Escobedo
Dates: Thurs, 9/19/2019 to 12/5/2019 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $340.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $325.00
This class will focus on the basic skills of wheelthrowing-centering, opening, and pulling vessels-followed by learning to form bowls, cylinders, and cups. From there the possibilities are endless. Students will also learn to evaluate form and how form serves a vessel's utilitarian function as well as learn about working in mid-range clay and glazes in the electric kiln. Clay and tools will be available for purchase from the studio. No class Nov 27.
1001c | Introduction to Wheelthrowing
Level: Beginning | Instructor: Benner Barclay
Dates: Thurs, 9/19/2019 to 12/5/2019 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $330.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $315.00
This class will focus on the basic skills of wheelthrowing-centering, opening, and pulling vessels-followed by learning to form bowls, cylinders, and cups. From there the possibilities are endless. Students will also learn to evaluate form and how form serves a vessel's utilitarian function as well as learn about working in mid-range clay and glazes in the electric kiln. Clay and tools will be available for purchase from the studio. No class Nov 7 & 28.
1030a | Throwing Skills: Incorporating Handbuilding & Wheelthrowing Techniques
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: John Nelson
Dates: Mon, 9/16/2019 to 12/2/2019 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $355.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $340.00
In this class students will use a variety of handbuilding and wheelthrowing techniques to create unique and personal forms. Individual attention will be given to each student to guide them in developing their projects using the skills that are best suited for their ideas. Demonstrations in both handbuilding and wheelthrowing will be covered and students will have the freedom to explore how to use these techniques to create personal forms. Prerequisite: Students should have completed one Introductory Handbuilding and Wheelthrowing course. See *Ceramic Note.
1030b | Throwing Skills: Incorporating Handbuilding & Wheelthrowing Techniques
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Blake Kennedy
Dates: Wed, 9/18/2019 to 12/4/2019 | 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $345.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $330.00
In this class students will use a variety of handbuilding and wheelthrowing techniques to create unique and personal forms. Individual attention will be given to each student to guide them in developing their projects using the skills that are best suited for their ideas. Demonstrations in both handbuilding and wheelthrowing will be covered and students will have the freedom to explore how to use these techniques to create personal forms. Prerequisite: Students should have completed one Introductory Handbuilding and Wheelthrowing course. See *Ceramic Note. No class Nov 27.
1034 | Stacking and Throwing Large Vessels
Level: Intermediate | Instructor: Jon Bogavich
Dates: Tues, 9/17/2019 to 12/3/2019 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $355.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $340.00
Students will learn techniques to expand their throwing skills and challenge themselves to throw large vessels. The instructor will work with each student's skill set to create their desired form. This will be demonstrated through two approaches along with means for quick drying to continue the large-scale throwing process. The stacking method will be used to create a vessel measuring 12-24 inches using multiple modules of clay weighing approximately 2-5 pounds each. Students who are comfortable moving 5-10 pounds of material will learn how to throw a single vessel on the wheel. Prerequisite: Students must have completed two throwing skills courses or have the intermediate level throwing technique. See *Ceramic Note.
1035 | Handbuilding: The Classical Bust
Level: New | Intermediate | Instructor: Anita Warnick
Dates: Mon, 9/16/2019 to 12/2/2019 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $370.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $355.00
Handbuilding is the fundamental construction method for creating sculptural ceramic forms. Students will undertake a variety of figurative projects focusing on the classical bust using construction methods that include pinch-forming, round and flat coil construction, and slab construction, as well as techniques for surface enhancement. Students will sculpt from a live model to learn anatomy, gesture, movement, balance, form, and texture. This class will work with low-temperature clay and finishing techniques. Students will learn to construct their own armature and can purchase the materials from the studio for $20. The model fee is covered in the class tuition. Prerequisite: Students must have completed a minimum of one introduction to handbuilding course. See *Ceramic Note.
1048 | Glazing Techniques
Level: All Levels | Instructor: Ryan Takaba
Dates: Tues, 9/17/2019 to 12/3/2019 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Wheelthrowing Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $355.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $340.00
Glazing should take more time than you think! In this class, students will focus on the form's glazed surface and the many application techniques that may be used. Wax resist, glaze spraying applications, and layering of glazes will be demonstrated. Experimentation and persistence in glazing will be the goal of this class, allowing students the chance to learn how glazes work in the high-fire gas kiln. Students will create a series of small forms (either handbuilt or wheelthrown) and progress to larger forms to use in experimenting with cone 10 glazes. No construction techniques will be demonstrated; instead the instructor will work with each student to assist in fruition of their personal ideas. Prerequisite: At least one introductory handbuilding or wheelthrowing level class. See *Ceramic Note.
1066a | Handbuilding: Sculptural Forms
Level: All Levels | Instructor: Blake Kennedy
Dates: Mon, 9/16/2019 to 12/2/2019 | 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $355.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $340.00
Learn to take ideas from concept to three-dimensional form. 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, as well as surface texturing. The class will work in low-fire 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 Ceramics note.
1066b | Handbuilding: Sculptural Forms
Level: All Levels | Instructor: Andy Bally
Dates: Thurs, 9/19/2019 to 12/5/2019 | 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Studio: Handbuilding Studio | Building: McAllister Building
Tuition: $345.00 | Friends/Seniors (65+): $330.00
Learn to take ideas from concept to three-dimensional form. 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, as well as surface texturing. The class will work in low-fire 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. No class Nov 28.