Classes

BEGINNING / INTERMEDIATE POTTERY

In this 6-week pottery program, groups of max. 4 students work with clay exploring hand building construction and wheel throwing techniques, experimenting with shapes, texture and glazes in a professional and modern pottery studio, conveniently located. Ramona Clayton is the instructor, an experienced ceramic artist who teaches with fun and enthusiasm. Each student completes several decorative and functional pottery pieces. More challenging work is assigned to students with previous experience. Since space is limited, classes are on a first come, first served basis. Please reserve your space by telephone (805) 344-1460.

$300  (6 x 2.5 hrs.)

Limited to four students per class. All students must have their own pottery tools, a towel, and an apron. Tool kits are available for purchase at the studio. Includes 25 lbs. of clay and firing fees.

BEGINNING / INTERMEDIATE WHEEL THROWING

In this 6-week program, individual students learn the basics of pottery making on the wheel, from centering clay to making cylinders and bowls. Ramona Clayton is the instructor, an experienced ceramic artist who teaches with fun and enthusiasm.  Each student completes several decorative and functional pottery pieces. More challenging work is assigned to students with previous experience. Since space is limited, classes are on a first come, first served basis. Please reserve your space by telephone 
(805) 344-1460.

$300 (6 x 2.5 hrs.)

Limited to two students per class. Students must have their own pottery tools, a towel, and an apron. Tool kits are available for purchase at the studio. Includes 25 lbs. of clay and firing fees.

Things You Need To Know:

Introduction

A major concern of all pottery students is the fundamental question of studio safety.  No one knowingly wants to work in a potentially dangerous environment or expose other to uncertain materials.  Ceramic materials, the forming process, and the subsequent glazing and firing processes are not in themselves inherently dangerous activities, but knowledge of the materials, and care in their use are essential factors in a safe work place.  In any pottery-making situation, there are procedures that will produce a clean safe ceramics studio.  The other areas students need to know about are the studio processes and procedures. It is important to read each section thoroughly.  If you have any question about the information, please ask your instructor. Please sign the end of this document after you thoroughly read it, and return it to the instructor. We hope you have an enjoyable and safe ceramics experience.

Safety

The most often asked question about studio safety is, “what amount of clay or glaze dust in the are will cause a harmful effect on the human body?”  The practical answer is to keep all work areas free from any airborne materials.  It’s not the clay or the liquid glaze that are potentially harmful.  The nose and lungs filter most of these large particles.  The micron-size invisible particles can get past our natural filtering mechanisms that  can cause lung and respiratory irritation and possible damage. Again, the best policy is to keep all levels of air borne material as low as possible.  Following proper cleaning procedures in ceramics work areas and a common sense approach in handling dry materials are very effective in maintaining a safe environment.

A few potters have an allergic reaction to moist clay or liquid glazes when it contacts their skin.  Note any small bumps or irritation on the hands and forearms after working with these materials.  Applying hand lotion to the arms before working with moist clay or glazes will often eliminate a sensitive skin reaction.  At times under the right condition mold can occur on moist clays (which can increase the clay’s plasticity).  Mold can also grow in stored wet glaze containers. Potters can damage nerves in their hand from the repetitive motion of wedging clay or throwing pots.  The best way to prevent this type of injury is to break up the work activities associated with making pots into small segments, minimize repetition, reduce speed, and rest your hands in all shop activities.  Do not wedge several pounds of clay at once or sit at the potter’s wheel making pots for hours on end.  As a further example, throwing twelve pots on the wheel should not be followed by making another twelve, but by trimming pots that are leather hard or loading the bisque kiln for the next firing cycle.  Working in clay consists of a series of separate tasks to complete ceramic objects.  Shifting from one task to another avoids prolonged repetitive motion injuries. 

Please comply with these safety rules:

Class Fees & Policies:

The Class

I have read and understand the above guidelines and agree to follow them.

Student Name ____________________________________  Signature _____________________________________________ 

Date  __________________________________

Parent signature if appropriate

Signature _____________________________________________

Date  __________________________________