The Resident Artist Series in Clay is a program designed for students of all levels. Topics change monthly involving both wheel throwing and hand building techniques. Class tuition includes one 25lb bag of clay, Open Studio for the 2 weeks of class (excluding weekends), glazing, and firing for projects made during class. For more information, please contact Frank Vickery at fvickery@thebascom.org.
Tuition
$250 per class
February Beginner Potter's Wheel
All the basics you will need to know to get started working on the potter’s wheel. We will make bowls (ex. berry bowls, soup bowls, colander, cereal bowls, etc) and cylinders (ex. Mugs, tumblers, sippers – based on the learning curve) and learn how to trim. Glazing will be covered the last class.
Class meets: February 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, and 16th
February Intermediate to Advanced Independent Project
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February Intermediate to Advanced Independent Project: Use this class and Open Studio time as a way to work on a specific project you have always wanted to start. Bring ideas, sketches, pictures, and whatever personal research you have completed and the role of the teacher is to guide you through the process and help you complete your idea. *It should be noted that not all ideas can be completed in 2 weeks and the time frame should be discussed with the instructor before starting. This class is self-directed and the studio is open to other classes and open studio members. Dates: February 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, and 16th |
March Beginner Slab Work
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All the basics you will need to know about using the slab machine to make functional serving pieces from slump and hump molds. Dates: 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, and 16th |
March Intermediate to Advanced Independent Project
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Use this class and Open Studio time as a way to work on that specific project you have always wanted to start. Bring ideas, sketches, pictures, and whatever personal research you have completed and the role of the teacher is to guide you through the process and help you complete your idea. *It should be noted that not all ideas can be completed in 2 weeks and the time frame should be discussed with the instructor before starting. This class is self-directed, the studio is open to other classes and open studio members. Dates: 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, and 16th |
March Visiting Artist, Casey Engel "Surface Play"
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Lines, color, pattern, and resist! This four day playful workshop will be loaded with instructional demos focusing on surface design – line, sgraffito, underglaze decals, wax resist techniques, sanding, and color mixing. In this course, students will work with a rich red clay body that provides a lot of potential with the use of drawing and layering colorful underglaze, slips, and decals. This class is designed for seasoned beginner, intermediate, and advanced students who have prior experience working with clay. Students will make forms independently however they feel the most comfortable either wheel throwing or handbuilding. Dates: March 13, 15, 20, and 22nd. Artist Talk, March 23 | 4:00-5:00 PM |
April Visiting Artist, Marga McBride "Creating a Lifelike Bust"
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Learn to form realistic features and facial expressions that add depth and soul to your work. This ongoing class will teach you how to make a simple clay bust, model realistic faces, and demonstrate surface design and textures. We will use a basic slab technique, cutting and assembling the pieces to form the bust, neck and head. Additional clay is attached to form the features, clothing and hair. Underglazes may then be applied to begin the process of painting the work with patterns and stencils, to give your piece a unique surface of coloration and design. Dates: April 4th, 5th, 6th, and 11th |
April Beginner Potter’s Wheel
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All the basics you will need to know to get started working on the potter’s wheel. We will make bowls (ex. berry bowls, soup bowls, colander, cereal bowls, etc) and cylinders (ex. Mugs, tumblers, sippers – based on the learning curve) and learn how to trim. Glazing will be covered the last class. Dates: 18th, 19th, 20th, 25th, and 27th |
May Intermediate Slab Construction GARDEN STOOLS
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Take the next step in slab work with slab construction. Create a template, cut the shapes, and build your creation. Basic hand building and construction techniques will be covered. Students need to bring ideas, pictures, or other research materials to aid in the project. Students need to know or understand basic clay working methods and how to use tools, such as the slab machine. Dates: May 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th, and 18th |
May Intermediate Horsehair Firing
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Students will make forms on the potter’s wheel or slab machine the first 2 classes. Pots or pieces need to be bone dry by 3rd class. The 3rd class, students will learn to apply terra sig, and burnish the pieces to be shiny. The pieces will be loaded into the kiln the 4th class for firing and then we will finish your pieces with horse hair and feathers for a primitive low fire aesthetic. If students can bring horse hair, that is helpful. Feathers can be purchased online. See Frank for more information. Dates: May 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 30th, and June 1st |
June Beginner Potter’s Wheel
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All the basics you will need to know to get started working on the potter’s wheel. We will make bowls (ex. berry bowls, soup bowls, colander, cereal bowls, etc) and cylinders (ex. Mugs, tumblers, sippers – based on the learning curve) and learn how to trim. Glazing will be covered the last class. Class meets: June 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, and 15th |
June Intermediate to Advanced Independent Project
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Use this class and Open Studio time as a way to work on that specific project you have always wanted to start. Bring ideas, sketches, pictures, and whatever personal research you have completed and the role of the teacher is to guide you through the process and help you complete your idea. *It should be noted that not all ideas can be completed in 2 weeks and the time frame should be discussed with the instructor before starting. This class is self-directed, the studio is open to other classes and open studio members. June 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, and 15th |
August Beginner Slab Construction – Totems -
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In this class we will use the slab machine and/or the potter’s wheel to make various shapes that will be stacked together on a metal pole/rebar for either garden art or inside your home. Students will need to source their own rebar and mounting base/block before class and have it ready on the first day of class. Various hand building techniques will be demonstrated as well as student created templates and studio forms used to construct shapes. Students need to bring resource materials for inspiration such as pictures, sketches, etc. August 8th, 9th, 10th, 15th, and 17th |
August Intermediate to Advanced Independent Project
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Use this class and Open Studio time as a way to work on that specific project you have always wanted to start. Bring ideas, sketches, pictures, and whatever personal research you have completed and the role of the teacher is to guide you through the process and help you complete your idea. *It should be noted that not all ideas can be completed in 2 weeks and the time frame should be discussed with the instructor before starting. This class is self-directed, the studio is open to other classes and open studio members. August 8th, 9th, 10th, 15th, and 17th |
September Glaze Testing, Formulation, and Application
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Students will learn the basics for testing glaze using test tiles, mixing new glaze and using a line progression to make new colors, and finally applying glazes to pots. Students need to have some pots already made as most of the class time will be used testing glaze. September 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, and 14th |
November Beginner Slab Work
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Christmas Ornaments, Gnomes, and Villages and other Christmas related projects will be made using the slab machine and other hand building techniques. November 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, and 16th |
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Visit: 323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741 (Map It)
Call: 828-526-4949 (Main)
828-787-2892 (Ceramics Studio)
Funded in part by a grant from South Arts
in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.