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Skill Level: Three (Intermediate, experience required)

Requirements: Completion of Handbuilding Level Two or similar experience (Ability to create ceramic objects using pinching, coiling, and slab construction methods. Experience firing and glazing works)

Natural, organic, primitive, rustic, wabi-sabi….all related terms used to describe works that embrace the beauty of imperfection and celebrate the visible effects of time.

In this class we will explore the forms and aesthetics of Japanese chawan (tea bowls) and other handbuilt vessels while learning to embrace the beauty of imperfection, the organic, and the asymmetrical in functional forms. We will explore  the works of various traditional and contemporary artists whose works embody and celebrate these principles and apply those to our own works of various scale, from small guinomi (sake cups) to larger planters and serving bowls, as well as related forms such as bottles, small pouring vessels, and lidded jars. We will cover carving and hand forming techniques, and a variety of pre-glaze surface treatments and basic glazing.

This is part one of a two part series, each part can be taken separately, though it is highly recommended to take both in order to learn all the techniques. Part Two covers working on the wheel and advanced glazing and alternative firings.. 

Week 1:

• The historical presence of imperfection and wabi-sabi with an emphasis on Japanese chawan

• Contemporary artists and works

• Pinching forms both small and large

• Creating bottles and closed forms with pinching

• Basic form alterations

Week 2:

• Coilbuilding forms 

• Kurinuki - the art of carving solid forms and hollowing out

• Pouring vessels and lidded jars

Week 3:

• Slab building

• Using slump and hump molds

• Scaling up - larger scale works - serving bowl

• Using slips - textured slip and kohiki (crackle) slip

Week 4:

• Using oxide and stain washes

• Layering slips and washes 

• Applying dry and organic materials to surfaces

Included with Class:

• Print and digital handout materials

• 15lbs brown cone 6 clay

• 15lbs buff cone 6 (studio) clay 

• Firings of all work made during the course

• Outside of class studio access with the following schedule:

• Mon-Thur 8:30am-9pm, Fri 8:30am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm

You will need to bring:

• Clay tools. If you don’t already have some, a link to the recommended items will be sent along with the class info email the week before class begins