Hand Building with Clay
Adult Course | Available
During this class students will learn a variety of hand-building techniques to create sculptural forms in clay. Emphasis will be on coil building pieces that are small to medium size (the size of a cat or smaller). Students will also explore slab work, molding, carving, and glazing. All are welcome - no experience necessary. Come with an idea of something you would like to create!
Each class includes a standard weekly lab fee which covers the cost of firing and glazing. In addition to the standard lab fee, students will need to purchase clay through the registration office at ASLD and must be done in person: $20 for 25lbs of stoneware, $25 for 25lbs of porcelain, $10 for 12lbs of our reclaim clay. Please only purchase clay from ASLD, unless approved by the studio manager. No low-fire clays may be used at ASLD.
New students, arrive 15-30 minutes early to your first class in order to allow time for the purchase of clay.
Currently enrolled students have access to Ceramic open studio for a $10 fee. Please see the whiteboard in the hallway for updated open studio hours.
Please review the ceramics studio policies before attending the first class: CERAMICS STUDIO POLICIES
Materials List:- - Fettling knife or clay knife
- - a few different shaped wooden modeling tools
- - Needle tool
- - Wire carving tool(s)
- - Small ceramic sponge
- - Serrated rib (flexible steel)
- - Polymer ribs: blue (firm) with a flat edge (shape 3) and red (very soft) bean shaped (shape 1) by Mudtools
- - sketchbook or notebook/pencil or pen
- -old hand towel
- - apron
- Community tools are available for student use, in exception of a small sponge. If you prefer personal tools, a basic ceramics tool kit, small sponges and large clean up sponges may be available for purchase at ASLD on a first come, first served basis. We welcome you to bring any new, used, found and repurposed tools you may have.
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- If you purchase your own tools, we suggest you assemble a basic tool kit that includes:
- - Potter's rib (wood and or rubber)
- - Metal rib
- - Wood modeling tool
- - Needle tool
- - Trimming tool(s)
- - Throwing sponge
- Local Ceramic supply stores:
- Rocky Mountain Clay 1220 W 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80223
Continental Clay 5303 East 47th Ave., Denver, CO 80216
Stoneleaf Pottery 6611 W 58th Pl, Arvada, CO 80003
Meiningers 499 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Vicky Smith
Vicky Smith is passionate about ceramics and the intersection of art, education, and the relaxing, potentially healing power of working with clay. She has taught ceramics to students of all ages in numerous educational settings that include nonprofit art centers, public and private schools, colleges and artist cooperatives. Her teaching philosophy centers on the idea that working with clay can be a positive experience that helps balance out the pressures of everyday life and can become a vehicle for accessing and using ones’ creative voice.
In her own work, Smith’s focus is on hand-built organic, sculptural forms that exhibit a quiet, introspective narrative. The surfaces are layered with combinations of slip, terra sigillata, glaze, oil, and sealant. In addition to her ceramic sculptures, she produces handmade tiles and has several tile installations on permanent display. Her work has been displayed in local and national shows. She holds an M.F.A. from Rhode Island School of Design and a B.F.A. from the University of Colorado.