Tag: Classes & Workshops

Yesterday was my last official class at the studio for the year. Normally, I have back-to-back classes all day long, so it’s always a busy day filled with my talented students coming and going. Yesterday was as busy as ever but such a surprise of a day! I started off my first class with a gift of an original ink drawing from one of my students that was inspired by my bone series– so amazing!

Then towards the end of class I was surprised with a gift from my entire adult class who apparently had been in cahoots with each other for awhile to gift me a clay extruder for the studio! I was so surprised, I don’t know if I expressed how amazing and thoughtful this was of them. I can’t wait to see what we can do with it when we start up classes in January! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not to be outdone, my next class brought a day old baby dwarf goat to the studio – wearing a pink sweater! The baby needed to be bottle fed, so they have to take it everywhere with them and I got to hold a sleeping baby goat all class!

Top that off with hugs, holiday wishes and happiness from all my little students throughout the day left me feeling the love.

Such gratitude to you all… thank you!

 

I was recently asked why I teach community clay classes, as opposed to university level instruction. Well, one big reason is I don’t have the Master’s degree, so I actually can’t teach at universities. In the beginning, I thought I would go for the terminal degree for fine artists and get my MFA but after a few attempts in that direction, I finally made the choice to not pursue it. I realized that I really wanted to be my own boss, make my own schedule and share my clay experience with everyone, not just in an academic environment and I’m really happy with that choice. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve taught everyone from seniors to pre-schoolers how to make a pinch pot, roll a coil or add texture to a slab cup. I’ve worked in mobile classrooms in under-served communities and private classrooms in private schools.  It’s been an amazing way to piece together an income for myself and I have learned that no matter what your background or experience level, everyone leaves clay class feeling pretty good about what they did.

As my own art career has launched forward, I’ve cut back on the number of classes that I offer at my studio but I know that no matter how busy the art world gets, I will always teach. Each week I welcome some of the most amazing and talented people into my studio space. I love that they are passionate about being creative and intrigued enough to try something new. What I hope that they take away from their time spent in my studio is an appreciation of what it takes to make something with your hands along with the confidence to try it, compassion for others creative ideas and a respect for the vulnerability of making something with your heart. Some of my younger students tell me that they are going to be artists when they grow up, which is sweet to hear but of course most of them will go on to do other things. So I’m not churning out the academic artists of the future here but what community clay classes create instead is art enthusiasts, supporters and collectors, and the world needs a lot of those kind of people!

Join us at the studio and B CR8IV!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Create with Clay class spots for kids are all filled up for the rest of the year. If you’re interested in joining in on a class at the studio, please join our safe subscribe mailing list so you get the 2016 schedule in your inbox. JOIN

 

Adult Clay Classes still have space!

B CR8IV!