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Teaching Ceramics to Adults


Guest Jessica Knapp

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Happypots,

 

I, like you, have given "private lessons" to adults, with a different take, however. If the student wants to learn ceramics, they start with handbuilding and work their way up. I remind them that getting work fired by someone else (other than in my studio) isn't all that easy. Most places feel more comfortable knowing the student has at least the fundamental basics under their belt. And I try to convince them that the first piece of equipment they need to buy is a kiln--not a wheel.

 

I have also had students who only wanted to learn wheel throwing techniques. My classes are three hours long (reality check--set up and clean up equal approx. 1/2 hour which is one-third of your alloted class time) plus the student can practice on their own for three hours a week as well. The classes (and the practice time) run for six weeks--no extensions. This is still only 36 hours total (providing they are motivated enough to practice). There are restrictions during class time. They do assigned work--cylinders, bowls, bigger cylinders, shaped cylinders, bigger bowls. If they practice, they can experiment as much as they like, but when they come back to class they do assigned work. Someone who took pottery in high school will advance more rapidly, but tossing a total newbie into wheel throwing without that background is a disservice to your student.

 

They need structure until they master centering, opening and repeated attempts at drawing up the clay into a viable form. Just as an untrained horse doesn't know what to do with that bit in their mouth, the newbie needs gentle, steady reinforcement so trust and confidence can grow. Rethink your method and maybe the time set aside for classes. When that student actually draws up a slightly wobbly cylinder and it doesn't collapse--their smile will light the whole studio. Once they feel they can throw well, I put more stumbling blocks in their way. They are expected to weigh the clay and make three whatevers of the same size and shape. No, I don't expect the outcome will be exact, but it is something that is important to working with pottery. They are also expected to draw what they intend to produce. No fancy drawing, jut a line drawing showing dimension measurements. These are not "rules" for teaching, they're my methods. I think they need goals--even if I have to set them.

 

If you are giving group lessons, invite your student in to see the progress of others (or maybe drop in to the community center to take a peek).

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Happypots,

 

I, like you, have given "private lessons" to adults, with a different take, however. If the student wants to learn ceramics, they start with handbuilding and work their way up. I remind them that getting work fired by someone else (other than in my studio) isn't all that easy. Most places feel more comfortable knowing the student has at least the fundamental basics under their belt. And I try to convince them that the first piece of equipment they need to buy is a kiln--not a wheel.

 

I have also had students who only wanted to learn wheel throwing techniques. My classes are three hours long (reality check--set up and clean up equal approx. 1/2 hour which is one-third of your alloted class time) plus the student can practice on their own for three hours a week as well. The classes (and the practice time) run for six weeks--no extensions. This is still only 36 hours total (providing they are motivated enough to practice). There are restrictions during class time. They do assigned work--cylinders, bowls, bigger cylinders, shaped cylinders, bigger bowls. If they practice, they can experiment as much as they like, but when they come back to class they do assigned work. Someone who took pottery in high school will advance more rapidly, but tossing a total newbie into wheel throwing without that background is a disservice to your student.

 

They need structure until they master centering, opening and repeated attempts at drawing up the clay into a viable form. Just as an untrained horse doesn't know what to do with that bit in their mouth, the newbie needs gentle, steady reinforcement so trust and confidence can grow. Rethink your method and maybe the time set aside for classes. When that student actually draws up a slightly wobbly cylinder and it doesn't collapse--their smile will light the whole studio. Once they feel they can throw well, I put more stumbling blocks in their way. They are expected to weigh the clay and make three whatevers of the same size and shape. No, I don't expect the outcome will be exact, but it is something that is important to working with pottery. They are also expected to draw what they intend to produce. No fancy drawing, jut a line drawing showing dimension measurements. These are not "rules" for teaching, they're my methods. I think they need goals--even if I have to set them.

 

If you are giving group lessons, invite your student in to see the progress of others (or maybe drop in to the community center to take a peek).

 

 

Idaho, I like your take on the mixed bag doing the handbuilding and the throwing. I often would have students that had one thing in mind to do. It may have been a handbuilt pasta bowl, or making ceramic molding, or learning to make a teapot, or some other specialized project. I would always have them fill our a little survey 4X7 card with their contact info, their hobbies/interests, their experience with clay, and if there was anything they really wanted to accomplish in the class. This would lead to the types of demonstrations I did, and how the demonstrations would branch to specific types of projects. In the case of the molding the extruder, the handbuilt pasta bowl to hump or slump molds. I a student was interested in throwing, I would have a group that once I started the handbuilders, and had done a throwing demonstration of a cylinder form, would meet at the wheels those just beginning would get the hands on hands treatment. They were always taught to master the clay-pushing up and pushing down, a good preliminary to centering. Pressure with the hands, and bend of wrist/positions were reinforced constantly. More advanced students would often ask what was going wrong, why things weren't light enough, what caused ripples etc. These things I would explain and demonstrate corrections. Many times a student would complete a second plain cylinder after much work, and I would coax/help them shape it into a more interesting form with their input of what they wanted to do with it. Next have them repeat the same with the next cylinder.

I only ran classes the same as you, with no practice time-the studio was used during the week by my HS classes, and most of these folks couldn't/wouldn't come in after school. However, as I was there late most of the time some folks would ask and come in to work. The last class was a glazing day, and then folks would come in to pick up their work the following week. Towards the end, they begged to have an extra day where they picked up their work, got to see everyone's work and could talk about it-and party, I could not turn them down. We had great fun.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey, there;

I taught Adult Pottery at the local city art gallery for eight years. I also taught kids classes on Saturday mornings. Taught Gifted and Talented drawing from 9-11, half hour break, then taught a clay class to 9,10 years olds, then taught a clay class to 5 and 6 year olds. So that was 5and a half hours of teaching on Saturdays, and 3 hours on Wednesdays. I was able to put myself through the after-degree Bachelor of Education program. I have now been teaching art full time for 27 years.

The thing with clay classes is that you have to have STRUCTURE.The class was 10 weeks. I had 14 students and only eight wheels. We started with hand building. Pinch and coil one week, slab the next.My theory was that if you weren't successful throwing, then you could go back to hand building. When teaching throwing, I would demonstrate, get the students going, and then leave the room for 15 minutes. When I came back, I would demonstrate again.and the students were WAY more attentive for the second demo.

I always had a syllabus -centreing, cylinders, mugs and jugs with handles, lids,bowls, plates, glazing and decorating, and then some catch up time.

The adult classes were three hours, allowing 30 minutes at the end for clean-up. There was a technician to load kilns and mix glazes, which was great for me. We fired to cone 6.

After I started teaching high school, I couldn't do the evening and week-end classes. It was just too much. I really enjoyed my time there.

TJR.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I found a planter that I just love the shape of and I'm going to ask the instructor to walk/teach me thru throwing that particular shape. I'm hoping that if I ask, the instruction will be better. Wish me luck and I'm having fun, regardless. Who can't have fun mucking about in mud? LOL! :Dsrc="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/community/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif">

 

 

 

"fun mucking about in mud" Say that 5 times fast. ::Psrc="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/community/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif">

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  • 1 month later...

When I would teach adults I almost never did private classes. Most of the time it would be myself watching them work, and the times I did do some private classes was something really specific like working side by side for a few hours on something like how to sculpt a bust from a live model or something equally as 1-on-1 needed.

 

Generally I always preferred group settings, and would frequently encourage it with a group of 4 or more taking class time together getting a discount. It would give the adults learning in my studio support from friends who would also let them feed off each others creativity and energy even if they don't have the same proficiency in the medium. I had wheel throwing only classes, never really mixed since it was hard to split teaching time between wheel and handbuilding but would still encourage those wanting to throw on the wheel to learn the basics of hand building often letting them come the next day as well to hand building to get some dedicated time doing it.

 

I remember one time I did the couples clay class, which was a friday night and would have some wine and snacks for the couples to nosh on while they work. Largely it was hands off and would only be there for a few occasional questions while they hand built. pretty easy night too, they hand built, then would slip paint their wares and I would fire the work for them clear glaze it and it would be ready in a week.

 

Nothing beats the saturday morning kids class though ... adults sometimes do not appreciate stupid jokes but kids love dumb jokes and a snack time.

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Happypots;

You have to make the class more structured. As the previous poster said, start with cylinders, then bowls etc. You don't mention whether this is a handbuilding class, or a throwing class.I always started my clay classes out with the basics-coil, pinch, slab. Then, if she gets frustrated on the wheel, she can go back to building by hand. Learning to throw is difficult, as you know. You make a good point about her being the only one in the class, so she doesn't see that others would feel just as frustrated.She cannot make your work until she learns the basics. Hang in there.

TJR.

 

 

Agree with that. I am also a student and young adult student and though not so experienced to say do like that but the idea was quite good so i will like to go with this poster.

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  • 3 months later...

I'm a little late for the discussion but thought I'd jump in for a moment

 

I think I see something slightly overlooked in this teaching clay thread. It is something that became very apparant when I took my first classes in clay, some 27 years ago.

It takes time for people who have never worked with clay to get the muscle memory to work with clay. Of the few people that I have assisted in learning to turn, it was obovious they had not spent enough time with the wheel or slab or coil to feel comfortable with the clay. It takes time and a few hours a week is not enough to develop these skills in a quick  mannor.

I remember how sore my muscles were at first, how tired my hands and wrist were.

 

I know that even now after turning some larger pieces I have to work with smaller light pieces because my hands and arms are starting to get tired.

I also know that my hands get tired before my brain knows I'm tired and I messup some pieces before I tell myself to stop and take a break or quit for the day.

 

Youtube is one of the great teaching aids we can have. Youtube allows students to see how other potters work, how they center and how they,position themselves, etc.

This allows the students to absorb visually what is hard to transmitt verbally.

 

As much fun and pleasure clay can bring, the fact is, it's hard work. I think some beginning students and not aware of the physical demands of learning pottery and lose motivation to dig deeper.

 

Just my 2 cents and change

Wyndham

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  • 5 months later...

I am a perpetual student in the clay classes on my college campus...it is a perk for staff to be able to take classes, tuition free, so I have 21+ hours of clay course credit under my belt.  Here are some of my observations (in no particular order):

  1. Advanced (or adult) students will do better work when they begin each semester with a 'Project Proposal' that includes specific goals, milestones, and outcomes.  When the instructor and student agree/negotiate this proposal successfully, both have a better understanding of the direction(s) needed.
  2. Cohort critiques provide learning opportunities beyond that of the instructor-student critique.  Learning how to give and receive constructive criticism deepens the experience.  And, having a critique session over potluck appetizers and a glass of wine is something worth trying!
  3. With most adult learners, the course is not about the final grade, but more about what can be learned.  I have witnessed this 'rubbing off" onto undergraduate clay students when adult learners happen to meet/work at the same time/place as the younger students.
  4. Some of my best experiences in class came from group discussions involving our sketchbooks. I have been in classes where sketching is required and some where sketching is ignored.  I favor the exercise of sketching project ideas and discussing those ideas with a group.  Inevitably, there are things we learn from each other as well as having the benefit of hearing the instructors comments for all.

I'm sure there is more...

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I taught adult classes for a few of my later years. I would not consider one on one classes, as I believe that most students learn faster/better when surrounded by other folks to feed off of. Discussion during class while working, loading and unloading kilns together talking about what we see as it goes in or comes out is paramount. Seeing other folks working on different ideas helps to build enthusiasm and confidence. At the same time it encourages one to jump out of their comfort zones when they see others on the wheel struggling, and some succeeding. No one stand out, because they all have strengths. No I really would not consider a one on one class situation.

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  • 2 months later...

I've only been working with clay as an adult for about 7 months, starting with an open studio type class in September. I came to that with the experience of three high school ceramics classes taken 20-some years prior.

 

My expectations of the open studio did not match reality, as I didn't quite realize how much I did know already, how much other beginners DIDN'T know, and how much of the instructor's time would be taken up by the participants with zero experience. I figured we'd be getting more demonstrations each session, but the format was geared more toward just making what you want to make. It was really up to me, being more determined to learn a specific skill (wheel,) to research techniques and just get in and practice.

 

When I was in high school, I was allowed to "fall back" on hand building when throwing didn't come easily. That kind of makes me mad now. Throwing ISN'T EASY, and I wish someone had pushed me a little harder then. The only part of that experience that I am grateful for now is that it gave me some drive to not just give up and take the easy route this time around. Yeah, I could be making press-molded slab plates like everyone else in my open studio group, but that's not the pieces I want. But I'm the one that has to push myself to get the practice in, because our instructor won't do that.

 

I do rely on YouTube almost exclusively for learning techniques, troubleshooting, and learning new forms. It's not a bad thing. I watch videos on single subjects from a variety of potters, and play around to see what works best for me. In that way, I was able to set my own "curriculum" while still creating functional ware that I didn't have to just pitch out because I wasn't "getting" everything all at once. For example, I tried trimming a pot the second week of class, and felt WAY too fumbly and unconfident. It ruined an otherwise decent piece, so I was pleased to find a few videos on trimming pieces while still on the bat, and fettling/thumbing off flat-bottomed pieces. I did that while I worked on getting my cylinders decent, and used those pieces to work through glaze experiments, so by the time I was throwing nicer pieces that I *wanted* to trim, I had the confidence to give it a shot and was also not ruining the pieces with ugly glaze combos. But I had to decide all that. If I had just run with the pack of beginners, I'd have had to suffer through the pinch pots and fish-shaped serving trays, and might never have gotten onto the path I wanted to be on.

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I believe that your experience with the "open studio" was the result of a poor or inexperienced teacher. It could also be that it was meant to be an open studio, with the coordinator/teacher there as a resource person for anyone that needed/wanted help.  When I ran my adult classes, it was an open studio style, but I made regular demonstrations at the beginning at each session. I also started the first day off with demonstrations of each type of equipment in the studio and what they would do in relation to making pottery. This would include slab roller for slabs, extruder for extrusions, and the potters wheel. First day not a whole lot got done by the folks there, but by the end of the day everyone had an idea where they wanted to go. I also had set up my demos so that I could quickly assemble a piece showing and discussing the process of assembly, and the characteristics of the type of form. Most everyone worked on the wheel, and I would be going  back and forth between the wheel throwers and handbuilders every day. This made the day very busy, and exhausting, but the folks really had a chance to progress in their skills. In the years that I taught the class it filled up early in the Fall, and the last year I taught a double session, morning and afternoon as I knew I was leaving. Most of the time people that took the first class 10 years earlier were still in it when I left.

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I think it was more that he wasn't prepared for the sheer volume of beginners that happened to be in that session. I'm sure his format works spectacularly when there's a couple beginners and 4-6 more experienced participants....but we had 6 beginners, and about half did not catch on to much of anything very quickly and required constant babysitting. One of the pitfalls of running an "any experience level" group, I suppose.

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Learning to throw does take a lot of practise. AN instructor can only do so much. I'd say it takes hours /week of practice to get it. Michael Cardew said it takes 7 years before the level of mastering the skill. It is like playing a musical instrument. It takes focus and practice.

 

Marcia

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Guest JBaymore

I believe that your experience with the "open studio" was the result of a poor or inexperienced teacher. It could also be that it was meant to be an open studio, with the coordinator/teacher there as a resource person for anyone that needed/wanted help. 

 

When I teach my "Open Studio" Adult Education classes (no beginners allowed), right off the top I ask the students to each give me a plan of exactly what they want to take away from the time spent there by the end of the semester.  Then I try my best to make sure that I've hit each of their individual goals with them.  As Pres mentions... in the Open format, it is exhausting.

 

Mixing people who have no or almost no experience with people who are more intermediate and up in a single class is NOT something that I'd take on.  Poor management of the general curriculum.  Beginners require a LOT of TLC to get them off the ground well.  Short-changes the others in a mixed setting.

 

best,

 

................john

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Open studio isn't for beginners or even people trying to 'get back into it' after a long hiatus. Open studio should be for practice and perfecting, not teacher led but teacher floats from student to student as needed. Structured class is for learning the basics, new skills, teacher led and directed. There is also lab time which is for practicing the basics where often the teacher is not present, and directed study which is project based with a goal in mind that teacher and student touch base often to help the student achieve the goal.

 

I have done private lessons but only with those that have taken classes before or have more experience. They actually have been more like mini-directed studies, like can you come over and help me figure out how to make this(and there is a specific form they want to explore).

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Individual private lessons are tough when you have a student who just doesn't get how much practice is required, so you have to remind them...sometimes constantly...until they understand. Try relating it to your own path in the medium, and see the paragraph below re: beginning wheel. Remember, a student spending 2 hours a WEEK on the wheel will progress more slowly than one spending 2 hours a DAY. Also, different people learn in different ways. Many people respond well when I put my hands on top of theirs to demonstrate proper position or pressure or pace of movement.

 

I've taught adults (and kids) in arts/rec centers for almost 20 years. Most of the classes are mixed skill, and we have many returning students. Intermediate students are the most likely to slip through the cracks in this setting. So, after basics, I try to gear more demonstrations to them while working with advanced students on a case by case basis. These classes are very different than the university courses I've taught, both in their content and in the nature of the students and their motivation for taking the class.

 

At the beginning of each session, students introduce themselves including info on their clay experience and goals for the class. Each class "syllabus" revolves around this information, so no two classes are exactly the same. I know this sounds like idiocy, but it keeps things interesting!

 

For both throwing and handbuilding, we discuss the properties of clay and how to exploit those properties through handling, construction, finishing, and attention to detail while considering how that all comes together to inform and support the artist's personal aesthetic.

 

For beginning wheel students: I ask them how long it has been since they've learned something that requires development of muscle memory, then to consider how long it took them to become proficient at such an activity (typing, playing a musical instrument, riding a bike, playing golf/tennis, etc.). I like to use the analogy of playing a piano: you're dealing with a new medium (musical notes/clay) and a new tool (piano/wheel) while you're training your muscles to create the desired end product (beautiful music/beautiful pot). Even though we can hear the music/see the pot we want, it takes practice to achieve the desired result, and we do not all advance at the same pace. Then, we discuss realistic goals.

 

.

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  • 3 years later...

My name is Sharon Wertz and I work as a volunteer at the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Phoenix, Arizona.  We have a very active ceramics program at the center, but this year we lost our very talented instructor and friend to a brain tumor. 

 

We have volunteers who can do most of the work in the ceramics, but no one who can do a pour.  I am looking for someone in the Phoenix area who would be willing to come over and teach our volunteers to do a pour.  We have hundreds of molds, and we know how to fire them, but no one really knows how to do a pour.  We have two large kilns.  I am not a ceramics person....I teach wood turning, but I am sighted and can use the computer so I volunteered to see if I could find someone to help us.

 

Any help would be appreciated.  We can't afford to buy greenware....we are totally supported by donations, so we really need to have someone teach us this necessary skill

 

Thank you in advance for your help

 

Sharon Wertz, ACBVI, Phoenix.

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Any help would be appreciated.  We can't afford to buy greenware....we are totally supported by donations, so we really need to have someone teach us this necessary skill

 

Thank you in advance for your help

 

Sharon Wertz, ACBVI, Phoenix.

 

Hi Sharon, welcome to CAD forums, and good on you for volunteering.

 

I'm too far to away come and help, but slip-casting (pouring) is (to me) the easiest job in the studio.

 

Like everything though, you will need to test, test, test and make good notes.

 

  • Start with a two-piece mould.  Apply mould straps so mould cannot openup.
  • Using a soft brush, make sure there is nothing inside, no dust, old clay, spiders nests........
  • Stir your bucket of slip thoroughly for several minutes.  If it's been hanging around for a while you might want to sieve it.
  • Using a plastic jug with an open-bottomed handle scoop up some slip.
  • Pour the slip into the mould until it is full to the very top.
  • Hang the jug on the rim of the bucket, so it drips back into the bucket.
  • Set a minute-timer for 10 minutes.  I use 10 for earthenware, 20 for stoneware slip, but this differs depending on heat and humidity.
  • Meanwhile, find a pair of flat sticks or an old fridge shelf and place over top of bucket, to hold upturned mould.
  • When timer goes off, use a plastic tool to cut a small v-shape (10mm by 10mm max) from the setting slip in the pour hole so you can see the thickness of the cast.
  • Re-set timer for more if needed.
  • Pour slip from mould back into bucket.
  • Leave mould upturned on sticks until slip stops running out.
  • Leave upside down, or right way up for several hours (again this depends on humidity), until you can see the clay start to shrink away from the mould.
  • Use thin end of plastic tool (lucy tool - http://www.cromartiehobbycraft.co.uk/imagecache/c0b4830c-141b-490c-999d-a27e00a10685_800x479.jp)  to remove clay from the pour hole.  This action is a bit like scraping round a bowl with a spatula to remove all the cake mix.
  • Undo mould straps. Place mould on side with seam horizontal.  
  • Use thick end of plastic (lucy) tool to gently prise the two halves of mould apart, then lift top half of mould away from bottom half.
  • Allow to dry a bit more, then carefully remove "pot" from mould.
  • Put the mould back together, with mould straps and leave in a dry, airy place for <>24 hours before re-using (depending on, yes, you've guessed, the humidity.
  • Place pot on thick piece of foam and fettle (clean up the seams etc) when leatherhard.

Wash, rinse, spin, repeat

 

The really difficult bits are deciding how long to leave the slip in the mould, and knowing when to open the mould, and the physical size and weight of some of the moulds.

 

Not enough/too much time = too thin or too thick castings.  Opening the mould too soon usually results in tearing the pot apart as it is still sticking to parts of the mould.  Leaving too long for a simple vase, say, might not be a problem, but for a complex figurine, the shrinkage can pull the pot apart.

 

You can allow any boo-boos to dry completely and then throw them back in the slip bucket, or start a new bucket and add water.

 

You can add (I recall) up to one third recycled, dry slip to a bucket of new slip without too much problem.  More than that and you need to read this article: http://www.ceramicindustry.com/articles/84299-ppp-successful-slip-castingand then this one: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/527ac372e4b0d4e47bb0e554/t/527fd7f1e4b0c046bfa9b90d/1384110065234/Dispersant+Addition+Procedures.pdf.  It's a bit heavy going, but doable.

 

 

Good luck   :)  

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It is my understanding that they have a slip pump of some sort.  I will take some pictures on Tuesday and maybe someone can identify the equipment we have.

 

In Phoenix, humidity is not much of an issue...about 7 percent most of the time!  Even during the monsoon, the AC drys the air.  I will send this URL to Lonnie, who is much more knowledgeable about the ceramics than I am.  Hopefully we can find someone local who can come over and walk us through the process.  Our "second in command" volunteer had to go out of town for a family emergency, and won't be back for several months, so we are pretty much dead in the water right at the moment.  Maybe they can do some hand pours with your instructions.  Our current volunteers have never even seen a pour done. 

 

Can you possibly send a URL for a good online video?  I found one, but their molds are very different from ours...they were one piece.  Ours are all two piece, I think.  This program has been going for almost 30 years.  They have lots of equipment that has been donated over the years, but just no one right now that knows how to use it.  Lonnie knows how to fire items in the kiln after they are painted and glazed.  But we have always made our own greenware, and don't have funds to buy greenware.  (I hope I am using the correct terms here!  I am a complete ceramics novice.  Our woodturning project was in a corner of the ceramics room for a year so I picked up a bit of knowledge from osmosis!)

 

Thank you so much for responding.  Like I said, I am going to turn this over to Lonnie and he will be much more knowledgeable. 

 

Sharon

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  • 2 months later...

The July/August 2012 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated includes an Instructors File article by Claire O'Connor on classroom strategies that work when teaching ceramics to adult students (post college). We want to extend the conversation beyond the magazine, so, if you're a teacher who works with adults, or you're an adult who is taking ceramics classes, please share your ideas on what has worked best for you when teaching/ learning about techniques, aesthetics, and how to convey your ideas in clay by posting them in this thread.

I came here looking for possible instructors, but this is just to share my thoughts on why I think teaching skills are important.  Good instruction takes away a lot of the uncertainty when you're learning.  Many clay/pottery classes are very 'try your hand at throwing' ..... you'll get the hang of it. Easier said than done.   Four years ago I committed to pottery and set up a studio at home.  the clay was the first challenge.  My experience with an instructor a few years ago, made a huge difference to my centering and throwing skills.  Marc Mancuso, who I took some one on one classes with in Boston, was extremely helpful in explaining what needs to done to that lump of clay, where to apply pressure etc.  I dont wrestle with the clay anymore. Then I got a lot of input about clay bodies etc here on CAD.  Also very carefully considered and well articulated.  Clay body issues resolved.

 My experience with a glazing workshop in India was dismal.  I learned nothing - not about materials, not about how some of these interact, and nothing about firing. Marc was great with glazes as well, but the materials and conditions and fuel are all different here. I have books, I've been on line and gotten a lot of advice. From some very experienced people.  All helpful, but the materials and conditions remained a problem.  I finally found a ceramicist who is knowledgeable about the materials and their chemistry, and helped me develop my first base glazes. Explained some of the nuances of firing, and helped me test a batch of glazes.  I have learnt a lot, and though I have yet to fire these new glazes, I am prepared to do it with more confidence.  The biggest problem turned out to be one of the feldspars - 

I recently tried to set up a small course for beginner potters at my home in the Himalayas, and had to call it off.  The instructor I found is a very talented ceramicist, but unorganized, and without any "lesson plan".  I know pottery cant be a rigidly timed or instructed class, but yes, strong teaching skills are a good thing!   

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  • 3 months later...
  • 1 year later...

I realize this topic is 6 yrs old, however, as a local potter who took classes and went to night school for ceramics as well, albeit without a degree, if I had had all the technicalities dumped on me from the beginning and the strict guidelines, it would have killed any desire I had to enjoy clay.  I think the first things to establish are, how do you like the feel of clay in your hands, moving on to experimenting  with it to see if you like it well enough to take serious classes, and then college courses where you spend time on how to and when to and why.  And by the way, there are many correct ways of getting from point A to point B depending on how you perceive it.  I don't think strict rules do or should apply in the world of art.  Clay and it's manipulators are constantly evolving.  I began at age 56, I will be 76 in August.  I love it, I've sold it, I have to have it and to keep making , but I do it my way, always trying new things and I'm still enjoying my passionate and very personal relationship with clay.  All this is to explain that a one or two week clay class is to allow who's taking it, to see if this is something they want to pursue, whether for pleasure or profit.

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  • 1 year later...

Hi all,

until recently i collaborated with a client to teach ceramics to adults with special needs but the client wanted to take advantage of the current situation and tried to trap me into a very nasty contract. after I refused and asked to negotiate the contract they terminated the collaboration.

I am looking to start my own studio and also to teach.

I want to teach adults with special needs but also people from all walks of life.

Does anyone know wether I need special types of permissions to teach students in a rented studio or any sort of licences?

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