This playful hand-building series offers a small, supportive setting to explore the fundamentals of working with clay without the complexity of the wheel. Hand-building offers an approachable ease into working with clay that suitable for anyone!
Over the month of June, participants will learn the core pillars of hand-building, including pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction. Students have the option to sign up for one or all three sessions if desired.
Each session will include a brief introduction to glazing. After the hand-building and glazing sessions, all students will gather for a collective show and tell, where students will display their creations and take home their finished work.
Session Three: Coil Building
June 11 (coil intro) 4-8 p.m.
June 25 (coil glaze session) 4-8 p.m.
June 30 (collective show & tell) 4-8 pm
Coil building involves stacking and blending rolled clay coils to create walls and forms. Students will learn rolling, blending, and shaping coils to construct bowls, vases, or planters, exploring organic shapes while understanding structure, proportion, and texture. This modality gives more freedom and creativity for unique forms that cannot be achieved on the wheel.
Participants of all 3 sessions will gather for a casual meet & greet to showcase and collect their work.
Please note:
It’s recommended to trim your nails before class for easier handling of the clay and wear comfy clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Feel free to bring an apron.
Class Cost: $175 Minimum Class Size: 4
Maximum Class Size: 8
Suitable for students age 18+
Please Note: If the CAA must cancel a class due to the minimum number of participants not being met, the class will be canceled 48 hours in advance, and registrants will be notified and refunded. If a registrant is unable to attend a workshop, credits for future workshops are only issued for cancellations made at least 48 hours in advance; cancellations made after that time are considered a donation.
Instructor Bio:
Courtney is a mother and ceramicist, native to the emerald coast. First introduced to clay in a college course, she quickly fell in love with the craft. From 2016-2019 she worked in the FWB Arts & Design Society’s clay studio, never missing an open studio opportunity. In 2020, after a short break and becoming a mother, she began a mentorship with local artist & ceramicist, Mercedes Rogers. Here she learned the ins & outs of working with clay for a living and running a home studio. She has since been creating out of her own home studio in her spare time from mothering. Initially she was drawn to the craft as a sort of meditation and creative outlet to adorn her home with handmade art. It’s now turned into a beautiful way to foster community and share art, while teaching her wheel-throwing and hand-building skills.

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