I’ll be updating this page weekly on Sunday with new video tutorials for your class pack. After the class, I’ll email you links so that you can continue working on these projects as long as you would like. On February 6th from 10am to noon, we will have a live Q&A via Zoom so that you can ask any questions about the materials, projects or techniques from this class. I’ll will add the link to the Zoom meeting on this page, as well as email you the day before.
Class Pack Videos
Intro to surface decoration
video links for the class, uploaded every saturday night:
WEEK 1: Getting Settled
You may not need ***any*** of these videos, if you have some experience under your belt. We’ll get into our projects starting next Saturday (the 9th). For that project you’ll need: at least 2 hard leather hard tumblers with straight sides or tiles (more recommended for practice). I’d also suggest a tile to test the marks your different tools make (unless you’re familiar with how your tools behave). As a side note, it was cold in the garage and I sniffled through these videos and it’s pretty annoying. Sorry. I added a few addendums in the description box on YouTube. I was nervous and forgot a thing or two. Everything is chaptered, so you can skip around. Or just skip. If you need anything, feel free to text me at 770 375 6909.
WEEK 2: Sgraffito
Sidenote: I did my best editing, but the audio volume is all over the place. What I heard on my iphone and in my editing software wasn't the same as when it uploaded to YouTube. I tried to listen to YouTube while editing it (again), but the volume is wacky -sometimes quiet, sometimes louder and sometimes, it just seems to ramp up the volume on its own. Sorry to your ears and your sanity…
For next week’s project, this was the week that a flat piece might be the easiest to work with. I’d prep (at least) 2 tiles at soft leather hard. If you’re feeling saucy, go ahead and make tumblers, but it is a bit fussier to do slip transfer on a rounded form.
WEEK 3: Slip Transfer aka Clay Monoprinting
Clay Monoprinting Project #1 (still in SD/standard lower quality, will render in HD/high def, better quality in YouTube’s good, sweet time…Usually a few hours to a day.)
Clay Monoprinting Project #2 (Still in SD/standard quality, will render in HD/high def, better quality when YouTube feels like it. Anywhere from a few hours to a day.)
What you’ll need for next week: a few tumblers (or favorite form) to learn inlay (mishima!) at hard leather hard
Nice (super sweet) newsprint & a few foam grips are in the office at the studio. Have at, if you’d like.
WEEK 4: Inlaying Underglaze through Wax aka Mishima (one of many kinds!)
Let me know if you have any questions, as my mind was a bit fuzzy. Thank you again for your kindness & patience!
Next week, we’ll be tackling low-relief carving & underglaze transfers. Options: If you really really want to carve deeply & with a lot of detail, make a tile on the thick(er) side and have it at soft leather hard. This lets you hack away material easily, if you’re really going to do some heavy duty sculpting (higher relief). If you just want to play with low-relief carving (more shallow cuts), you can use whatever type of piece (tumbler/tile/vase) and just have it a hair on the thicker side at leather hard.
WEEK 5: Bas-relief Carving (last project, sniff sniff)
This one is for our sculptors and our patient people. So, be sure to grab a bottle of wine to hang in for the long haul. And, watching someone carve is exactly equal in interest to watching paint dry. Just sayin’.
This Saturday, February 6th at 10am EST, we’ll be doing a live Zoom Q&A. HERE is the link to join the class. If you can’t make it, email me your questions and I’ll try to answer them in the recorded meeting. If you want to join our Facebook group, just email me and we’ll sort it out!
SUPPLY LINKS TO THINGS I LOVE (working on it now, check back next week):
Wet/Dry Sandpaper (any in 220 - 400, also look at sanding cloths & pads, this is just cheapest!
Newsprint (this worked fine, not necessary to spend the extra bucks for fancy, though)
Pins for sticking in the top of underglaze trailers (fits gauge 20 and larger only)
Inexpensive option for ribbon tools & ball stylus (if you have the budget, the Dolan & Kemper ribbon tools are much better)
Hake brush and decent brushes for painting underglaze. Less decent brushes, but way cheaper. This process is HARD on brushes, so you’ll go through them quickly. This is the best balance I’ve found for quality (ish) vs the cost of replacing them fairly often.
I usually buy my Amaco Velvet Underglaze from Dick Blick. They have competitive pricing, usually free shipping and often coupons.
If there was any other supplies that you wanted a link to, let me know!
If you’d like to try out any of my tools, etc, before committing, I’m happy to share. Just shoot me a quick email and let me know what you’d like to try.
Class Supply List (most of this is optional, but new pottery toys are fun)