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Hi! I’m Meg.
I make stuff with clay, usually cheerful cheeky critters, but sometimes also other functional wares. Glaze chemistry is my jam. UMF, Stull maps, flux ratios… I’m all about it. I work out of the Wheelhouse Clay Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. |
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Weekend Workshops
PINCH POT SCULPTURE SKILLS
Learn essential skills for creating pinched sculptural and functional forms. Students will learn strategies for each step of designing and building a complex pinched object: drawing and designing, pinching and joining, shaping and finishing. Students will watch demos, then practice skills with instructor guidance. Students will leave class with a new set of skills and 5 lbs. of clay. Some hands on clay experience is helpful, but all skills will be introduced from a beginner's perspective.
Bring your own favorite hand-building tools including: an x-acto knife, a needle tool, serrated and smooth metal ribs, soft small plastic ribs, and paddles or wooden spoon. Some tools will be available to purchase or borrow.
Saturday October 21, 2023 | 9 AM-Noon
$115
Students are asked to register with a $55 non-refundable deposit. $60 balance due upon arrival at the workshop.
EXPLORING GLAZES
What is glaze? What makes a glaze durable? Is this food safe? What changes a glaze texture or color? What are the best ways to apply glaze? In this workshop you will learn the basics of what glaze is, how it works, how to apply it and how to start making adjustments to ready-mixed glazes. We will run three glaze experiments: layering glazes, combining ready-mixed glazes, and adjusting color. This class will offer you a few ways to play with your studio's glazes even if you don't have access to a glaze mixing lab.
Scroll down for more details on what you need to prepare.
Winter 2024
$220.
Exploring Glazes
MASON STAINS
Bring at least one 1/4# bag of Mason Stain of any color. Purchase Mason stains at Sheffield Pottery. Avoid the Encapsulated and Ceramic Body stains. Any color will do. Prices vary.
Containers
Bring at least 15 deli containers with lids. 16 oz containers are the easiest to manage. You can purchase these online, save them from your local takeout adventures, or ask at a local deli or restaurant. Bring more in sets of 5 if you'd like to do additional color run tests.
TEST TILES
Bring 25 bisque-fired test tiles.
You'll need at least 25 tiles. Make more in increments of 5 if you'd like to do additional color run tests.
Test tiles come in all shapes and sizes. They can be hand-built, thrown, slab-rolled, or extruded. Here are some things to consider when designing yours:
You'll need at least 25 tiles. Make more in increments of 5 if you'd like to do additional color run tests.
Test tiles come in all shapes and sizes. They can be hand-built, thrown, slab-rolled, or extruded. Here are some things to consider when designing yours:
SHAPE
Choose a shape and style that matches your work. Design a test tile that shares some of the elements of your favorite wares: a favorite curve, a specific angle, a carved mark, impressed texture, etc. Your goal is to see how a glaze moves on the shapes you make.
Choose a shape and style that matches your work. Design a test tile that shares some of the elements of your favorite wares: a favorite curve, a specific angle, a carved mark, impressed texture, etc. Your goal is to see how a glaze moves on the shapes you make.
CLAYBODY
Lighter claybodies will show qualities of a glaze more readily. But choosing the claybody you work with most often will show how the glaze looks on that body.
Lighter claybodies will show qualities of a glaze more readily. But choosing the claybody you work with most often will show how the glaze looks on that body.
Surface
Consider your surface as you design your tiles. Include textures you usually work with, but also some smooth surface to label your tile. We'll use underglaze pens and pencils to label our tiles so we can match each tile to our notes.
Consider your surface as you design your tiles. Include textures you usually work with, but also some smooth surface to label your tile. We'll use underglaze pens and pencils to label our tiles so we can match each tile to our notes.
FOOTPRINT
Your test tile needs to fit into a kiln. When working in a community studio it is courteous to make test tiles that can be loaded individually and tucked in around other wares. Consider your tile's base width and height. Your tile should stand on it's own and not take up too much space.
Your test tile needs to fit into a kiln. When working in a community studio it is courteous to make test tiles that can be loaded individually and tucked in around other wares. Consider your tile's base width and height. Your tile should stand on it's own and not take up too much space.
COOKIES/BISCUITS/FEET
Design your test tiles will feet that will catch running glaze. Glazes run for a few specific reasons. When the run they fuse your ware to the kiln shelf which can damage your piece and the shelf over time. You can design a catch into the base of your test tile, or you can build cookies/biscuits to place under the tile to protect the kiln shelf. Cookies/Biscuits are reuseable. You can make one cookie for each tile, or you can make a set you'll reuse. We'll do three firings of 5-15 test tiles. Cookies can be rolled flat circles or squares, pinched shallow bowls - anything that will catch glaze running down the side of your tile.
Design your test tiles will feet that will catch running glaze. Glazes run for a few specific reasons. When the run they fuse your ware to the kiln shelf which can damage your piece and the shelf over time. You can design a catch into the base of your test tile, or you can build cookies/biscuits to place under the tile to protect the kiln shelf. Cookies/Biscuits are reuseable. You can make one cookie for each tile, or you can make a set you'll reuse. We'll do three firings of 5-15 test tiles. Cookies can be rolled flat circles or squares, pinched shallow bowls - anything that will catch glaze running down the side of your tile.