217 Handbuilding + Wood Firing (Beginning and Intermediate)

217 Handbuilding + Wood Firing (Beginning and Intermediate)

Class - Ceramics | This class is completed

251 N Spruce St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 United States

Handbuilding - Ceramics

Beginning and Intermediate

4/12/2023-6/7/2023

9:30 AM-12:00 PM EDT on Wed

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$375.00

$337.50

$30.00

$60.00

This class is available only to students who have taken at least 1 clay class at Sawtooth.


Participants will develop an understanding of the unique qualities and processes of using wood and soda vapor to fire ceramics. During the firings, the draft created by the chimney pulls wood ash and sodium (soda) vapors released by the heat of the fire through the kiln. The ash is deposited on the ware in the path of the flame and creates a varied palette of colors and textures not achievable in any other way. 

Explore the creative possibilities of clay without using a potter's wheel. Students will advance their skill set by learning pinch, slab, and coil techniques to create various projects. Students with more experience can refine their skills while exploring new forms and design options. Decorating and glazing techniques for atmospheric firing will also be explored. Ages: 18 - Adult

Students will take an active roll in helping load and fire the kiln at the end of the session. Students will also be expected to help with one wood prep shift during the session. 

  • Students will be expected to spend some weekend time at the wood kiln helping to prepare for firings by splitting and stacking wood and will take an active role in working firing shifts in teams with more experienced students to experience this exciting and unique process.

    Students will learn how to embellish their pieces using slips (liquid clay) and glazes formulated for wood firing. Enrolled students are given access to open studio hours to work outside of class time.

     



  • A $60 material fee for the first 25 pounds of stoneware clay and related glazing and wood firing will be added at time of checkout. Porcelain clay excluded.

McCall, Sam

I'm Sam McCall, a potter, ceramicist, and Artist in Residence at Sawtooth School for Visual Art. I was born and raised in St. George, Utah and, like many, had my first ceramics experience in high school. I later attended Dixie State University where I studied under Shane Christensen and reveiced my Associates Degree. The itch to wood fire and the lack of necessary resources guided me to Utah State University in Loga, Utah. There I studied under John Neely and Dan Murphy while finishing my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Ceramics in the Spring of 2021.