Adult Classes
Class 1, you make a pot. By class 2 it will be dry enough (leather hard) to trim and sign.
When it is fully dried in it will be called green ware. Green ware will dissolve in water. By your
fourth class (or two weeks after you trim your pots) your green ware will be bisqued. The
bisque firing is the first firing and goes to about 1900 degrees F.  Your bisque ware will NOT
dissolve in water. During class 4 you can glaze your pot. Glazing begins at 8:30 P.M. Next
your pot is glaze fired to 2400 degrees F. After being glaze fired your porcelain pottery will be
safe to use in a dishwasher, oven and microwave, and you will enjoy it for many years to
come. Each week you make more pots, trim pots from the previous week and glaze your
bisque ware.


Signing and Dating Pots

All student pots must be clearly identifiable at all times. Freshly made pots get a paper label
with your full name and the date they were made (ex. Kristy Smith 8-2-02). After you trim your
pots, sign the bottom with your full name and the date they were trimmed. Pots lacking
identification will be discarded. Suggestion - Keep a journal of what you make so you can
track your work. A journal is also useful for glaze notes.

Waxing

Wax up a full 1/4 inch from the bottom of the pot. If your pot has a lid see Dan for special
instructions on waxing lids. Clean your brush well, close the wax jar and change the water
when you are done. It you spill wax, change the paper on the workbench. If you want a good
waxing brush you should bring your own. Use the green wax on the bottom of your pots. The
yellow wax is for lids bur don’t use it without getting special instructions.

Glazing

No glazing before 8:30. Each week glaze ALL your bisque ware. We don’t have room to store
your bisque ware for weeks. Donna will be no longer be sponging or touching up poorly
glazed pots. They will be fired as is so do a good job glazing and sponging. After glazing
allow 10 to 15 minutes to clean up.  Wipe tables, bucket lids and work surfaces well and
leave a clean studio.

Buying Clay

Do so at the beginning of class and pay right away. I can’t keep track of IOU’s. Students will
receive a 25# bag of clay at the beginning of their eight-week session. Additional clay is $25 a
bag. Maximum clay usage is 3 bags per 8 week session. Firing and glazing of all work
completed during class time is included in the class and/or clay fees. Take home clay is $12
a bag plus firing fees.

That price is based on the assumption that 25 pounds of clay does not translate into 25
pounds of pots because some clay will be lost in throwing, trimming and collapsed pots. If
you could actually get 25 pounds of pots out of 25 pounds of clay I would need to charge
more to cover the actual costs of firing. Classes are designed for learning. Production potters
are not welcome. There are limits to the size of the work you produce and the amount of clay
you can purchase. There will be additional charges for exceeding the limits.

Reclaiming Your Clay

Squash clay onto the plaster bat so there are no sharp edges and put your initials on it. The
fan may get turned on so don’t let your clay get too dry. Bag your scrap and rewedge it before
using it again.

Notebook

A small notebook is helpful in keeping track of where your pots are in the studio cycle and
how you glazed your work.

Trim Wheels

I’ll clean the floor around them. Don’t sweep during class because it makes dust.

Cleaning Up Your Wheel

Clean your wheel, especially under the wheel head and the sponge up the dribbles and clay
globs on floor around your wheel. Use an old towel from the laundry basket to clean your
throwing wheels . Wash splash pans in the sink. Scrape bats. Splash pans should be set on
the wheels. Foot pedal should be set up on the wheels, too, so the floor can be easily
cleaned.

Splash Pans

Dump your water down in the sink. Put only dregs in the screen in the slop bucket.

Bats

Remove your pots from the bats (except flat things and wide bowls) and scrape the bats
clean before putting them away.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Please bring your own bucket.

Class ends at 9:30 sharp. Please be cleanded up and ready to walk out the door at 9:30.

To maintain studio flow ALWAYS, every time you come to class, trim everything, glaze
everything, and take home everything of yours.

Water buckets are easier to use when full. Dump the slurry in the sink, dregs go through the
screen and into the gray slop garbage can.

Don’t overflow splash pan - Dump the slurry in the sink, dregs go through the screen and into
the gray slop garbage can.

Please clean your bats by scraping them. Washing with water is optional. Then place on the
bat mobile.

When removing splash pans and wiping off wheels, clay sometimes dribbles onto the floor.
Please use the towel to clean the floor around your wheel.

TYPICAL CLASS SCHEDULE

6:30 to 6:45 set up/new student orientation
6:45 to 7:15 demonstrations (see below)
7:15 to 8:30 individual help, throwing and trimming
8:30 Glazing
9:15 clean-up
9:30 out the door

DEMONSTRATION SCHEDULE (ROTATES WEEKLY)

Plates and Platters
Pie, Quiche and Soufflé
Small bowls, Teabowls and Rice bowls
Large bowls
Cups and Mugs
Flowerpots, Utensil Holders
Lids
Honey Pots, Garlic Keepers
Jars and Canisters
Casseroles
Teapots
Altered Forms
Use the links on the left. Please explore this section if you are
taking classes.
For Current Students
General Information Page
morning class follows the
postings on KDKA. It they
have a 2 hour delay, so do
we.

Evening classes are not
affected by the public school
schedule. I will post evening
class cancellation here  by
four o'clock P.M.
No class Thursday,
Thanksgiving Day

December 25, 2007 to
January 12, 2008.

Otherwise classes as usual.

Your end date will be
adjusted accordingly and
your pots will be kept moist.
No classes July 8 through
July 31,2008.

We will be on vacation.

Classes resume on August.