HighFire Funky Forms! (Nov/Dec)
Beginner/Intermediate | 5Week Class | West Oakland | Enrollment Opens 10/5 at 11AM!
Service Description
Funky Forms ~ Cone 10! Thursdays 6pm - 8:30pm November 12th - December 17th **There will be no classes the week of Thanksgiving!** Instructor: Brad Holmes Week 1: Throw It, Then Mess With It Focus: Foundations of Altered Forms Review centering, opening, pulling walls, and creating consistent forms. Throw cylinders and bowls with alteration in mind. Experiment with pinching, paddling, flaring, and distorting rims while the clay is soft. Discuss timing, moisture, and structural support when altering a thrown piece. Goal: Create 2–3 small experimental forms and explore how manipulation changes a basic shape. Week 2: Push, Pull & Distort Focus: Exaggerated Silhouettes and Movement Explore throwing taller, wider, and more exaggerated forms. Practice altering leather-hard-to-soft work through pinching, twisting, paddling, and controlled compression. Introduce darting, faceting, and ovalizing round forms. Discuss balance, wall thickness, and maintaining structural integrity. Goal: Create one or two larger altered forms with intentional movement and asymmetry. Week 3: Build on the Weird Focus: Combining Forms and Adding Details Demonstrate joining thrown components and adding coils, handles, feet, and sculptural appendages. Explore cutting, darting, and reassembling forms to create new silhouettes. Develop a personal visual language through repetition, contrast, and unexpected proportions. Refine work from previous weeks and plan finishing details. Goal: Develop a more ambitious altered piece or a small series of related forms. Week 4: Surface, Texture & Finishing Focus: Refinement and Cone 10 Glaze Preparation Trim and refine altered forms, considering how foot rings and bases affect the silhouette. Explore carving, incising, stamping, and other surface treatments. Review cone 10 glaze options and the studio's high-fire firing process. Discuss glaze application, layering, test tiles, and how glaze interacts with texture and form. Finish work for the bisque and glaze firing schedule. Goal: Complete and refine work, with a glaze plan for each piece. Week 5: Glaze It Like You Mean It Focus: Glaze Application and Final Reflection Review glaze safety, wax resist, dipping, pouring, and layering techniques. Experiment with glaze placement to emphasize curves, edges, and surface details. Discuss how glaze movement and high-fire finishes can enhance or obscure altered forms. Share work, reflect on experiments, and discuss next steps for continued exploration.
Upcoming Sessions
Cancellation Policy
Fees & class schedule: Class fees cover instructed class time (as listed in specific class schedule), use of tools and equipment, open studio hours, studio glazes and firing up to 25 lbs of clay. Additional work may be fired for a fee. Pottery class fees include 25 lbs of clay Classes are subject to change if minimum student quota isn't met (7 students). Class switches will only be available 1 week prior to the commencement of classes and based on the capacity of classes at time of request. Attendance: It is mandatory for all students who are new to the studio attend the first week of classes. No “make-up” classes are given but you're more than welcome to drop-in on another session if there is an opening or absence. For Adult classes, Kids must be 14-years old or older Personal belongings: Any items left behind 30-days after last class may be discarded without notice. Refund policy: Class fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Refund or Credit (minus $20 processing fee) if a request for refund is received TWO WEEKS and only two weeks before the start of a class. Credit (no refund) with less the 48 hour notice ONLY if your spot can be filled. No refunds or credits after attending 1st class. Classes missed due to failure to attend, planned absences, minor illnesses or vacations will not be credited for future classes. One-Time class registrations such as Drop-In Clay or Friday Night Clay are considered final ONE WEEK before start of class. Open studio hours for students: Monday- Friday: 10AM-6PM Saturday: 10AM-7PM Sunday 10AM-7:30PM (Hours subjected to change upon five days' notice)
Contact Details
1733 Peralta St, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
WestOakland@clayroomsf.com