Clay Arts Guild

The Clay Arts Guild (CAG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consisting of students and supporters of the Wal At present there are about 125 members in CAG.

A new category of Associate Membership allows clay patrons to contribute to ceramics and receive the CAG newsletter for $25, a fraction of the regular annual dues.

09/21/2026

Week 2 of the 1 pound challenge in Bruno Kark’s Throwing and Altering class.
This week, Bruno made a flat salad plate, a (gravity defying) pedestal bowl, a tea bowl and finished the soy sauce pourer. Each piece is small, yet full of vitality and interest.
Bruno Kark
Center for Community Arts

09/14/2026

This week in Bruno’s Thrown and Altered class: how to make 1Lb pieces.
Smaller doesn’t mean easier nor quicker. You have to adjust how you handle the clay, using your fingertips and (in some instances) long wooden tools.
Today, Bruno showed us how to spiral wedge, center and throw small amounts of clay. He then made a rice bowl, an elegant cup and a closed form that will eventually get a spout and feet to create a traditional soy sauce pourer. Next week: making a tall vase, a dish and lots more.
Bruno Kark
Center for Community Arts

08/31/2026

On Friday, August 28, we had the great pleasure of having Scott Jennings come to our studio for a wonderful 5 hour Master Class.
Scott started with a slide presentation, where he showed us some of his earlier work as well as what inspires his creativity. Texture, Nature, urban art, landscapes and sidewalks, all enter his memory bank and show up on his pieces.
He then made several demos: 1altered cup with handle, 2. how to make a paper template, 3. a textured bowl, 4. a tall pitcher 5. a template for a foot ring, 6. a tea cup and saucer as well as a teapot spout.
Some take-away points:
Compression: is the most important thing in joining. (Scott uses very little water and no coils)
Time: one of the most important tools we have. Listen to your clay, don’t rush it.
A great Thank you to Scott for his presentation, his generosity and kindness.
Thank you also to Brendon for organizing the class. Thank you to Bette for the snacks and everyone who made this excellent master class such a success.
Scott Jennings
Brandon Lipe
Bette Wallace Sindzinski
Center for Community Arts

08/19/2026

In this week of Bruno Kark’s Throwing and Altering class: throwing a large upside down vase.
Bruno started with 6Lbs of Soldate. He pulled a tall bottomless cylinder with a narrow top. He set the cylinder aside for about 30 minutes with a hairdryer pointed at the top 1/3. He then threw a small clay puck and cut it to the diameter of the cylinder’s lip. To a chorus of ooohhhs and aaahhs, he flipped the cylinder and placed it on the clay puck. Once it was sufficiently attached he continued pulling the sides of the inverted cylinder. He then carefully domed out the cylinder to form an elegant and unique vase.

Bruno Kark
Center for Community Arts

08/12/2026

Brandon’s demo: throwing and altering cups, part 2
Start with 1.3Lbs of B-Mix with grog. Pull the sides up to form a tall cylinder, wider at the top. Use a metal rib to create ridges, from the bottom to the top. Use the handle of a pin tool to firmly press the clay inwards. This creates a very pleasing pillow effect.
Brandon Lipe Center for Community Arts

08/09/2026

Brandon’s demo for the Throwing and altering class: 4 cups.
Brandon’s definition of a cup is a cylinder that is taller than a mug, wider at the top, and intentionally doesn’t have a handle.
In this demo, he used about 1.3Lbs of BMix with grog. He always centers, cones and opens the clay the same way for all his pieces. He encouraged us to think about the finished piece and how it will be glazed, right from the start.
To avoid having to trim the cup, Brandon left only 1/8” on the bottom. He often o
pens the floor of the cylinder wider than he will need, and slowly pushes the clay up the sides. Once the cup is formed, he used a wire tool to alter the rim into a gentle wave pattern. Using a wooden rib he then scored the cup in 5 uneven vertical tines. He followed through with a rubber tip to create deeper lines. The combination of very thin walls and a soft rubber tip allowed the clay to pillow without tearing. The cup had both movement and softness.
Brandon Lipe
Center for Community Arts
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08/02/2026

This week in Bruno’s throwing and altering class: throwing a large bowl.
Bruno started with 6 pounds of B-Mix. He wedged, coned and centered the clay. After opening and compressing the bottom he used a variety of hand positions to pull up the clay. He started with a claw, then knuckle, paw 🐾 and finally a soft chamois. He encouraged us to use a chamois to both pull and “mop” the clay, making sure the clay didn’t get oversaturated.

Bruno Kar
Center for Community Arts

07/27/2026

This week’s demo in Bruno Kark’s throwing and altering class: adding the lid and “ears” to the water pot. The lugs on an Iga ware vase are called “ears” (耳付 , mimitsuki). Vases tend to be made out of rough clay, sometimes with tiny white stones added.
Bruno demonstrates how and where to add the ears to add both an aesthetic and practical element to the pot.
Thank you to Linda Goren for the photos
Bruno Kark
Center for Community Arts

07/19/2026

This week in Bruno Kark’s throwing and altering class: a tea ceremony water pot.
This demo was a tribute to IsesakiJun (20 February 1936 – 11 July 2026) who was a Japanese ceramic artist and potter. A graduate of Okayama University, his works ranged from traditional tea ceramics to modern sculptures. In 2004, he was designated a National Treasure for his works.

Bruno Kark
Center for Community Arts

07/10/2026

Thrown and altered pieces with Bruno Kark. Demo: altering a large bottomless cylinder to create a one of a kind Ikebana vase.
Bruno Kark

Center for Community Arts

Address

1365 Civic Drive
Walnut Creek, CA
94596

Telephone

+19259441451

Website

http://wcclayartsguild.com/

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