Clay Arts Guild

This week in Bruno’s Altered Wheel Throwing with Handbuilt Parts, he showed us how to make a large bottomless cylinder. This will later be altered to create an Ikebana flower arranging vessel.
Some important tips:
•Wedge the clay thoroughly
•wipe the bat down on both sides
•flatten it securely to the bat with a mallet
• Hit the clay consistently while the wheel is turning
•open up the clay slowly so it doesn’t shear off
•pull up the clay as vertically as possible
• Use as little water as possible.
Can’t wait for the next phase!
Bruno Kark

Art and Wine in Walnut Creek sale will be open both Saturday and Sunday (Sat. 12-8pm and Sun. 12-6pm)
We are at booth 108 West, on the lawn near the CAG studio
Have you bought your fathers’ day gift yet? 😊

Results: Meals on Wheels - Glazing@
Hello Makers!
I want to share that the first few pieces of our 200 have come out of the kiln looking great! The rest will be fired as space allows in the kiln.
Thanks so much for being a part of this wonder endeavor for seniors who participate in Meals on Wheels programs.
Cheers,
Barbara

This week in Ellen’s hand building class:
Patchwork slab building.
Ellen started by applying texture to 1/4”slabs. She used various techniques and tools to create interest and movement. She then cut pieces at an angle, alternating shapes and patterns. She used a tall metal bowl (wrapped in plastic) as her drape mold. She covered the bowl carefully scoring and slipping every piece. When the clay stiffened up, she removed her piece off the bowl. She is planning on adding a strip of clay all along the rim, making holes for drainage , as well as holes on the rim. She might add sprigs or other embellishments to finish this hanging planter.

Save the date! June 6&7 (Sat. @12-8pm and Sunday@12-6pm) we will have a booth (on the lawn in front of our studio). Join us for a fun weekend at the Art and Wine Festival in Walnut Creek.

It was time to hollow out last week’s Chrysalis in Ellen’s hand building class.
Ellen chose the best place to open up her piece, first with a knife, then with a wire tool. She scooped out the inside leaving about 1/2 to 3/4” of clay all around. She poked the remaining clay with a needle to ensure even drying. Ellen then slipped and scored the two halves, added a long coil and compressed the piece thoroughly. She worked on recreating the initial design with a damp sponge and different wooden tools.
Important tip: don’t forget to leave a hole or two to allow air to escape as your piece shrinks. Ellen plans to use underglazes and possibly oil paints to finish this piece.

This week in Ellen’s hand building class:
Sculpture. Sculpture Is very versatile. It can be made with slabs, pinch pots, coils, solid ,draped over forms as well as cast. In this week’s demo, Ellen started with 7Lbs of Hopkins white clay. Her inspiration is a chrysalis, which symbolizes deep transformation, renewal, and the protective, quiet, and necessary process of inner change.
The first images are beautiful examples of sculpture that use a variety of techniques. My apologies for not knowing the artists’ names.

Be sure to sign up for our second Maker Event for Meals on Wheels on Thursday May 14 from 9:00 to 11:30.
Sign-up sheet is on the main door!

Here is a sneak peek of the ceramic and pottery tables at the Clay Arts Guild sale this weekend, May 2&3 from 10-3pm both days.
See you there!

Today in Ellen’s hand building class we had a great demo on how to use slips, underglazes and engobes to add color, texture, design, and interest to our pieces.