CL639 - Surface Decoration Techniques For Pottery

Skill Levels: All Levels

This course will cover several techniques for decorating pottery. We will cover modern day Majolica, stenciling, painting with underglazes, wax resist, bubble painting, masking, slip trailing, sgraffito, flicking, sponging, using oxides for antiquing, and others. Students will make slab tiles and bowls out of slump molds to practice the techniques. While those are getting ready for application, they will practice designs on manilla paper. I will demonstrate different types of line work and brush strokes as well as carving and wiping back. They will learn to adapt designs taken from fabrics, or paintings or their favorite photos. Planning where to decorate on a piece, the rule of thirds and using different brushes to achieve different looks will be discussed. Handouts will be provided that they can use for practice. These designs will cover circle-based, straight-line, square, dot and ball combinations as well as floral and leaf motifs. We will also touch on how to make stencils with the Cricut machine for use on pottery. Pottery beginners are welcome. The hand building done in class is very basic. Class will learn the techniques on tiles and slump and hump molds. More advanced students can bring in their wheel pieces if they so desire. For painting, all levels welcome but a general knowledge of painting and brush work is ideal. Ages 17 and up.