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Looking for Georgies' clay classes or teacher training classes?

 

Jim Gion Returns!

Modeling a likeness in clay is a skill to practice and build as well as an art. You have to train your eye in what to look for, learn how to measure what you see, and practice how to recreate it in clay. Jim will teach his old-world methods for bringing a lump of clay to life! You'll work with a live model to learn the technique of measuring and placing features on the frame of the clay head you'll create. Along the way as you work with the model you'll begin to learn the art and skill of seeing your subject correctly.

The class fee for this workshop includes your instruction, clay, modeling fee, head armature, and firing. The fee does not include tools or lunch. There are several fast food restaurants close by, or bring your lunch. (Microwave oven and refrigerator are available.) A supply list for tools and materials will be mailed to you after you sign up.

Would you like to see more? Watch the videos below and visit www.artdog.info.
And then call us at 503.283.1353 or 800.999.CLAY to sign up! These two classes will fill up FAST!
FRI & SAT,
10a - 4p
October 1 & 2
SEL430 • $250
Full
FRI & SAT,
10a - 4p
January 21 & 22
SEL431 • $250
5
seats open

Applying
the
Measurements

Clay
Application
and
Characteristics

Integrating
the
Features
 

 

Get Your Hands Dirty
in Georgies' clay classes!

Call us at 503.283.1353 or 800.999.CLAY to sign up for any class
and get your creativity started!

(Registration in advance is required for all classes at Georgies.)

We design our clay classes to help you find success with clay in an easy, friendly atmosphere. Each 8-week session goes by fast, so we've developed programs that focus on basic skills while you create real pieces that you can use. There's lots of wiggle room for your creativity! We keep our classes small, so there's lots of personal time, attention, and equipment to go around. Our wheelthrowing classes have one wheel per student for every class session. All our classes are repeatable, too, so you can come back to do more if you didn't fnish everything that you wanted to the first time. (Class fees apply for each subsequent class you take.)

Our clay classes are all-inclusive: the fee covers instruction and ALL the clay, glaze and firing for the pieces you'll make in class. Additional studio time is included, too, so you can come back and practice between class sessions. Our classroom studio is open during store hours, 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Saturday. Studio hours are subject to the class schedule. When another class is meeting, studio time is not available.

At the time of registration for our clay classes we request a $25 deposit and a credit card number to hold your reservation. The $25 deposit will not be refunded if you cancel your registration, but will be applied when you pay the rest of your class fee ($25 + $225 = $250). You will get a registration confirmation in the mail. We normally bill your class fee to your credit card number two days before the first class session. If you choose to pay by cash or check, please arrive before 5:00 pm on the first class day so we can complete your invoice. Call or email us as soon as possible if you have to cancel your registration. We have waiting lists for many of our classes, and your early call allows someone else to attend.

Beginning Wheelthrowing Handbuilding. Intermediate Ceramics Firing Your Electric Kiln Teachers' Classes Moldmaking
 
Beginning & Continuing Wheelthrowing: Learn the basic skills of centering your clay and bringing up cylinders while making practical mugs and bowls. We'll also introduce you to the ongoing dialogue between form and function: just what is "mug-ness"? And how would you like it to look? Take this class as many times as you want build your skills throwing on the wheel!
TUESDAYs,
10a - Noon
August 31 - October 19
Kristy L.
SEL405 • $250
5
seats open
TUESDAYs,
6p - 8p
September 7 - October 19
(7 weeks)
Andrew K.
SEL410 • $218.75
11
seats open
THURSDAYs,
6p - 8p
September 9 - October 21
Andrew K.
SEL425 • $218.75
10
seats open

TUESDAYs,
10a - Noon
October 26 - December 14
Kristy L.
SEL406 • $250
9
seats open
TUESDAYs,
6p - 8p
October 26 - December 14
Andrew K.
SEL411 • $250
10
seats open
THURSDAYs,
6p - 8p
October 28 - December 16
Andrew K.
SEL426 • $219
6
seats open
(SEL426 will not meet on November 25 to honor Thanksgiving.)
 
Handbuilding: You'll gain the basic skills of a creative spirit learning the clay experience with pinch, coil, slab and extruder techniques. We encourage beginners to complete the demonstration projects, while more experienced students can explore clay at their own pace.
MONDAYs,
6p - 8p
September 13 - October 18
(6 weeks)
Kristy L.
SEL400 • $187.50
8
seats open
THURSDAYs,
10a - Noon
September 2 - October 21
Kristy L.
SEL420 • $250
1
seats open
(SEL400 will not meet on September 6 to honor Labor Day.)

MONDAYs,
6p - 8p
October 25 - December 13
Kristy L.
SEL401 • $250
12
seats open
THURSDAYs,
10a - Noon
October 28 - December 16
Kristy L.
SEL421 • $219
9
seats open
(SEL421 will not meet on November 25 to honor Thanksgiving.)
 
Intermediate Ceramics: In this class we'll offer the full clay experience: both wheelthrowing AND handbuilding! Instruction and demonstrations will include both techniques and combinations of the two. PREREQUISITE: you should have both wheelthrowing and handbuilding skills before signing up for this class.
WEDNESDAYs,
6p - 8p
September 1 - October 20
Kristy L.
SEL415 • $250
Full
WEDNESDAYs,
6p - 8p
October 27 - December 15
Kristy L.
SEL416 • $250
10
seats open
 
FIring Your Electric Kiln: Proper firing is the key to ceramic success. In this class, you can learn to operate and maintain your electric kiln for optimum results. Whether your kiln is new or used, computerized or manually controlled, we'll cover them all. Questions about firing glass are welcome, but the class focuses on firing clay. Bring your notepads and questions!
FRIDAY,
10a - 12:30p
September 10
Bob L.
SEL288 • $25
11
seats open
FRIDAY,
10a - 12:30p
October 22
Bob L.
SEL289 • $25
14
seats open
FRIDAY,
10a - 12:30p
November 19
Bob L.
SEL295 • $25
15
seats open
 
Moldmaking: Learning the skill of making molds allows you to make repeatable objects the same way, quickly and easily, time after time. It's a *very* useful skill in the ceramic world! In this class you'll make a simple two-part mold. Bring an object with you for your mold, about the size of a mug or apple. We'll supply the plaster and tools, guest teacher Brett Binford will supply the expertise and enthusiasm, and you'll leave at the end of the day with a finished mold.
SATURDAY,
10a - 4p
September 25
Brett B.
SEL450 • $100
10
seats open
SATURDAY,
10a - 4p
October 23
Brett B.
SEL451 • $100
12
seats open
 

 
Who teaches the teachers? We do!
Georgies' Teacher Training Classes

Georgies' series of Monday free classes are for teachers or parent helpers in K-12 school programs. We created them to answer the basic questions like "Yikes, clay! What do I do now?" We have only two requirements for these classes: first, they should be taken in order from Clay 101 to 201 to 301. Second, no more than three people from any one school can attend the series at one time, so we can accomodate as many schools as possible. Please note: due to demand and space restrictions, class participants must be from K-12 regional public school districts or accredited private schools. We're very sorry, but we can't include pre-K and home school teachers this year.

** Teachers' classes are free with a signed registration agreement. Class fees may be billed to your school if you miss the class without cancelling in advance. If you must cancel your registration, please call us as soon as possible. We almost always have waiting lists for these classes, and your call will allow someone else to attend. Thanks for your help!

 
Clay 101: This first class covers the three necessary elements of any work with clay: forming, glazing and firing. Our projects in this class are made with Wonder White lowfire earthenware and Duncan Concepts. We model clay heads to learn about forming clay and adding attachments, design with clay colors and glaze by making tiles with Concepts underglazes and clear glaze on top, and we learn how to fire an electric kiln without fear by learning the temperatures, how to load, and how to make it all work!
   
Clay 201: Come prepared to work! We begin with basic slab work and learn to make tiles. From a slab, we move to hump and slump forms to create birdhouses, a fun form that includes the basics of handbuilding like scoring and attaching bases and lids. Our slabs and tiles offer us a substrate to explore underglazes. Because we are working on raw clay, we get to use engobes and two fun techniques that include faux mosaic portraits and marbelizing. Last, but certainly not least, we begin our clay conversation of learning how to build hollow. Modeling clay bugs is fun for all ages on its own, but this technique is also a stepping stone for the #3 class.
   
Clay 301: You'll be introduced to more than clay in our number three class as you explore a timeline in clay history. Travel back to make clay plaques from cave paintings, followed by a wealth of interesting projects from ancient Egypt: hieroglyphic tables and stamps, and beads from Egyptian paste. Our travels take us next to ancient China to make terra cotta warrior figures. Both the Greeks and Native Americans from the Southwest used a method of decoration called terra sigillata, and we'll give it a try too. We introduce you to copper and aluminum foils for repousse, and fun materials for bug wings too. If time permits we have even a few more ideas, so wear your clay clothes!


Fall Session: September through December
(Class dates for Fall Session do NOT fall on Monday holidays.
)
Clay 101
MONDAY, 10a - 4p
October 18
in PORTLAND
SEL435 • Free **
11
seats open
Clay 201
MONDAY, 10a - 4p
November 15
in PORTLAND
SEL440 • Free **
11
seats open
Clay 301
MONDAY, 10a - 4p
December 6
in PORTLAND
SEL445 • Free **
11
seats open
Clay 101
SATURDAY, 10a - 4p
September 25
in EUGENE
SEE510 • Free **
6
seats open
Clay 201
SATURDAY, 10a - 4p
October 23
in EUGENE
SEE511 • Free **
6
seats open
Clay 301
SATURDAY, 10a - 4p
November 20
in EUGENE
SEE512 • Free **
6
seats open

Winter Session: January through March
Clay 101
MONDAY,
10a - 4p
January 17
(Martin Luther King Day)
SEL436 • Free **
15
seats open
Clay 201
MONDAY,
10a - 4p
February 21
(Presidents Day)
SEL441 • Free **
15
seats open
Clay 301
MONDAY,
10a - 4p
March 21
(first day of spring break?)
SEL446 • Free **
15
seats open
(Class dates for Georgies in Eugene TBA.)
** Teachers' classes are free with a signed registration agreement. Class fees may be billed to your school if you miss the class without cancelling in advance. If you must cancel your registration, please call us as soon as possible. We almost always have waiting lists for these classes, and your call will allow someone else to attend. Thanks for your help!

 

Georgies Ceramic & Clay • 756 NE Lombard • Portland OR 97211 • Homepage • 503.283.1353 • 800.999.CLAY • Fax 503.283.1387