An Exploration in Hand-building

An Exploration in Hand-Building

This course is designed for the exploration of handbuilding techniques. Experience is recommended but not required. Students will have the chance to create something from their own imagination using multiple hand-building techniques. 

Students will use the Soffritto technique to carve into the clay to personalize their  very own tea or coffee mug. 

Class runs $32 for SHAK Members and $40 for non members.  Non Members are eligible for an $8 discount on 1 month's membership before this class ends.  

The Class runs for 5 weeks, with an option for a Saturday Open Lab time for any additional creative work students want to complete before Glazing and Firing in the last 2 weeks.  Classes must be paid in advance and cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance to receive refund.  

Closed toe shoes must be worn!

Optionally, students should bring with them to class the following ribbon carving tool set. There will be tools provided as part of the class, but students can more fully personalize their own tools, bending and reshaping them to their vision if they like.  Link to tools:  https://smile.amazon.com/Sculpture-Sculpting-Ribbon-Cutter-Carving/dp/B01FJQ14NQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2X4BRS05XCBF5&keywords=ribbon+tools+clay&qid=1566228622&s=gateway&sprefix=ribbon+tool%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-5

Mary Beth is a local artist who is disciplined in many different mediums including, painting, print making and ceramics. She is a current student at IU Kokomo, and is near graduation with her degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Psychology. She plans to continue on to earn her Master's in Fine Arts. Mary Beth is an active participant and workshop teacher at the Sol Sisters Collective Gallery in Kokomo. She has also served the community of Kokomo teaching art as a volunteer for New Leaf Mentoring, and the Logansport Juvenile Corrections Facility. In the past few years she has also worked as an artist in residency at Carroll Schools where she taught screen printing and watercolor painting. Mary Beth draws her inspiration from her spiritual practices, books she has read, music, and time spent in nature. She uses her art as a way to highlight and express the sacred in the every day. She believes that art should be about creating meaning, which is why she calls herself a meaning maker. Her recent focus has been on painting in the Visionary Art style, and she recently studied under Visionary Artist Amanda Sage. Outside of her at home studio, Mary Beth can often be found at music festivals throughout the Midwest co-creating alongside performing musicians, usually painting but at times sculpting clay. Mary Beth is passionate about what clay can teach us and is experienced in an array of techniques and styles. She is thrilled to be able to share her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm with others here at SHAK. She is hopeful that others will find their passion for it, too.