The Clayer: Surfacing
a 6-week e-course with Diana Fayt
Registration: $129
February 27 - April 8, 2012
(registration ends March 2)
(Registered students login here)
About the course:
The Clayer, Part One: Surfacing, will be a place to learn how to create rich and dynamic surfaces on clay. The course will run for six weeks from February 27th, through April 8th, 2012. During the six weeks we will cover various surface applications on clay such as: mishima inlay, monoprinting on clay, carving and printing with your own block prints. We will explore using unusual objects as printing tools as well as learn how to other clay drawing media such as underglaze pencils.
Throughout the course Diana will discuss image development as well as teach you how make templates from your own images and how to transfer those images to your clay surfaces. The setting will be a warm and safe, no pressure environment, where we share what we make and learn with other participants and positive feedback is encouraged.
You will also get a glimpse into Diana's world, where she will share her own personal inspirations, stories as well as a recipe or two. Are you ready to be a Clayer? Sign up here!
Is The Clayer: Surfacing right for you?
I've made up this little test to find out your experience with clay.
- Do you know the difference between low-fire, mid-fire and high-fire clays?
- Do you know what a cone is?
- Do you know what underglaze is?
- Do you know the difference between oxidation and reduction firing?
- Do you know how to make a pinch pot?
- Do you know what glaze is?
- Do you know the difference between earthenware & stoneware?
- Do you know what is a slab is and can you make one?
- Do you know what scoring and slipping is?
If you answer no to any of these questions or you think I am speaking a foreign language, this course may not be for you. However, I do not want to discourage anyone from taking the class if they would like to learn techniques they are interested in. I simply want to make certain all participants are aware that this is an intermediate course.
I will not be explaining the basics of working with clay and will be using terms in which I will assume you know if you are at an intermediate level. Please be aware of that before you sign up.
About Diana:
Diana has been working with clay for over 25 years. Her early exploration into ceramics began at a local pottery studio in San Francisco and she hasn't stopped since. Diana went on to receive a BFA in Ceramics and Printmaking from California College of the Arts in 1992. After graduating from CCA, Diana taught drawing, printmaking and ceramics to people of all ages and then in 1995 decided to devote herself completely to her studio practice, where she spent the next 16 years developing her signature process, that combines all of her loves: clay, printmaking, painting and drawing which she refers to as "Etching in Clay".
Diana's work has been featured on the cover of Ceramics Monthly as well as in numerous other publications and on design blogs such as, American Craft, Sunset, InStyle, Domino, Madame Figaro, Design Sponge, SF Girl By Bay and Apartment Therapy, just to name a few. Diana has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the U.S. Japan and Europe and currently exhibits her work in galleries and fine boutiques throughout the world.
In 2010, after a long solitary studio practice, Diana decided it was time to return to teaching to share her techniques, discoveries and inspiration with fellow ceramists and artists and has taught workshops at Mudfire Clayworks, Squam Art Workshops, Sierra Nevada College, Heath Ceramics and out of her San Francisco studio.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.Do I need to have any experience working with clay to take this course?
If you plan on doing the exercises, then yes. The class is going to be presented with the assumption that the participants will have basic knowledge of ceramics processes. (Please see the questions of the mini test to see if you will be prepared to follow along) I will not be explaining beginning basics in this course.
However, if you wish to take the course just to learn and are willing to research basic terms and processes on your own you are most welcome to take the course. There will be no tests or grading.
2. Do I need to have a kiln to take the class?
It is recommended that you have access to a kiln but it is not necessary to take the course. You will learn techniques and receive information on how to fire your pieces but you do not have to fire your work. There will be plenty for you to learn and take back to your studio to work with at any time.
3. I have never worked with clay but would like to learn how. Is this the course for me?
As mentioned above, I will not be teaching beginning techniques in this course and you may find yourself lost without the understanding terms and techniques that I will be referring to. You, of course,are welcome to take the course but I will not be answering questions or providing information for basic ceramic techniques.
4. I am interested in learning about your signature etching technique and how you get the fine lines in your work, will you be teaching it in this course?
I will not be teaching my signature etching technique in this course. If you are interested in learning more about my signature technique I will be teaching a number of face to face workshops this summer. Please see my blog page for my face to face workshop schedule.
5. I am interested in surface techniques on clay but my studio only allows us to use highfire clays and glazes, can I still take this course?
Yes you can. However I ask that you respect the policies of your studio in regard to what clay and glazes they allow you to bring in and fire.
6. I really want to learn how to draw on clay surfaces. Will you be teaching techniques to do this?
Yes, I will be teaching Mishima technique as well a scraffito which are both drawing techniques for clay surfaces.
7. I don't think I am good at drawing, will you be teaching methods for transfering images on clay for the drawing challenged?
Yes, I will be teaching a transfer methods that will enable you to transfer images to your pieces.
8. I am interested in screen-printing as well as using decals on clay, will these techniques be covered in the class?
I will not be teaching screen printing or decal transfer in this workshop.
9. I am used to working two dimensionally and working in 3D makes me nervous, will you be explaining how to make that leap?
Yes, I will discuss and demonstrate how to move from 2D to 3D in this course.
10. I am a college student and our school mainly focuses on sculpture/and or throwing but I'd like to learn more about surface design, is this a place where I can learn that?
Absolutely. This course will compliment any other ceramics courses you may have or are currently taking.
11. I am shy and nervous about sharing my work with a bunch of people I've never met. Will I feel comfortable doing that in this course ?
There will be a private space for you to share your work with others who are also taking this course. It is encouraged that you share your work and your progress so that everyone can benefit from each other's experience. This will be a safe, private space for comments and only encouraging feedback will be allowed. No mean or critical remarks will be tolerated.
12. I have some questions that you did not answer. Can I write to you to ask them?
You may email questions that have not been answered here to me theclayer@gmail.com
13.What can I expect to get out of this course?
The course will cover these techniques:
SURFACE TECHNIQUES
- how to make image transfers templates
- monoprint on clay surfaces
- mishima technique
- scraffito
- carving your own stamps from rubber blocks for your clay surfaces
- how to use underglaze pencils
- printing with stamps & type
- layering of images
HAND BUILDING
- folded footed platter
- slumping over molds
COMPOSITIONS
- How to work with imagery on a three dimensional piece
14. What will I need, as far as studio equipment, to take the course?
You will need a space to work that is clay freindly. A table surface and basic clay tools. It is optimal that you have access to a kiln but it is not mandatory. You can practice all the techniques and learn from all the demonstrations with or without firing your pieces or use of a kiln.
15. Will I get individual feedback on my work?
I will not be commenting on work individually, however I will be selecting five pieces of work per week to make comments and give constructive (positive) critiques on through out the six week course. There will be a private space where you will be able to upload 3 images of your work, per week to share with the group. Everyone will be encouraged to give one another feedback on one another's work throughout the ecourse.
16. Do I have to check into the course at specific times?
I will be posting demonstrations, videos, assignments, links for inspiration and other goodies Monday through Friday. You are free to check in when your schedule allows and when it is convenient for you.
17. What if I don't do my assignments?
Of course, I highly recommend that everyone does the assignments as it will enhance your experience but there will not be any grades given and I will not be pressuring you to do so.
18. I have only taken face to face workshops for clay and never seen a ceramics ecourse. How will you demonstrate techniques?
I will be providing video demonstrations for the techniques I will be teaching.
19. How long after the e-course ends will I have access to the demonstration videos?
You will have access to the course and the videos for two months after the course ends.
20. I work a community studio that has very strict rules about types of clay we can use and what we are allowed to fire, will I still get something from this course if you use materials that we are not allowed to use in our community studio?
Yes, you most definitely will. You can use this as an opportunity to learn new techniques. However I ask you to be respectful of your studio's rules and regulations in regard to clays and firing temperatures they allow. A misunderstanding around this could be a very expensive mistake for the studio and yourself. Please know the rules of your studio and do not bring in projects you have done outside the studio without your studio's pre-approval.
21. I live abroad and would love to take your course but we use celsius temperatures instead of fahrenheit and cone temperatures. Will you be presenting the information with that in mind?
Yes, I will provide both fahrenheit and celsius temperatures so that everyone can take the course
24. When does this course begin and end and how do I pay for it?
The course begins on February 27th and ends on April 8th. Registration ends Friday March, 2nd.
