A Bill van Gilder Workshop

Service Description

Every potter has a list of WHAT they want to make. HOW to make it is often the question. During this two+ day information-loaded demo workshop Bill will share more than 50 making techniques in answer to these ‘how-to’ questions; techniques participants will want to use and adjust to fit their own future work. During day one, shortcuts, tips, tool-use and throwing techniques at the wheel will be shared during demo after demo. Hand-building functional forms will be the focus during day two of the workshop: lots of projects and construction techniques for hand-builders. Demonstrated techniques at the wheel may include: - Efficient hand positions for centering and throwing - Throwing tall techniques - Simple tools and their use - Lid arrangements and form - Spout, rim, and lip making and proportions - Trimming and foot-finishing possibilities - Faceting and fluting as decoration - Handles and lugs; pulled and hand-built - Making bottle forms; collaring-in techniques - Making dinnerware; throwing and trimming - Making squared and oval baking ware - Wet, thick slip decoration - And more… A sampling of forms to be demonstrated; - Altered ovenware  - Pitcher and pouring pots  - Cups and mugs  - Bowl forms  - Dinnerware: making plates  - Bottle and vase forms - Lidded forms Hand-building demonstrations will include; - Making oval slab platters & slump frames - Making platters using hump molds - Humped squared slab plate making - Foot attachment possibilities; slab, sprigged, coiled and pressed - Slab decorating; wet slip, pressed, and textured - The ‘quick’ cylinder-making technique - Making hand-built handles Friday: 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Meet and Greet and Artist Talk Saturday: 9am - 4pm Workshop Day 1 Sunday: 9:30 - 4:00pm Workshop Day 2 A discussion about glazes and clays will take place during the workshop, if requested. Bill’s ^6 oxidation/electric glazes, ^8-9-10 reduction glazes, salt/soda/wood-firing slips and glazes, washes and decorating pigments recipe sheets will be provided to each participant. To get to know each other we’ll start the workshop with a 2-hr. show of images and artist talk during a Friday evening meet-and-greet. A selection of Bill’s potter’s hand-tools (van Gilder ClayTools) and a sampling of his current clay work will be available for participants’ purchase.