“Online teaching has been an extremely positive experience. Students get instant feedback and ask questions live and in person, while working in their own comfortable environment.” - Chris Snedden

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"Chris was very friendly and endlessly encouraging"

-online course participant

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​Join an online pottery course led by master potter, Chris Snedden, who brings over 40 years of experience. This six-week course covers a range of techniques for throwing and altering pottery forms on the wheel. Students will explore methods of altering wet and leather-hard clay, developing diverse approaches to shaping, trimming, and decorating pottery. By the end, participants will have a broad set of skills to alter thrown forms and incorporate personal design elements.

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Tools and Materials Needed:

• Studio: Wheel-throwing space with good internet connectivity and a device positioned to show hands and wheel head.

• Clay and Tools: Your preferred clay, standard throwing tools, calipers, and brushes (Sumi brushes recommended).

• Alteration Aids: Small wooden stamps, “pouncer” (a nylon bag with cornstarch), and a torch or heat gun for quick drying.

• Other: Sodium silicate (small amount) and snacks or a beverage for comfort.

Weekly Breakdown:

Week 1: Throwing and Wet Alteration

• Focus: Throwing forms and altering them while the clay is still wet on the wheel.

• Exercises:

  • Practice initial throws and alterations with wet clay.

  • Experiment with slight changes in form directly after throwing.

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Week 2: Trimming, Handles, and Additional Alterations

• Focus: Trimming, creating "false feet" inspired by Ellen Shankin, and adding handles.

• Exercises:

  • Trim last week’s pieces.

  • Practice making “false feet” and creating ovals.

  • Techniques for lug, pulled, and strap handles.

  • Create and alter forms such as an altered pitcher, mountain and valley bowl, and straight cylinders.

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Week 3: Darting and Cylinder Alterations

• Focus: Advanced altering techniques, including darting.

• Exercises:

  • Trim and modify straight cylinders.

  • Darting techniques on sides, rims, and bottoms.

  • Experiment by cutting an inch from the middle and rejoining.

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Week 4: Expansion Techniques and Texturing

• Focus: Expanding, pressing, and texturing for unique surfaces and forms.

• Exercises:

  • Techniques for pressing out and adding textures with roulettes.

  • Application of sodium silicate to create cracked textures.

  • Create a dropped rim bowl.

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Week 5: Design Principles and Sectional Pots

• Focus: Elements and principles of design; sectional pots and advanced decoration.

• Exercises:

  • Trim and refine pieces from previous weeks.

  • Explore sectional pot techniques, altering decoration on leather-hard clay.

  • Practice folding over rims.

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Week 6: Technique Combination and Final Projects

• Focus: Combining multiple techniques in final forms.

• Exercises:

  • Create pieces combining methods like dropped rims, squared shapes, and ovals.

  • Final projects include a squared jar and an oval-lidded casserole.​

 

Note: This outline serves as a foundation for creative exploration, and we welcome participant input to tailor specific techniques or topics.