This was a special one! Newly fired student works were lively and vibrant. Weather didn’t allow a barrel fire so we hunkered down for the main event. One of our favorites: the two person, single handed throwdown! It’s optional (buy highly encouraged) to have a cocktail in the spare hand. The tallest vessel in 4 minutes “wins”, even though performing worse is somehow more fun.
How does Jan manage to win nearly every competition?
The first all-class party and potluck after summer break is always a treat! Everyone has extra enthusiasm from in pottery deficit for so long, and it feels so great to get creative muscles moving again.
As usual student brought great food and vibes to share.
We don’t always take ourselves so seriously, so it was time to go head to head on the mini wheels to make the tallest little vessel you could muster using only a syringe! Are you not entertained??!
Short thereafter it was time for the big reveal as we pulled out pieces from the barrel firing. At just the right temperature you can create remarkable random fine lines using horse hair and/or feathers which burn ornamentation onto surfaces.
That’s a lot, so time to eat some more and take pictures of newly fired student work!
There’s always creative process stories to share.
The winter weather didn’t slow any students down! After 9 weeks of throwing, trimming and glazing, it was such a pleasure to have all classes together to commiserate, and excitedly look over newly fired pieces fresh out the kiln. Students shared each other’s work, discussed technique, and took photos of their accomplishments in the photo booth.
The head to head competition broke people into teams and challenged throwers to create the tallest vessel in 4min time! As usual the food is superb to recuperate from the rigors of competition!
See you next session!
Here’s a lil’ creature that will be heading to the Madison Park Art Walk with his friends this Friday, viewable along with many other great artists starting at 5pm. Come see works from a diverse array of talented artists while snacking and mingling with the locals. I’ll be showing my newest sculptures at HomeStreet Bank, 5pm-8pm. Come join the festivities!
4036 E. Madison St., Seattle, WA 98112
This little weirdo is heading to the Madison Park Artwalk with his friends this Friday! This event is back after a 3 year hiatus and I’ll be showing my newest sculptures at HomeStreet Bank, 5pm-8pm, Friday, Sept 8th, 2023. Come join the festivities!
4036 E. Madison St., Seattle, WA 98112
The chill in the air didn’t slow up students from bringing some great food and spirit to this Fall Session party.
Students enjoyed seeing newly fired pieces and meeting students from other classes. We even had quite a few pups in the studio!
Towards the end, a rousing round of head to head vase throwing, the tallest piece that could be made in 4 minutes! Heckling is always encouraged!
It’s always a pleasure seeing students photograph their work in the ‘photobooth’ just outside the studio. See you next session!
The weather cooperated for an action packed final part for this Spring session! There’s always a little more excitement knowing we can spread out in the fresh air and do cool stuff, like getting a barrel firing in (but the action didn’t stop there).
The Raku firing in the barrel requires a variety of material including firewood, sawdust, leaves, needles, cow manure, and further in, additives like iron oxide.
While the barrel got heated up, it was obviously time for a head to head round on the mini wheels! But as a twist, contestants threw tiny pieces an active tic tack toe board. A near turducken of competition!
Eventually it was time to pull pieces from the barrel and experiment with applying horsehair and feathers, which have to be applied within a particular temperature range to leave its effects. The pieces were cool and interesting straight out of the barrel.
It was a marvelous day of fun and experimentation!
After much hard work, coffee, and snacks, we’re excited to share this new, more fun and revealing window into Barb’s multi-dimensional world of ceramic art and teaching. Her remarkable pottery class students, who rock in so many ways, certainly have played an inspiring role. The site was designed and built in-house by Bob Boulware of Plaid Tractor.
The new site makes registering for classes easier and more enjoyable, and gives students a way to share their work and experiences. We hope to give you many good reasons to keep coming back as things grow, ripen, mature, immature, etc.
Cheers!
©Barbara Dunshee | All Rights Reserved | Site: Plaid Tractor
©Barbara Dunshee | All Rights Reserved | Site: Plaid Tractor