Hand Building Masks & Wall Hanging Sculpture

Designed for intermediate and advanced artists, this 10-week course will focus on individual projects that explore the abstracted human figure and storytelling through vessels and wall-hanging sculpture. Building methods include template and armature making, and utilizing hump molds to create a series of decorative or functional masks that can be worn on the body or hung on a wall. Students will be encouraged to refine their building skill through deep research of slab, coil, and pinch techniques utilized by contemporary clay artists and crafts people from around the world.

This is an Intermediate-Level Class. We recommend students for this class already be familiar with basic hand building techniques. with coil and pinch building techniques, but beginners are also welcome.

Learn more about instructor Hanako O'Leary.

We believe clay is for everyone! Need tuition assistance? Please visit our tuition assistance page for more information.

What’s Included:
• 1 bag of clay (pick-up first day of class)
• Access to use our studio during open studio hours
• Personal half-shelf for storage of tools, clay, and in process work

What to Bring:
• Basic Pottery Toolkit (should include a cut off wire, wooden knife, wooden rib, metal rib, needle tool, sponge, trimming loop tool and double-ended ribbon tool.)
• Apron or clothes that can get dirty are recommended

Pottery Northwest has communal tools available. Personal toolkits, & additional clay can be purchased on the online student store.

Please Note:

• If you are new to the Pottery NW studio, or if you have not attended orientation as of summer 2024 quarter, you must attend the first class to receive the mandatory studio orientation. New students who do not attend the first day will be dropped from the class without a refund of the class fee. On the first day of class, late arrivals beyond 15 minutes after the class start time will not be permitted to join. Returning students should still attend the first day of class as the instructor will not be able to reteach missed lessons and demos to absent students in the proceeding classes.

 • We are in Pioneer Square, so please plan ahead so that you have enough time to park. You don’t want to miss anything!