Special Topics in Handbuilding: Water Features and Creatures

This summer, get ready to explore new forms by mixing clay and water. You will work with a variety of handbuilding techniques, including molds, slabs, coil, pinch and tar paper to design your own water feature. Drawing inspiration from the Salish Sea, you can choose to incorporate representational, fanciful, and abstract marine life into functional and sculptural pieces. You will progress from creating small maquettes to finishing your final work.

You will be encouraged to explore your own personal style and will receive guidance based on the level of your experience.
Included with the class, you will be supplied with a submersible electric water fountain pump (with a 7 foot high lift), to create your own unique water feature.

This is an All-Levels class. Some clay experience is desirable.

Learn more about instructor Alison Grevstad.

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).

•Water pump.
• Access to use our studio during open studio hours to work on your projects in-between classes. Open Studio times are daily from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
• 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 for everyone’s use if you cannot afford to buy your own tool kit. Personal tool kits and additional clay can be purchased at 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 2023 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!