Surface Design

In this 10-week class students will learn new ways to finish their work besides dipping them in glaze. We will cover many ways to design and decorate your ceramic ware in both greenware and bisque states. Surface design techniques covered will include sgraffito, newsprint transfers, sanggam (inlay/Mishima), stamping and impressing, and appliqué, using slips and underglazes to achieve various decorative effects. There will also be an introduction to relief carving along with tips and tricks for adding designs at both the greenware and bisqueware stages.

Please note this is primarily a hand building class. Students are welcome to bring their wheel thrown ware for surface work to class. Instruction on simple hand-built forms (small plates, tiles, tumblers) will be covered for beginning students during class. 

Bring your creativity and imagination! This is an opportunity to incorporate custom, personal surface designs into your finished work.

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

What’s included:

• Access to use our studio during open studio hours every day for the duration of the quarter from 10AM to 9PM.
• 1 bag of Studio Reclaim (pick-up first day of class)
• Personal half shelf for storage of tools, clay, and in process work

What to bring:

• A good attitude and a mind open to learning.
• A basic pottery tool kit. (This should include a cut off wire, wooden knife, wooden rib, metal rib, needle tool, sponge, trimming loop tool and double-ended ribbon tool.)
• An apron or clothes that can get dirty.
• A notebook or sketchbook.

Pottery NW has communal tools available. Personal toolkits, bat pins & additional clay can be purchased at the online student store. All items purchased from the store need to be picked up onsite.

Please Note:

• WE HAVE MOVED STUDIO LOCATIONS. Our new address is 2250 7th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
• Regardless of your prior class history at PNW, it is mandatory to attend the first week's orientation since we are all in a new space together. If you cannot attend your first class please plan to attend another classes orientation in the first week of classes.
• Free Parking in the parking garage located at the entrance on 8th avenue. No validation required weekdays after 4pm and none required at all on weekends.