WORKSHOP OUTLINES

        I would love the opportunity to conduct a workshop at   your facility. Steve Loucks and I offer individual and also   dual workshops. Several options are outlined below and   others can be discussed to accommodate your needs. We   can also be very flexible to vary our presentation and   time to meet the learning situations and desires of your   clients, students, or fellow clay enthusiasts. We make   the workshops fun and extremely informative.

 

       Steve and I have just published our new book,"Glazes   From a Potter's Perspective: A Simple, Kitchen-Method   Approach to Understanding Glaze Development". We   share information from the book during all workshops.

 

 One-day Demonstration and Hands-on Workshop

 "Carving to Your Heart's Delight"

 Learn how to decorate the surface of your ceramic   pieces through detailed geometric or naturalistic carving,   sprigging, altering, assembling, and embellishing. Learn   Lynnette's handbuilding techniques using hump, plaster,   and wooden molds to make unique pieces to add to your   own creative palate.

 Taught by Lynnette Hesser

 

 Two-day Demonstration Workshop

 1. "Stretching Your Techniques"

 Watch wonderful demonstrations of various techniques   of hand-building and throwing as Steve and Lynnette  work simultaneously. We also discuss forming,   finishing, glazing, firing, and aesthetics while   encouraging dialog. Techniques include altering,   stretching, darting, stacking, assembling, embellishing,

 using molds, and carving geometric and naturalistic

 designs on the forms.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

2. "Carving to Your Heart's Delight"

 Learn how to decorate the surface of your ceramic   pieces through detailed geometric or naturalistic carving,   sprigging, altering, assembling, and embellishing. Learn

 Lynnette's   wheel-throwing and handbuilding techniques   using hump, plaster, and wooden molds to make unique   pieces to add to your own creative palate.

 Taught by Lynnette Hesser

 

 Two-day, Demonstration and Hands-on Workshops

 1. "On and Off the Wheel: Into the Out-of-Round"

 Learn how to create exciting "out-of-round" pieces both   on the wheel by stretching, darting, stacking, and   reforming and off the wheel by handbuilding using   simple hump, plaster, and wooden molds. Learn to   manipulate all your forms. Then, embellish the pieces by   carving geometric or naturalistic designs, adding sprigs,   feet, handles, and other decorative elements. We   demonstrate all techniques used and more and work   with each attendee individually. We also discuss  glazing, and aesthetics while encouraging dialog. Work is   taken home unfired or left at the workshop site for firing.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

 2."Serve with Finesse"

 Learn how to improve your throwing and handbuilding   skills while we demonstrate the making of unique   dishes to serve specialty foods such as  asparagus,  deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, cheese balls and salmon.   Learn how to alter basic bowl forms by darting,   stretching, stacking and reforming, and then embellish   them with carving, sprigs, and handles. We also discuss   forming, finishing, glazing, firing, and aesthetics while   encouraging dialog. Work is taken home unfired or left at   the workshop site for firing.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

 3. "Carving to Your Heart's Delight"

 Learn how to decorate the surface of your ceramic   pieces through detailed geometric or naturalistic carving,   sprigging, altering, and embellishing. Learn Lynnette's   wheel-throwing techniques then handbuilding     using hump, plaster, and wooden molds. Watch the   demonstrations, then make your own unique pieces with   individual assistance, as needed, to have fun and add to   your creative palate.

 Taught by Lynnette Hesser

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 One-week, Demonstration and Hands-on Workshops

 1. “To Set the Table”

 From beginners to experienced clay enthusiasts,   watch us demonstrate then help you as you make your   own Place Setting: plate, bowl, and mug or goblet, napkin   holder, salt and pepper shakers, a vase, etc. Various   handbuilding techniques using molds are also utilized to   make the ware. Basic glazing methods are   demonstrated. Pieces finished by the third morning     are bisqued then glaze fired for them to be taken home  at the end of the class. We will be making more work all   week long which can be taken home bisqued or unfired.

 All levels are welcome.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

 2. "On and Off the Wheel: Into the Out-of-Round"

 Learn how to create exciting "out-of-round" pieces both   on the wheel by stretching, darting, stacking, and   reforming and by handbuilding using simple hump,     plaster, and wooden molds. Learn to manipulate all your   forms, then embellish the pieces by carving geometric or   naturalistic designs, adding sprigs, feet, handles, and   other decorative elements. We demonstrate all   techniques used, and more. We also discuss glazing  glazing, firing, and ceramic aesthetics while   encouraging dialog. Pieces finished by the third morning

 are bisque fired and glaze fired to cone 6 in the electric   kilns for them to be taken at the end of the class but we   will be making work all week long which can be taken   home bisqued or unfired. All levels are welcome.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

3. "Serve with Finesse"

 Improve your throwing skills while making unique dishes  to serve specialty foods such as asparagus, deviled eggs,  shrimp cocktail, cheese balls, and salmon. Learn how to  alter basic bowl forms by darting, stretching, stacking, 

 and reforming. Then, embellish them with carving,   sprigs, and handles, etc. We will demo all the clay   techniques used and discuss ceramic aesthetics. Serving   dishes will be fired to cone 6 in the electric kilns, but   we will be making work all week long which can be taken  home bisqued or unfired. All levels are welcome.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

4. "Carving to Your Heart's Delight"

 Learn how to decorate the surface of your ceramic   pieces through detailed geometric or naturalistic carving,   sprigging, altering, and embellishing. Learn Lynnette's   wheel-throwing techniques then handbuilding     using hump, plaster, and wooden molds. Watch the   demonstrations then make your own unique pieces with   individual assistance, as needed, to have fun and add to   your creative palate. Pieces finished by the third morning   will be fired to cone 6 in the electric kilns, but we will be   making work all week long which can be taken home  bisqued or unfired. All levels are welcome.

 Taught by Lynnette Hesser

​

5. "Drinking Vessels with Panache"

 Add your own flair to drinking vessels from delicate   teacups to robust growlers. Learn to carve, alter,   assemble, and embellish wheel-thrown or handmade   pieces with designs, pedestals, handles, stoppers, and   much more. We will discuss design concepts and glazing   methods, then fire early finished work to cone 6 electric   while continuing to make work all week long. All levels   are welcome.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Herrer and Steve Loucks.

​

6. “Bowl”-ing with Cone 6 Glazes” 

 Learn how to accentuate simple wheel-thrown bowls with   carving, altering, assembling, and embellishing   techniques to make them unique for a variety of   occasions and purposes. Bowls finished in time will be   glazed while we continue making wonderful bowls all   week long. Steve will also explain and demystify glazes   while demonstrating various application methods for all   to use on our bowls for cone 6 electric firings. All levels   are welcome.

 

 Two-week, Demonstration and Hands-on Workshops

 (more intense)

 1. “To Set the Table”

 This workshop is centered around making tableware that  is wheel-thrown, altered, embellished, and assembled.  We demonstrate and help each student make their own  place setting; plate, bowl, and mug or goblet, napkin  holder, salt and pepper shakers, pitcher, platter, teapot, 

 vase, etc. Additional presentations include glazing  and   firing. The work will be fired to to cone 6 in electric,   oxidation kilns and sometimes to cone 10 in gas   reduction and/or soda kilns depending on the   facilities. We also discuss forming, finishing, glazing,  firing, and aesthetics while encouraging dialog.

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

 2. "Serve with Finesse"

 Improve your throwing skills while making unique dishes   to serve specialty foods such as asparagus, deviled eggs,   shrimp cocktail, cheese balls, and salmon. Learn how to   alter basic shapes by darting, stretching, stacking, and   reforming and how to use hump, plaster, and wooden   molds. Then embellish your pieces with geometric or   organic carvings, sprigs, feet, handles, and other   decorative elements. We will demo all the clay   techniques used and have discussions on many clay   aesthetics including forming and finishing. Additional   presentations include glazing and firing. The work will be   fired to cone 6 oxidation in electric kilns and sometimes   to cone 10 in gas reduction and/or soda kilns depending   on the facilities. 

 Co-taught by Lynnette Hesser and Steve Loucks

 

3. "Carving to Your Heart's Delight"

 Learn how to decorate the surface of your ceramic   pieces through detailed geometric or naturalistic carving,   sprigging, altering, and embellishing. Learn Lynnette's   wheel-throwing techniques then handbuilding     using hump, plaster, and wooden molds to add to your   creative palate. The work will be fired to cone 6 in   electric oxidation kilns. I also discuss forming, finishing,  glazing, firing, and aesthetics while encouraging dialog   between all.

 Taught by Lynnette Hesser

 

 Steve's One and Two-day Workshop or Lectures

​

 “Understanding Glazes”, “Glaze Testing”, and

      “Developing  Your Own Glaze”.

 Lecture and image presentation format of Steve's

 unique method of understanding how materials work  within your glaze for you to achieve the desired effect on  your pieces, in your kilns, using your firing methods.

 

 Steve's Four-day to One-week Workshop

 “Developing Your Own Glaze”

 Hands-on workshop. Presentations include the above  lectures along with demonstrating the glaze testing  methods. Each student develops their own glossy, satin,  and matte glaze and, then, conducts a full-color test on a  glaze of their choice. All results are shared at the end of  the session.

 

 The price of the workshop varies with which one you  choose, but we are very reasonable. 

 

 To visit our studio, call 256.452.8213 for an  appointment to make sure we are there.  We love visitors as we are opening new  kilns all the time. Our studio is at 1092  Seven Springs Road, Wellington, Alabama  36279. We are in the beautiful countryside  of Alabama twenty minutes south of  Gadsden, two hours west of Atlanta, two  hours south of Chattanooga and  Huntsville, and one and a half hours  northeast of Birmingham. Shipping is  available for pottery, my Seven  Springs

 Handmade Cream Soaps, and my

 La Fleur Rose solid lotions and lip gloss.

        

More RECENT PAST EVENTS

 2020

 Co-juried Workhouse Clay International 2020 Exhibition

     Workhouse Art Center, Lorton, Virginia

     Show: August 8- October 11,2020

​

 Creative Spirit

    Dual Exhibition with Steve Loucks at the Kennedy-Douglass      Art Center, Florence, Alabama

​

 Mini-Techniques Workshop

    One-day wprkshop at Florida Atlantic University

​

 Stretching Your techniques

    Two-day workshop at the Ceramics League of Miami

​

 Coordinator for the 2020 Alabama Clay Conference Vendor 

     Area, CERF Raffle. Georgine Clarke Scholarship Fund,

     along with Freebie and SWAP tables in Orange Beach

​

 2019

 Serve with Finesse

    One-week workshop at the John C. Campbell Folk School,

    Brasstown, North Carolina

 

 Creative Spirit

    Dual Exhibition with Steve Loucks at the Lowe Mill Main

    Gallery, Huntsville, Alabama

 

 Creative Spirit

    Dual Exhibition with Steve Loucks at the Gadsden Museum      of Art, Gadsden, Alabama

​

 Serve with Finesse

    Two-day hands-on workshop at the Huntsville Museum of

    Art, Huntsville, Alabama

​

 2nd Printing of Glazes from a Potter's Perspective.

​

 Alabama Clay Conference Steering Committee Member

​

 Alabama Clay Market,

    Alabama Clay Conference, Jacksonville, Alabama

 

 Coordinator for the 2019 Alabama Clay Conference Vendor 

     Area, CERF Raffle. Georgine Clarke Scholarship Fund,

     along with Freebie and SWAP tables in Jacksonville ​

​

 2018

 Studio Open House and Sale

     Wellington, Alabama

​

 Alabama Designer Craftsmen Fall Show

     Birmingham, Alabama

​

 "Southern Highland Craft Guild Fall Show"

     Asheville, North Carolina

 

 "Served with Finesse", a demonstration/hands-on workshop

     at Natchez Pottery, Natchez, Mississippi.

​

 "Glazes from a Potter's Perspective: A Simple, Kitchen-

     Method Approach to Understanding Glaze Development",

     Vendor at the Alabama Clay Conference.  The book is 

     available at 256.435.4105 (h) or 256.452.8213 (c).

 

 "Southern Highland Craft Guild Fall Show"

     Asheville, North Carolina

 

 "Served with Finesse", a demonstration/hands-on workshop

     at Natchez Pottery, Natchez, MS.

​

 "Fluidity and Geometrics: Focus Gallery Exhibition"

     Southern Highland Folk Arts Center

     Asheville, North Carolina

 

 "Southern Highland Craft Guild Summer Show"

     Asheville, North Carolina

 

 "Clay Day", Southern Highland Craft Guild, Folk Arts, Center,         Asheville, North Carolina

 

 "Southern Highland Craft Guild Members Exhibition at the 

     Appalachian Regional Commission" 1666 Connecticut

     Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

 

 "Exhibition of Ceramic Artist WInners of the Alabama State 

     Council on the Arts Fellowship in Crafts", ASCA,

     Montgomery Alabama

 

 The Alabama Clay Market at the Alabama Clay Conference

     Montgomery, Alabama

 

 Alabama Designer Craftsmen Demonstration Day, Huntsville Museum

     of Art, Huntsville, Alabama

 

 "Stretching Your Techniques" with Steve Loucks, two-day workshop,

     Georgia Clay Council at Something Southern Pottery,  Canton, GA 

 

 Alabama Clay Conference Steering Committee Member

     

 2017

 

 Studio Open House and Sale

 Alabama Designer Craftsmen Fall Show, Chair

 Southern Highland Guild Show, July and October 

 American Craft Council Show: Atlanta

 The Alabama Clay Market at the Alabama Clay Conference, 

      Birmingham, Alabama

 Coordinator for the 2017 Alabama Clay Conference's Vendor        Area and the Alabama Clay Market

 

 2016

 

 Studio Open House and Sale

 Alabama Designer Craftsmen 44th Show and Sale

 One-day workshop at Densen Center, Opelika, AL

 One-week workshop at Arrowmont

 Arrowmont Instructors Exhibition

 Weekend workshop at Wesleyan Potters, Middleton, CT.

 One-week workshop at John C. Campbell Folk School

 Weekend workshop  at Mississippi University for Women

 Exhibition at Mississippi University for Women

 Weekend Workshop at Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art

 Exhibition at Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art

 31st Alabama Clay Conference, Gadsden, Alabama

 Co-host with Steve Loucks, Actual dates: February 5-7, 2016

 

 2015

 

 Studio Open House and Sale

 Alabama Designer Craftsmen Show, Chair,

       alabamadesignercraftsmen.com

 Stretching Your Techniques, Two-day workshop  and

     demonstration with Steve Loucks, Mendocino Art

     Center, Mendocino, California

 Visiting Demonstrator for Steve Loucks, Session 4,

     Penland School, Penland, North Carolina