Surface Design - THU 6:00PM S526

Course Description

Learn to transform your pottery through surface techniques. Surface Design is a six-week course focused entirely on decoration—how you develop, apply, and refine surface techniques to bring character and depth to your work. Rather than following a fixed curriculum, this course rotates through a range of techniques, allowing you to revisit the class and continue building your skills over time. Working on both greenware and bisque, you’ll explore slip and underglaze application, resist methods, carving and incising, design transfer, stamping, sprigging, and pattern development. Each session introduces a curated mix of techniques, with an emphasis on control, timing, and how surface choices support form. This course is designed to be taken more than once. As topics shift and your skills evolve, continuing Surface Design deepens your understanding, expands your visual vocabulary, and helps you develop a more personal approach to your work. Students should bring or create pieces in other classes or open studio to use as a canvas, as this course does not cover forming. Some previous experience—either handbuilding or wheel throwing—is required. Each weekly class is two hours. Class size is limited to 8. Included with this course: - Open studio time to practice surface decoration on your own each week. Please see the Student Practice page on the website for current practice hours. - Basic tools for your use during class. (Bring a towel and apron if you like.) Note: We keep our garage door open for airflow. Please dress warmly if the weather is chilly.