Andy Shaw Workshop

Jan 2010 - In his two-day visit to the GLPG, Andy Shaw demonstrated how he alters and decorates thrown porcelain pieces to maximize their functionality as tableware. He favors a flat bottom with a beveled and smoothed edge, and he frequently modifies the rims by creating corners. A subtle surface pattern is created by water carving or by using bisqued stamps that imbue contrasting textures. Those textures are highlighted through the use of a celadon-type glaze that is almost clear on the smooth surfaces, but ranges to blue-green where it pools.

For more on the workshop with accompanying pictures, click here.

Bill van Gilder Workshop

September 2009 - The three-day hands-on workshop included demonstrations of thrown and slab work, as well as a piece made from extruded clay. Using tools of his own design, Bill van Gilder altered some forms, added embellishments and offered numerous tips for more successful pieces. In creating a professional product, Bill emphasized the importance of paying attention to the details of every piece from inception to end, when every pot’s bottom should be sanded and smoothed. For a spectacular finale, Bill created his signature piece: a watering can, shown here.

Ellen Shankin Workshop

Jan 2009 - Ellen Shankin braved the severe winter weather to lead a two-day demonstration workshop for Guild members and guests from other parts of Michigan. Starting with thrown pots, Ellen showed how pieces could be altered by trimming, fluting, and flattening sides by paddling and with a Sureform rasp. A favorite theme was squaring the base of a pot, while leaving the top round. Ellen stressed that potters should consider utility as well as aesthetics when making decisions about the thickness of the rim, whether to have a foot or a flat bottom, whether to make a foot that is wide or narrow, the shape and placement of handles, and in fact, in every aspect of creating a pot.

For more pictures from the workshop, click here.

Blake Williams Workshop

Sept. 2008 - Blake Williams spent a day with Guild members. For an initial overview, she shared pottery pictures from the MSU slide collection, showing a wide array of altered and decorated forms. Blake also brought dozens of pots from her personal collection to show in a discussion of techniques. This was followed by demonstrations of throwing, altering and attaching. Blake is shown here with a goblet form.

Suze Lindsay Workshop

Feb. 2008 - Suze Lindsay spent two full days stacking and altering leather-hard pot parts into fascinating and useful vessels . . . many raised on pedestals or feet to enhance their proportions. These unique shapes combined with Suze's "trademark" glaze designs and salt firing gave each pot an interesting finish and a distinct personality.

Pete Pinnell Workshop

Jan. 2008 - Pete Pinnell led a two day hands-on workshop, demonstrating many ways to decorate with slip, including feathering, marbling, and slip trailing. He shared insightful information about the chemistry of glazes, and demonstrated how to make terra sigilata.

Pat Kaplan Workshop

On June 6, 2007, Pat Kaplan provided a short demonstration of Ikebana, a form of Japanese flower arranging, showing the types of vessels that can be used. In this picture, one of Pat's arrangements is in the foreground, as she converses with Tina Oxer.

Brad Schwieger Workshop

Jan 2007 - In the three day hands-on workshop, we observed Brad's creative and aesthetic decisions for fashioning sculptures from large thrown pieces of clay. Participants were encouraged to practice his techniques, which included stacking, cutting, carving, and boldly distorting the shapes.

Click here to see Brad's creation of a masterpiece during the workshop.

Robin Hopper Workshop

October 2006 - This busy two-day workshop focused on decoration, design and surface enrichment. Using porcelain, Robin Hopper threw and assembled an array of work which served as vehicles for surface decoration. Of special interest was his use of colored clays and fluting techniques to create varied and intricate designs in his pots. Slip and brush work were also demonstrated as effective decorating techniques.

For more pictures from the workshop, click here.

Charity Davis-Woodward Workshop

April 2006 - This two-day demonstration and discussion workshop focused on Charity's throwing and altering techniques with porcelain. Slides of historical and contemporary objects plus her own own work provided reference points for discussions and some of her demonstrations. A discussion of glaze techniques and recipes that she uses for her wood-fired work was of special interest.

For more pictures from the workshop, click here.

Tony & Sheila Clennell Workshop

January 2005 - Tony and Sheila Clennell demonstrated making ewers, beakers, casseroles, 2-piece jugs, sectional throwing, cut and altered forms, teapots and decorating techniques. On the second day they discussed and demonstrated how to make cane and reed handles.

For more pictures from the workshop, click here.

Doug DeLind Sculpture Workshop

Doug DeLind described and demonstrated sculpture techniques at a workshop for members in January, 2004. Participants spent one morning a week for approximately 6 weeks working on hand-built pieces forcusing on the human form. Some finished pieces were fired in the low temperature salt kiln and others were rakued.

For more pictures from the workshop, click here.

Robert Piepenburg Raku Workshop

Robert Piepenburg described and demonstrated techniques for raku at a workshop for members in October, 2003.

For more pictures from the workshop, click here.