WorkShops

Group Events?

Host your next birthday party, charity fundraiser, teambuilding event, hobby club, or networking social at MudFire.

We can accomodate groups of up to 100 people.

workshop info & policies

if you are interested in multiple workshops...
ask about our
pay-as-you-go plan

Registrations
404-377-8033

Pottery Workshops

Pottery workshops at MudFire bring nationally and internationally known pottery and clay artists to Atlanta for inspirational and educational artists workshops in our sunlit loft studio. Our focus is to bring you superb instruction and inspiration at a reasonable cost.

Visit friends and family, explore Atlanta/Decatur's dining and shopping, catch a play at a local theatre, and spend a few days with other clay enthusiasts!

We generally try to arrange for our visiting artists to present a free slideshow and talk the evening before the workshop begins. These events are free and open to the public, presented as a service to the community. Check each workshop page for slideshow info.

Workshop registration is by phone at 404-377-8033, we accept credit cards. To purchase tickets by check please call to reserve first.

Most of our workshops sell out, please purchase your tickets early if you are interested. We offer a pay-as-you-go plan for making multiple reservations.

Follow the links for detailed course description, more images, and artist resumes!

Upcoming Clay Workshops - 2008


Leah Leitson
Function Gets Expressive

Leah leads a two-day demonstration of thrown, altered, and assembled pottery making with a focus on bringing the the expressiveness of sculpture to functional forms.
February 16-17, 2008. $135 fee. Class size 35.


Kari Radasch
Making Pots Inside Out and Upside Down

Kari will help participants create molds, pots, and original forms from which to make molds. The class will address the benefits of bisque molds and many different ways to use them to make pots.
March 8-9, 2008. $245 fee. Class size 16.


Jeff Oestreich
Attention to Detail

Jeff will share his methods while reflecting on 40 years as a studio potter, beginning with his training with Warren McKenzie and Bernard Leach in the late '60s. Asian, German, and Art Deco influences inform his strikingly detailed functional pottery.
April 12-13, 2008. $135 fee. Class size 35.


Steven Branfman
Raku Spectacular

Steven leads us on a start-to-finish tour of the making, decoration and firing of his style of work. Demonstration on day one, and participants glaze and fire their own bisque on day two.
May 3-4, 2008. $245 fee. Class size 16.


Richard Notkin
Ceramic Art / Sculptural Teapots
A Plethora of Innovative Techniques

On the first day, Richard take participants through unique hands-on working experiences, challenging each to explore clay in unusual ways.
May 16, 2008. $135. Class size 18.

Richard will demonstrate on days two and three a wide range of sculptural techniques including carving, texture, detailing, incorporting non-ceramic elements, mold making, slip casting, and more.
May 17-18, 2008. $135 fee. Class size 35.

Register for both sessions for $270.


Cynthia Consentino
Figure Stories

Cynthia's three day hands-on sculpture workshop will examine the figure as vehicle for telling stories with personal meaning.
June 6-7-8, 2008. $295 fee. Class size 18.


Paul Lewing
Water-Based China Painting

Paul leads a three day hands-on workshop with multiple firings where participants learn to apply water-based china paints to glazed pottery and tiles in layers using brushes, stamping, screening, stencils, etdc.
July 25-26-27, 2008. $295 fee. Class size 18.


Liz Zlot Summerfield
Elegant and Intimate

A three day hands-on class with Liz teaching soft slab construction of elegant pots from paper templates, and the use of terra sigillata and underglaze decoration on bone-dry ware.
August 1-2-3, 2008. $295 fee. Class size 18.


Adrian Arleo
Enriching the Figure

Adrian Arleo presents a chock-full agenda of tips and techniques for sculpting the figure, with a focus on overcoming the technical challenges of working large and creating a compelling surface.
August 16-17, 2008. $135 fee. Class size 35.


Annette Gates
Functional Delicacies: Handbuilding in Porcelain

Participants will work with porcelain slabs to create visually-integrated handbuilt tableware in this two-day hands-on workshop. Annette will also demonstrate her surface/finishing techniques including methods for activating surface and embedding gemstones.
October 4-5, 2008. $245 fee. Class size 18.


Paul Andrew Wandless
Image Transfer Techniques

This three day, hands-on class will address many techniques for transfering imagery on clay. Paul will teach screen printing, mono printing, embossing, relief, stencils, and more.
October 17-18-19, 2008. $295 fee. Class size 18.


Lisa Clague
Dreaming in Clay With Metal

In this three-day hands-on workshop, Lisa Clague will teach participants to incorporate metal elements into figurative sculpture in order to overcome structural challenges and achieve greater creative freedom realizing their dreams in clay.
November 7-8-9, 2008. $295 fee. Class size 16.

Recent Clay Workshops - 2007


Lisa Clague
"Dreaming in Clay With Metal"

In this three-day hands-on workshop, Lisa Clague will teach participants to incorporate metal elements into figurative sculpture in order to overcome structural challenges and achieve greater creative freedom realizing their dreams in clay.
November 9-10-11, 2007. $295 fee. Class size 16.


John Britt
"Reduction Firing and Ceramic Glazes"

In this three-day, hands-on workshop, participants will glaze and fire their bisque with many glazes available including shino, tenmoku, celadon, and copper reds. John will lead a discussion of ceramic materials and firing practices with a focus on reduction kilns.
October 6-7-8, 2007. $295 fee. Class size 20.


Annette Gates
"Functional Delicacies: Handbuilding in Porcelain"

Participants will work with porcelain slabs to create visually-integrated handbuilt tableware in this two-day hands-on workshop. Annette will also demonstrate her surface/finishing techniques including methods for activating surface and embedding gemstones.
August 25-26, 2007. $195 fee. Class size 18.


Kathy King, Michael Schmidt, and Stacey Stanhope
"Photo/Graphic Imaging In Clay"

Two-day demonstration starring three instructors will survey different materials and technologies for transferring images to clay to enhance well-crafted objects with imagery and narrative.
August 4-5, 2007. $125 fee. Class size 35.


Louise Radochonski
"Expressing Your Figure"

This three-day, hands-on sculpture workshop will cover a broad range of techniques for expressing personal vision, with particular attention to "clay sketches" and difficult subjects such as hands and feet.
July 6-7-8, 2007. $295 fee. Class size 16.


Judith Duff
"Functional Compositions"

Judith's two-day demonstration of thrown and altered forms will address considerations such as line quality, imagery, texture, and composition.
June 23-24, 2007. $125 fee. Class size 35.


Cristina Cordova
"Figurative Intuition"

Cristina leads a three-day, hands-on sculpture workshop focusing on the technical skills required for creating sculpture with intuitive depth within the figure narrative.
June 8-9-10, 2007. $295 fee. Class size 16.


Rick Berman + Ron Meyers
"Friends Reflecting on 35 Years"

Two amazing potters sit down at the wheel together for two days of making pottery. Participants will enjoy an extremely rare public dialogue...with Rick and Ron reflecting on a multi-faceted relationship that spans 35 years, and TONS of clay.
May 5-6, 2007. $165 fee. Class size 35.


Wally Asselberghs
"Exploring Naked Raku"

Wally journeys from Belgium for a two-day hands-on decorating and raku firing workshop using slip-and-glaze resist to create effects ranging from bold lightning patterns to subtle speckling.
April 28-29, 2007. $245 fee. Class size 15.


Lisa Orr
"Molding A Playful Depth"

Lisa leads a two-day demonstration of handbuilt pottery forming with molds, sprigs, slip trailing, and using a variety of finishing techniques to achieve incredible surface depth and complexity.
March 24-25, 2007. $125 fee. Class size 35.

Recent Ceramic Workshops - 2006

November 3 - 5, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Liz Quackenbush, Ornament and Abstraction
Liz Quackenbush will teach techniques for the ornamentation and creation of handbuilt vessels, with an emphasis on developing an abstract visual language based on metaphor and symbolism. Participants will bring a small amount of bisque ware to decorate and fire. Three day hands-on workshop.

October 7 - 9, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Lisa Clague, Dreaming in Clay with Metal
Lisa Clague will teach participants to incorporate metal elements into figurative sculpture in order to overcome structural challenges and realize greater creative freedom. Three day hands-on sculpture class.

August 19 - 20, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Silvie Granatelli, Setting the Mood for Food
Silvie Granatelli will demonstrate the creation of thoughtful tableware from porcelain, with an emphasis on the presentation and mood of the finished piece. She will be throwing and altering forms, then decorating them with a variety of techniques. Two day demonstration.

June 2 - 4, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Debra Fritts, Story Telling, Narrative Sculpture
Debra Fritts will teach us the art of story telling through narrative figure sculpture, with emphasis on surface treatment and the use of symbol and metaphor. Three day hands on sculpture class.

May 20 - 21, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Ron Roy, Understanding Clay & Glaze Chemistry
Ron Roy will review the Seger unity formula, demonstrate the use of INSIGHT and GlazeMaster software programs for understanding and adjusting glaze recipes, and answer audience questions about adjusting, fixing, and reformulating glazes. Two day discussion and demo.

April 22 - 23, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Mark Shapiro, Teapots Etc.
Mark Shapiro will address the challenges of designing and harmonizing teapot parts that work together visually and mechanically, and will also address cups, creamers, sugars, and more. Two day demonstration.
Held in conjunction with The Atlanta Teapot Festival.

March 25 - 26, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Andy Nasisse, Looking for Life in Clay
Andy Nasisse reveals the forming and glazing methods he has developed over the past twenty years creating his uniquely styled figurative works. Two day demonstration.

February 4 - 5, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tony Clennell, Selling Everything But Out
Tony Clennell is an entertainer, a philosopher, one helluva potter, and never shy with his opinion. Rest up for this one…Tony will school us on the fine points of making great pots including throwing techniques, surface embellishments, and the little details that make all the difference. Two days demonstration and entertainment.

Recent Ceramic Workshops - 2005

October 9, 2005, one day hands-on sculpting workshop
Joy Brown, Sculpting With Joy
Review of work and influences, demonstration of coil-pinch-paddle method for large-scale figure sculpture, and participants created small sculptures using Joy's techniques. Held in conjunction with an exhibition of Joy's work at The Signature Shop.

September 17-18, 2005, two day demonstration workshop
Jennifer Martin, Loosen Up...Throwing Figurative Vessels
Throwing, altering, and assembling cylendars to create vessels with distinct figurative references. Held in conjunction with Jen's solo show at MudFire Gallery.

August 21, 2005, one day hand-on majolica workshop
Gwen Fryar, Majolica: Clay as Canvas
Slideshow, history, review of glaze recipes and materials, brushwork and wax resist demonstration. Participants painted their own work for firing at MudFire.

August 6, 2005, one day hands-on glaze workshop
Mark Issenberg, Intro to Ash Glazes
Mark taught us principles of formulating and applying ash glazes, and participants glazed their own work for firing at MudFire.

July 23-24, 2005, two-day demonstration workshop
Kathy Triplett, Handbuilt Clay for the Wall
Renown clay artist and author of handbuilding books, Kathy demonstrated handbuilding and surface techniques for sculptural wall tiles and sconces. Held in conjunction with Kathy's solo exhibit at MudFire Gallery

August 2, 2005, throwing and handbuilding demonstration workshop
Po-Wen Liu and Yosuke Koizume
Traditional throwing techniques including centering (over 50 lbs), off-the-hump throwing, and surface decoration. Traditional Yixing teapot handbuilding also covered.

June 11-13, 2005, surface decoration demonstration and hands-on
June 10, free slideshow and lecture
Brian Gartside, Glaze Texture and Surface Decoration
hands-on glaze experiments for cone 6 and raku firings. Texture, colors and application methodology are covered in intimate setting with New Zealand glaze master

May 12-15, 2005, Two day demonstration workshop
May 13, free slideshow and lecture
Gay Smith, Working Wet
altering form and surface of feshly thrown pots

Mar 12-13, 2005, two day hands on sculpture workshop
Mar 11, free slideshow and lecture
Tom Kerrigan, Clay + Spirit
a hands-on sculpture workshop

Feb 26-27, 2005, two day demonstration workshop
Feb 25, free slideshow and lecture
Mel Jacobson: Throwing Stories
a weekend of storytelling, wheel demonstrations, and discussion

Recent Workshops - 2004

Kathy King: I Love Surface at the new MudFire Clayworks in Decatur. Free slideshow party October 8, 2004, at 7:30 pm. Two day demonstration workshop Oct 9-10. Kathy taught us to bring alive the surface of our work with a wide-ranging demonstration including sgraffito, stenciling, slips, underglaze, china paint, image transfer and glazing techniques. Attendees learned to personalize their work and make it more meaningful using visual imagery and personal narrative.

Mark Peters: Thrown & Altered Forms: At MudFire Clayworks in Decatur, August 6-8, 2004. A fun-filled demonstration workshop with Mark Peters where we learned to give our wheel-thrown pots spontaneous and organic character.

Rick Berman: The Teapot at the new MudFire Clayworks in Decatur. May 22, 2004. A day of demonstration, storytelling and movies.

Ash glaze workshop with Mark Issenberg at his Lookout Mountain Pottery. April 25, 2004. Hands on ash glazing workshop.

Recent Workshops - 2003

Ash glaze workshop with Mark Issenberg at his Lookout Mountain Pottery. October 11, 2003.

Jennifer Martin - In the House. July 17, 2003.

Kyle Carpenter - In the House. A night of informal demonstration, Q&A, teaching, and socializing with the artist. June 18, 2003.

Raku field trip. May 17, 2003.

Mark Issenberg - In the House. Three days spent with the master potter Mark Issenberg come down from the mountain. April 25-27, 2003.

Rick Berman: The Teapot. Slides and demonstration. January 25, 2003.

 

 

 

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