Ryan McKerley Workshop
Water Carving in Clay - 2010
Ryan McKerley will teach this three day, hands-on workshop exploring water carving, mold making, and building techniques. Ryan's water carving method can add depth to the surface of your sculptural, handbuilt, and wheel-thrown clay work. Participants will learn this fascinating subtractive method for realizing easily-etched surfaces that are rich with visual information.
Ryan will teach participants to take straightforward objects and treat them as canvasses, painting with wax as a point of departure into new decorative territory. While his designs are bold, abstract, and contemporary . . . the wax with water carving technique is suitable for achieving other aesthetic intents as well. Ryan will also discuss how he uses glaze and atmosphere to grace the textured surface with an additional layer of mystery and delight. He will also address the challenges and joys of the potter's life.
Participants will work with their bone-dry greenware and supplied tiles to subtly alter form while composing designs. The workshop will also touch on creating hand-built forms starting with bisque molds, and the making of the molds. MudFire will have simple greenware forms available for pre-purchase for participants travelling from afar.
Class size 18.
Free to the public
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Ryan McKerley Bio
Ryan McKerley has been a full-time studio potter since 1995. He makes contemporary functional stoneware and porcelain vessels, which are fired in a wood or soda kiln. Ryan has taught at the Laguna Gloria Art School in Austin and the Southwest School of Art and Craft in San Antonio. He continues to give workshops in schools across Texas and in his studio.
Ryan McKerley Artist Statement
Almost everything about the studio potter lifestyle appeals to me. The self-sufficiency, the accessibility and usefulness of the work, and the comradeship of my peers all drew me to this way of life. The challenges of making, improving and surviving combine to make my world very interesting. I have focused on producing functional vapor-glazed vessels for the past ten years. My forms consist of cups, bowls, plates, vases, jars and teapots. I see these straightforward objects as blank canvasses. Most of my time in the studio is now spent decorating the surface of these forms.
