*Please note: This is an in-person workshop, not virtual.

Course description:

Do you want to create more dynamic and personalized surfaces on your pots? In this workshop you will learn how to use a craft cutter to create stencils that will work on the ceramic surface!

In this hands-on workshop, hand-builder, and tech wizard Shalya Marsh will demonstrate her unique strategies for using craft cutters (such as the Silhouette Cameo and Cricket Maker) to cut stencils for dynamic ceramic surfaces. Whether you already have a craft cutter, or are thinking of getting one, this workshop will introduce you to a variety of ways to make and use stencils. Not a fan of technology but really want to know how to use stencils to spice up your surfaces. Have no fear, this process also works with hand cut stencils.

A Cameo 4 and a Cricut Maker will be available for use during the workshop along with a variety of materials available for use. If designing digitally, students will need to bring a laptop or tablet.

Participants will have the option to hand draw their designs or create them digitally.

In this workshop you’ll learn:

·      Several ways to design images

·      How to turn your hand drawn or digital images into stencils.

·      How to use stencils to create dynamic ceramic surfaces

o   tar paper and craft foam texture stencils,

o   paper and Tyvek stencils for slip and underglaze application,

o   and vinyl resist for glaze and complex underglaze designs.

·      While our focus will be on surface decoration, various hand-building techniques will be demonstrated.

As a bonus, you’ll receive half a dozen different handouts from Shalya, outlining her techniques and approaches, including her cutter settings for Cricut and Cameo and her favorite stencil materials.

Open to all skill levels.

TECHNIQUES

·      Hand building using tar paper templates and forms

·      Mid-range surface decoration

·      Making stencils and templates

·      Craft cutting

MATERIALS

·      Clay

·      Slip, underglaze, and Glaze

·      Stencil Materials

o   Vinyl, Tyvek, tar paper, PET, craft foam, paper, etc.

·      Students who want to design digitally will need to come with a computer or tablet. All stencil materials can be cut by hand and a variety of methods will be demonstrated.

·      Participants who would like to try using stencils on their work should bring a couple pieces of leather hard or bisque work.

·      A list of recommended tools and supplies will be provided in advance of the workshop. While these items will be useful a student could come to the workshop with nothing and still fully participate in the workshop content.

OUTCOMES

·      Completed test tiles

·      Several vessels or other forms that have been decorated using the demonstrated techniques.

·      Knowledge of how to replicate the workshop results in one’s own studio.

·      Demonstrations will focus on applications for ceramic surfaces. Students will gain knowledge allowing them to incorporate digitally cut stencils and/or printing techniques into their own studio practice. This class will add complexity to their work with easy-to-learn and affordable techniques.

WORKSHOP OUTLINE (Tentative)

Friday: 6pm slide presentation

·      Set up and prepare for workshop

·      Three leather hard tiles for each participant

·      Optional: 6pm slide presentation of Shalya’s work plus images of other ceramic artists using stencils and craft cutters.

Saturday: 9-4

·      Discussions about craft cutters, how to create or find images to cut, and the various stencil materials.

·      Building forms with templates and stencils.

o   Simple stencil textures

o   Template forms for structure

o   Deep texture and craft foam

·      LUNCH 12 – 1ish

·      Demonstrations of multiple surface decoration techniques, including using stencils to create dynamic ceramic surfaces at all stages of the ceramics process.

o   tar paper and craft foam texture stencils,

o   paper and Tyvek stencils for simple and complex slip and underglaze application,

o   and vinyl resist for glaze and complex underglaze designs.

Sunday: 9-4

·      Demonstrations on file prep, software, and how to cut stencils digitally and by hand.

·      Students will spend the morning designing and cutting a stencil either digitally or by hand

·      LUNCH 12 – 1ish

·      Participants will then use their stencils on tile or pieces that they have brought to work on.

·      A craft cutter and various stencil materials will be available to participants for the hands-on portion of the workshop.

·      Students who would like to follow along and learn to use a craft cutter to make stencils will need to bring a computer or tablet to design digitally.

A computer will be supplied to explore software and run the provided cutters.