Welcome!
This page is to help you keep track of your ceramic experience at SAA. It will help you to answer questions you might have, keep you updated on when and how your pieces are being fired, and will allow you to be in contact with the Ceramic Technician at the bottom of the page.
Please, read our studio policies before starting your session. We hope you enjoy your time in class!
Please, read our studio policies before starting your session. We hope you enjoy your time in class!
Studio Policies - Click to Expand
While working in our community studio we ask that you wear closed toed shoes and abide by the policies below.
- Clean your table work space, wheel, and floor area 15 minutes prior to end of every class.
- Do not empty clay slop buckets directly into the sink drains, please use the strainers.
- Do not enter the kiln room or operate any equipment that you are not trained to operate.
- Clearly label all of your tools, clay, and personal glazes with your name in permanent marker.
- Do not bring food-labeled containers for storage on your personal ware shelf.
- At the end of every session, please take all finished pieces home and tidy up your shelf if you plan to return.
Flip your name card to "returning" to let the technician know you plan to reclaim the same shelf next session. - Ware left behind after the session has ended will be removed from the studio.
Bisqueware will be kept for six months before the technician glazes it as a test tile.
Abandoned glazed ware will be kept in storage for one year before we dispose of it. - We stock a finite set of glazes in the studio. This includes 20 vibrant stroke and coat colors and a rotating stock of studio-made dip glazes. If you would like to use additional glazes you are welcome to purchase them.
- We reserve the right to refuse to load ware that has not been properly prepared for the kiln. This includes pots with glazed bottoms that have not been appropriately cleaned or stilted. Our stilt resources are limited at this time. Ask your instructor or the technician for guidance as needed.
Unloaded This Week
9/12/19
Ceramic Image Gallery
Click the firing range to expand and see images. Oldest images move to the bottom, just like the pots on our shelves.
Lowfire - cone 05 bisque
midfire - cone 6 glaze
highfire - cone 10 glaze
Sessions Past
Summer 2019
Lowfire - cone 05 - Bisqueware
Oldest Bisqueware Awaiting Pickup
Midfire - cone 6 - Glazed Ware
***DISCLAIMER*** Tech Notes in captions are meant purely for the purpose of education. No blame or shame is being assigned. ***THANK YOU***
Why is my pot "Unfirable?"If you have problems with a glaze application cracking off your ware as it dries, it is a sign that you are using too many layers. The tiles to the right all have two layers and the coverage is good with no crawling or dripping. A third layer at the top would have been fine for more saturated color.
If you are just beginning, do not attempt to layer glazes. Don't hesitate to ask your instructor to assist you with your dips until you feel more comfortable with the process. Use just one dip so you can first understand how a single glaze melts in the kiln. The images below show an unfired pot with too much glaze. Humidity in the air can also effect how glaze dries. Thanks, August! The image at the far right shows how these cracks react to the firing, if not addressed. First, the glaze peels and shifts creating bare spots, then it melts into drips that run to create an uneven surface. Wash glaze off and try again when dry. Hope this helps troubleshoot any issues you are having with your glaze pieces. |
Studio Test Tiles - 8/6/2019
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Resources for StudentsIf you are new to clay or just want a refresher, these guides can be downloaded and printed for personal reference.
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Studio Bench GlazesCone 6 Oxidation
Cone 6 Reduction
Cone 05 Raku Fired
Cone 10 Oxidation
Cone 10 Reduction
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When can I come pick up my finished work, other than during my class?
A: Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm or Saturday from 10am - 3pm.
If the studio is locked during these times, please visit the office located on the 4th street side of the campus to have someone unlock it for you.
Q: When is open studio? How does that work?
A: Currently, the studio is open Tuesdays 6-9 pm, Wednesdays 9 am-noon, and Thursdays 6-9 pm until 9/23.
Days and times are subject to change from session to session due to the class schedule, but open studio information will always be posted on the whiteboard just inside the door. Open studio is available to both current and past students, but only currently enrolled students are entitled to a personal ware shelf. The cost to attend is $10 per hour, which includes use of studio glazes and firing. Clay is not provided, but can be purchased for $12/25lbs. There will be a staff-appointed facilitator present at open studio, but they will not be teaching during this time. Open studio is meant for self-directed work. You must sign in when you arrive, follow all posted studio policies, sign out, and deposit your payment in the drop box by the door as you leave.
Q: If I skip a class, can I make up that time for free during open studio?
A: No, a skipped class due to a vacation or other prior engagement is not eligible to be made up. If you are forced to miss a class due to a medical or family emergency, then yes. Inform your instructor first, who will pass the information along to the Education Director.
Q: How much does extra clay cost?
A: $12 for a 25 pound bag, regardless which claybody you choose. There is a link to pay by credit card in the online shop. Clay can be picked up during business hours in the pug room. Sign out the clay in the log, including payment type. Cash and check are accepted in the drop box.
A: Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm or Saturday from 10am - 3pm.
If the studio is locked during these times, please visit the office located on the 4th street side of the campus to have someone unlock it for you.
Q: When is open studio? How does that work?
A: Currently, the studio is open Tuesdays 6-9 pm, Wednesdays 9 am-noon, and Thursdays 6-9 pm until 9/23.
Days and times are subject to change from session to session due to the class schedule, but open studio information will always be posted on the whiteboard just inside the door. Open studio is available to both current and past students, but only currently enrolled students are entitled to a personal ware shelf. The cost to attend is $10 per hour, which includes use of studio glazes and firing. Clay is not provided, but can be purchased for $12/25lbs. There will be a staff-appointed facilitator present at open studio, but they will not be teaching during this time. Open studio is meant for self-directed work. You must sign in when you arrive, follow all posted studio policies, sign out, and deposit your payment in the drop box by the door as you leave.
Q: If I skip a class, can I make up that time for free during open studio?
A: No, a skipped class due to a vacation or other prior engagement is not eligible to be made up. If you are forced to miss a class due to a medical or family emergency, then yes. Inform your instructor first, who will pass the information along to the Education Director.
Q: How much does extra clay cost?
A: $12 for a 25 pound bag, regardless which claybody you choose. There is a link to pay by credit card in the online shop. Clay can be picked up during business hours in the pug room. Sign out the clay in the log, including payment type. Cash and check are accepted in the drop box.
Studio Calendar
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Megan Craddock is the SAA staff member who maintains the ceramics studio. This includes firing all student ware, servicing equipment, making glazes, reclaiming clay, cleaning the studio, and keeping this homepage current. All inquires made through the form on the left are sent directly to her email inbox, which is monitored Monday through Friday.
Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. |