Last Call For 2024 Wheel Classes! Our final wheel classes of the year start this week (and one starts today!)
Last call for 2024 Wheel Classes! Our final wheel classes of the year start this week (and one starts today!) All of these classes are great opportunities to learn, play, have fun and make handmade gifts this holiday season! Come clay with us!
It’s that time of the year! Thinking ahead to the holidays, putting things in the calendar and realizing that they’re going to be happening in 2025! It’s hard to believe. However, there is still so much of 2024 to enjoy! The autumn is still in its full glory and, I don’t know about you, but all of my favorite holidays are yet to come!
What else is still to come? Our last wheel classes of 2024!
We still have spaces in two Pottery Wheel Classes for All-Level Beginners. Join us Wednesday evenings from 6:00–8:00 pm, from October 20–December 11 (with November 27 off for Thanksgiving week).
Or, jump in on our last wheel weekend class of the year, starting today! It will run Saturday afternoons from 3:00–5:00, from October 26–December 7 (with a break on November 30 for Thanksgiving weekend) and there are still two open spots waiting to be claimed! It’s not too late!
Then, for those of you who already know how to throw a basic cylinder or bowl form, we have Beyond Basics on the Pottery Wheel, starting this week and running Tuesday evenings, from 5:00–7:15 pm, October 29–December 17. You can still grab your spot!
All of these classes are great opportunities to learn, play, have fun and make handmade gifts this holiday season!
Also, don’t forget that next weekend is the start of our next Kids’ Workshop: Build A Pinch-Pot Turkey, taking place over two Saturdays, November 2 & 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, for kids ages 7–12.
More holiday workshops, along with 2025 wheel and handbuilding classes, are coming soon, so keep an eye on our Classes, Courses & Workshops page and stay tuned for more fun!
Wishing you all a great weekend, and hope to see you soon at the Staunton Clayground!
Our First Polymer Clay Workshop, Coming Saturday! Plus, Three New Pottery Wheel Classes Before The End Of October!
A One-Day Polymer Clay Workshop, Three Pottery Wheel Classes (Beginner and Intermediate) and Kids' Holiday Workshops. So much is going on at Staunton Clayground. Come clay with us!
November is less than two weeks away, but we have three new pottery wheel classes starting up before the end of October, plus our first-ever one-day polymer clay workshop! Read on to learn more! Plus, don’t forget about our upcoming kids’ holiday workshops! So much is going on at Staunton Clayground. Come clay with us!
A polymer clay “Desk Friend” made by Lainie Mabbitt of Second Stories Art, our newest instructor at Staunton Clayground!
November is less than two weeks away, but we have three new pottery wheel classes starting up before the end of October, plus our first-ever one-day polymer clay workshop! Read on to learn more!
The leaves are really starting to turn now. With this beautiful weather and fall colors, our town is really at its best! It is getting chilly though, so if you want to take a break for some indoor activities, our cozy studio has plenty of fun activities and gift-making opportunities for you!
Whether you have always wanted to try your hand at throwing pottery on the wheel and never had a chance or have you spent some time on the wheel but want an opportunity to gain confidence and hone your skills, our wheel classes for all levels of beginner potters are going to be a good fit for you! And two, both taught by the marvelous Mary Tuttle, are starting before Halloween!
Looking for a weekend class? As of today, we still have a few spots left in our Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners, taking place Saturday afternoons, October 26–December 7, 3:00–5:00 pm (with Sat., Nov. 30 off for Thanksgiving weekend).
Prefer a weeknight class to wind down after a long day? There is still limited space available in our Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners: Wednesday evenings, October 30–December 11, 6:00–8:00 pm (with Wed., Nov. 27 off for Thanksgiving week).
Everything you make in these classes will be ready in time for Christmas and the December holidays!
And the same is true of our next wheel class for intermediate wheel throwers, which is also starting before the end of the month: Beyond Basics On The Pottery Wheel with the fantastic Valya Boutenko, running Tuesday evenings from 5:00–7:15 p.m., October 29–December 17, 2024.
The class is a good fit for students who are somewhat familiar with working on the wheel, who can throw a basic cylinder and a simple bowl form.
Are you too busy right now to commit to a longer-form class? Looking for a one-day workshop? We’ve got that, too!
This will be the Staunton Clayground teaching debut of the incredibly original and versatile local artist Lainie Mabbitt of Second Stories Art. Join her for an Introduction to Polymer Clay – Make an Inspirational Desk Friend: Saturday, October 26, 9 a.m.–12 noon. Come and enjoy tea and cookies and a chance to make a one-of-a-kind gift, a “Desk Buddy” to brighten your desk or the desk of someone you love!
Last but not least, don’t forget about our new kids’ programming! There are still spaces in both of our upcoming kids’ workshops!
Build a Pinch-Pot Turkey! Saturday mornings, 10:00–12:00 noon, November 2 and November 16 (Ages 7–12) and The Penguins Are Coming! Saturday afternoons, 2:00–3:30, November 23 and December 7 (Ages 6–12).
So much fun to be had! And stay tuned, because we’ve got some special one-day holiday workshops lined up for November and December, perfect for family fun and gift-making! More news coming soon. Meanwhile, enjoy those leaves and some mulled cider! I think I’m going to go warm some up right now 🥰
See you soon at the Staunton Clayground!
A One-Day Polymer Clay Workshop, Plus An Additional Handbuilding Class, Back By Popular Demand!
We are adding more handbuilding and branching out into polymer clay! Our first-ever one-day workshop, An Introduction to Polymer Clay – Make an Inspirational Desk Friend, is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon. Come join local artist Lainie Mabbitt of Second Stories Art, our newest instructor, for tea and cookies and a chance to make a one-of-a-kind gift. we have decided to add one more session of our super-popular five-week Introduction to Handbuilding. This one is scheduled to run on Monday evenings, October 14–Nov. 18, 6:00–8:30 pm (with a break the week of Nov. 11, Veterans' Day). Join our very own founder, Cary Dahl, to explore some of the essential techniques of handbuilding, making several unique functional pieces to take home (or give as gifts this holiday season).
Staunton is gearing up for a magical weekend, and we are kicking off a fabulous fall! We are adding more handbuilding and branching out into polymer clay, so hold on to your hats and keep on reading!
A welcoming polymer clay “Desk Buddy!” by local artist and our newest instructor, Lainie Mabbitt
Our first-ever one-day workshop, An Introduction to Polymer Clay – Make an Inspirational Desk Friend, is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon.
Come join local artist Lainie Mabbitt of Second Stories Art, our newest instructor, for tea and cookies and a chance to make a one-of-a-kind gift, a “Desk Buddy” to brighten your desk or the desk of someone you love!
In this 3-hour workshop for adults aged 14 and up, we’ll talk about the benefits and fun of using polymer clay.
You will practice techniques to create realistic faces and use your new skill to craft a character for your desk who holds an inspirational sign of your choosing.
Back in the realm of longer-form workshops, we had originally scheduled two handbuilding classes this autumn, but they both sold out before August was even over! So we have decided to add one more session of our super-popular five-week Introduction to Handbuilding. This one is scheduled to run on Monday evenings, October 14–Nov. 18, 6:00–8:30 pm (with a break the week of Nov. 11, Veterans' Day).
So much to explore! So much fun playing!
Join our very own founder, Cary Dahl, to explore some of the essential techniques of handbuilding, making several unique functional pieces to take home (or give as gifts this holiday season). You will build confidence working with both soft and leather-hard clay, and explore a variety of surface texturing techniques. Projects will include a set of small plates, a birdbath with bird sculpture, an angular vase, and a mug (all food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe).
Is that all? Not by a long shot! We are putting the final touches on a couple more holiday-themed workshops that will be taking place in late November and early December, so keep watching this space!
Meanwhile, if you are in the Queen City, have a magical (and mischievous) weekend!
Two New Pottery Wheel Classes Starting Next Week! Wed. & Thurs. Evenings (Plus a Saturday Kids' Class!)
If you have been waiting to jump on the pottery wheel, the time is now! We have two Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners classes starting!
The first will be on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–8:00 pm, and will run from September 18–October 23.
The second, will run on Thursday evenings from 5:00–7:15 pm, from September 19–November 14 (with a break for the week of Halloween, which falls on Thurs., Oct. 31).
There are still spots left in both of these classes, but don’t wait too long to claim your place! Sign-ups close on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at noon!
And don’t forget, our first kids’ class is kicking off next Saturday, September 21, too! From 10 a.m.–12:00 noon on Sat., Sept. 21 and Sat., Oct. 5, kids ages 7–12 can make their very own pinch-pot pumpkin. What a great way to welcome the fall!
Hello, dear friends of the Staunton Clayground!
It’s almost mid-September and that means that our new fall classes are getting started next week! It’s hard to believe, but we are so excited that it’s finally time!
If you have been waiting to jump on the pottery wheel, the time is now! We have two Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners classes starting!
The first, taught by our brand new teacher Mary Tuttle, who we are very excited to welcome on board, will be on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–8:00 pm, and will run from September 18–October 23. Click here to read the details and register for this class!
The second, taught by Valya Boutenko, who we are so glad is staying on with us after a very successful first 3 courses at the Staunton Clayground this summer, will run on Thursday evenings from 5:00–7:15 pm, from September 19–November 14 (with a break for the week of Halloween, which falls on Thurs., Oct. 31). Click here to read the details and claim your spot in this class!
There are still spots left in both of these classes, but don’t wait too long to claim your place! Sign-ups close on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at noon!
Yes, all of those finished pots are pieces that beginner potters have made in previous courses at the Staunton Clayground!
And don’t forget, our first kids’ class is kicking off next Saturday, September 21, too! From 10 a.m.–12:00 noon on Sat., Sept. 21 and Sat., Oct. 5, kids ages 7–12 can join artist, art teacher and Studio member Christy Pilson to make their very own pinch-pot pumpkin. What a great way to welcome the fall! Click here to read the details and claim a spot!
We have playtime for kids, too! 😃
So grab your spots while you can! The fall is nearly upon us and it’s time to jump in and clay!
None of the classes in this email quite what you’re looking for? Check out our full list of fall classes here!
We’ll see you at the Staunton Clayground!
Our First Kids’ Classes Are Live! Pumpkins, Turkeys, Penguins and Fairy Houses! Woohoo!
We are finally ready to begin rolling out our first ever workshops for kids!!! We have chances to build pumpkins, turkeys, fairy houses and penguins! I know a lot of you have been waiting a long time and so, without further ado…
Let’s jump into fall fun!
Hello, dear Friends of the Staunton Clayground!
It’s been a couple of weeks since we posted our first adult fall classes, and now we are finally ready to begin rolling out our first ever workshops for kids!!! We have chances to build pumpkins, turkeys, fairy houses and penguins! I know a lot of you have been waiting a long time and so, without further ado…
Let’s jump into fall fun! Join us at the Staunton Clayground from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 5, for our first ever kids’ workshop, open to children ages 7–12!
In the first two-hour session, attendees will learn the pottery technique of handbuilding a pinch-pot, which they will then turn into a pumpkin. Two weeks later, they return to decorate their finished creations using underglazes and glazes. Kids will learn skills they can build on to make all kinds of creations in the future!
Pick-up of fired pieces on Saturday, October 12, with plenty of time to enjoy them and incorporate them into Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating!
Speaking of Thanksgiving, kids ages 7–12….
There’s a chill in the air and… do I smell pumpkin pie? That must mean it’s time to get a turkey for your table! Kids ages 7–12 can join us at the Staunton Clayground from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 16 to create your very own ceramic turkey. In the first session, kids will learn how to handbuild a pot using the pinch-pot technique, then add coils and other decorative elements to transform it into a beautiful Thanksgiving bird! In the second session, they’ll use underglazes and glazes to give it color and personality. Turkeys will be ready for pick-up the following Saturday, Nov. 23, in time to grace the holiday table!
This next one is for kids ages 12–100! With Halloween just around the corner and Hogwarts back in session, and there’s magic in the air!
Join us at the Staunton Clayground from 1:00–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 5 and from 1:00–3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, and build your very own fairy house. Whether it sits in your garden or on your mantle, it’s sure to attract some faerie folk!
In the first 2.5-hour session, attendees will design and hand-build their house out of clay. Two weeks later, they will return for a 2-hour session to decorate their finished creations using underglazes and glazes. The skills used in this workshop can be applied to make countless artistic creations! Pick-up of fired pieces on Saturday, October 26.
Last but not least, kids ages 6–12… cold days are coming! When I think of winter, I think of wooly scarves, hot cocoa, a blanket of fresh white snow and… penguins! Come join us at the Staunton Clayground from 2:00–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Dec. 7 to build a ceramic penguin!
In the first session, kids will learn how to use clay to build and sculpt their feathered friend. In the second session, they’ll use underglazes and glazes to bring it to joyful life. Penguins will be ready for pick-up the following Saturday, Dec. 14, in time cheer your household through the holiday season and beyond!
We have more special workshops for adults scheduled for October, so look for those postings very soon!
Keep watching this space, and we’ll see you soon at the Staunton Clayground!
Our First Fall Classes Are Live!! Wheel, Handbuilding, Creative Collaborations, and More To Come!
Can you feel the autumn on its way? We sure can, and we can’t wait to get started! We’ve got a whole raft of handbuilding and wheel throwing classes and workshops, running from September through December!
Hello, dear Friends of the Staunton Clayground!
It has been about a month since our last blog post, and there is a reason for that––it has also been just a little over a month since the launch of our Studio Membership program, which, while keeping us very busy, has been wonderful! What a difference it is to have all of our spaces buzzing with activity all the time. What was a place of possibilities and dreams has now also become a place full of creativity and joy, and we’ve been loving every moment of it!
In addition to all of that good fun, we have been working hard to line up some great classes and workshops for you for the fall. We’ve got a whole raft of handbuilding and wheel throwing classes and workshops, running from September through December! There is so much to tell you about… so let’s start at the beginning!
Can you feel the autumn on its way? We sure can, and we can’t wait to get started!
Our fall roster of workshops will be kicking off with something we are very excited about! We will be running a collaborative workshop with downtown Staunton’s very own Burrow & Vine, starting on Saturday, September 7!
In Plant Pots and Macramé, over the course of four 2-hour sessions (Sat., Sept 7, and Sundays Sept. 8, 15 and 22 from 1:00–3:00 pm), you will first learn how to make your own handbuilt plant pot and then how to make a gorgeous macramé holder in which to display it.
In Plant Pots and Macramé, over the course of four 2-hour sessions (Sat., Sept 7, and Sundays Sept. 8, 15 and 22 from 1:00–3:00 pm), you will first learn how to make your own handbuilt plant pot and then how to make a gorgeous macramé holder in which to display it. The first three sessions, hosted at Staunton Clayground, will cover every step of the process, from rolling out slabs of clay and adding texture to them to assembling and, finally, glazing. During the final session, hosted in Burrow & Vine’s beautiful second-floor classroom at 10 E. Beverley St., you will make the macramé hanger. Spots are limited, so claim yours now! No clay experience necessary.
If you are looking to dive deeper into handbuilding than just one workshop, then you’re in luck, because we have two handbuilding classes starting in September, one on Tuesday evenings and one on Wednesday mornings, to suit different schedules.
In these two Introduction to Handbuilding classes, both first-time potters and those with some prior clay experience will explore some of the essential techniques of handbuilding, making several unique functional pieces to take home over the course of five 2.5-hours sessions.
Participants will build confidence working with both soft and leather-hard clay, and explore a variety of surface texturing techniques. Projects will include a platter, a birdbath with bird sculpture, an angular vase, and a mug! We only have room for six students in each of these, so don’t wait too long to grab your spot! No prior experience with clay required.
Have you been waiting for a chance to try your hand at wheel throwing? Well, you’re in luck, because we have a full roster of wheel classes running all the way through the holidays, five in all!
Beginning on September 18, you can join our newest wheel teacher, Mary Tuttle (Welcome, Mary!), on Wednesday evenings, from 6–8 pm, for the first 12-hour (6-week) Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class of the season.
Have you always wanted to try your hand at throwing pottery on the wheel and never had a chance? Have you spent some time on the wheel but want an opportunity to gain confidence and hone your skills? Over the course of six 2-hour sessions, this class will focus on helping you to set achievable goals and make them into a reality! If you’re a little too busy to start in mid-September, this same Wednesday-evening 12-hour class will run for second time, so check out Pottery Wheel for All-Level Beginners starting on October 30! Absolute beginners welcome!
(Yes, these photos are all actual pieces made by actual Staunton Clayground students in prior wheel classes! How cool is that?)
Are Wednesday evenings not good for you? Not to worry! We have more options. You can join one of two more Pottery Wheel for All-Level Beginners classes on either Thursday evenings or Sunday afternoons (a time we’ve had multiple requests for).
Come and join instructor Valya Boutenko and learn to throw functional pottery on the wheel. Students will try their hand at centering clay and throwing basic forms such as cylinders and bowls. The class will focus on mastering simple throwing and trimming techniques and will cover pulling handles for mugs as well as glazing techniques. First-time beginners are welcome here, as well!
(Yup! These are all our students’ creations, too! Isn’t that awesome?)
Are you ready to level up your wheel skills? Valya’s popular Beyond Basics On The Pottery Wheel class will be running on Tuesday evenings again this fall, starting on October 29.
Beyond Basics is an intermediate class for students who are somewhat familiar with working on the wheel. The class is a good fit for students who can throw a basic cylinder and a simple bowl form. In this class, students will practice throwing plates as well as elegant, rounded vases. Together with Valya, they will be tackling the more challenging forms and incorporating design elements that add interest and make the work shine.
The good news? If you attend any of our classes starting this fall, everything you make in them will be ready for pick-upbefore the holidays!
The better news? We have even more workshops in the works! We are working on two polymer clay workshopsbefore the end of the year, one for adults in October and one for kid-and-adult pairs in December. Look out for more about the first one in coming days! We are also working on a second collaboration with Burrow & Vine, and another co-workshop, this time with the Art Hive, Staunton’s “creative reuse and art center!” These will both be happening in the fall, and even more creative partnerships will be launching in 2025!
The best news? KIDS WORKSHOPS’ ARE FINALLY COMING! Yes, we are finally going to be rolling out our first workshops especially and exclusively for kids! We have partnered with some truly amazing local children’s art teachers to develop a series of fall and winter workshops, one in late September, two in October and one in November.
Keep watching this space, because news about all of those upcoming adults’ and kids’ workshops will be getting posted in coming days!
We are so excited for this marvelous fall and our very first holiday season!
See you soon at the Staunton Clayground. Let’s clay!
Three New Wheel-Throwing Classes Starting in July! Two For Beginners, One "Beyond Basics"
Staunton Clayground has three new wheel classes starting in July! Two for beginners and one for going beyond basics on the wheel. We are also welcoming two new teachers, Valya Boutenko and Mary Tuttle. Check out the post to see all the details!
Hello Friends of the Staunton Clayground!
We are so excited that so many people in our community are so eager to learn to throw pottery on the wheel, and we want to make sure that you can! So, we have added 3 new wheel classes, all starting in July! The first two are for beginners of all levels:
Two different time slots, two different formats, two different teachers!
The first, which will be held on Wednesday evenings, from 5:00–7:15 pm, for eight weeks starting on July 24, for a total of 18 hours, will be taught by Valya Boutenko, who is joining us for the first time as a teacher with this class! Click here to learn more and claim a spot!
The second will take place on Saturday afternoons, from 3:00–5:00* pm, on July 27, August 3, 10, 17 and 24 (*except for the Aug. 10 session, which will run from 5:00–7:00 pm; a break for Labor Day weekend is built into the schedule). This twelve-hour course will be taught by another brand new member of the Staunton Clayground team, Mary Tuttle. Here’s the link to read the details and grab a place in this class!
We are very happy to welcome these new instructors to our team!
The third class, Beyond Basics On The Pottery Wheel, is an intermediate class for students who are somewhat familiar with working on the wheel.
Designed and taught by Valya Boutenko, whose pottery is featured in the photos!
The class is a good fit for students who can throw a basic cylinder and a simple bowl form. In this class we will practice throwing plates as well as elegant, rounded vases. Together, we will be tackling the more challenging forms and incorporating design elements that add interest and make our work shine. Also taught by Valya Boutenko, it will run on Tuesday evenings, from 5:00–7:15 p.m., July 30–Sept. 17 (18 hours and eight weeks in all).
We hope you will jump in and enjoy these classes! After all, a cool clay studio is a great way to beat the heat during those dog days of August (or July… or September)!
Meanwhile, we’re already hard at work planning out a super-fun roster of fall courses and workshops! Stay tuned!
See you soon here at the Staunton Clayground! 😃
Handbuilding Workshop For Ages 10-18 and Wheel-Throwing Workshop for Experienced Potters, Both Starting Wednesday, July 10!
If you or a young person you know is looking to beat the heat next week, then we have two workshops starting on Wednesday, July 10, that might just be for you! The first is a coil plant pot workshop for young people age 10–18! It is co-taught and co-hosted by Staunton Clayground and Art Hive, with the collaboration of artist and master gardener Jacques of Mottainai. The second is a surface decoration workshop for wheel throwers with Nicole Eyerman Hill. Sign-ups close on Monday, July 8, at 5pm, so claim your spot while you can!
Hello, Friends of the Staunton Clayground!
We hope that you all had a fantastic July 4!
Here at the Staunton Clayground we have been super busy getting everything ready for our Studio Membership Program launch, which is happening this week! We’ve been gearing up for this since the day we opened, and it’s hard to believe it’s finally here. We’ve had a great response and are very excited to welcome our first official members into the studio tomorrow morning!
Amidst all of that excitement, we’ve also been hard at work trying to make sure there is a great selection of classes and workshops for you all to enjoy throughout this long hot summer. After all, on these hot, hot days, where better to be than in a cool pottery studio with your hands in wet clay?
If you or a young person you know is looking to beat the heat next week, then we have two workshops starting on Wednesday, July 10, that might just be for you!
Come clay! Cut off for sign-ups is Monday, July 8 at 5 p.m., so claim your spot!
The first is a coil plant pot workshop for young people age 10–18! It is co-taught and co-hosted by Staunton Clayground and Art Hive, with the collaboration of artist and master gardener Jacques of Mottainai and is our first (we hope of many) such collaboration within our area’s great arts and creative community. Attendees will make and decorate clay coil pots inspired by indigenous artists, and then learn how to use them to plant and care for a plant of their own. Read more details and get your tickets through Art Hive at this link and don’t miss out on this hands-on experience where art meets nature!
The second, Vases & Carving, is a workshop for slightly more experienced wheel throwers. If you can throw a simple 4-inch cylinder on your own, then this workshop is for you! Nicole Eyerman Hill will walk you through the process of crafting wheel-thrown vases meant to be carved and faceted to create unique surface decoration.
Sign-ups for both of these will be closing on Monday, July 8, at 5:00 p.m., so don’t miss your chance to come and join in the fun!
Looking for a different sort of handbuilding experience? Then look no farther than two more workshops, both for ages 14 and up, starting on July 16 and August 9, both are taught by a special guest instructor, local artist Janly Jaggard.
Special handbuilding workshops by local artist Janly Jaggard, right here at Staunton Clayground, this summer!
Still not quite what you’re looking for? Well, stay tuned, because we are getting ready to post 😃 three new pottery-wheel classes with two new teachers 😃, all starting over the next few weeks, two for all-level beginners and one for intermediate wheel throwers. Stay tuned, because we’ll be getting you all of the details, right here, over the next few days!
Stay cool, stay safe, and keep watching this space!
Three New Handbuilding Workshops in July and August! Two With Local Artist Janly Jaggard and One In Partnership With The Art Hive!
We have had quite a few queries about whether we were going to have new handbuilding workshops this summer, and we are very excited to officially announce three! Two, a Sculptural Coiled Forms workshop starting July 16 and an intensive Clay Slabbing and Hollow Forms workshop beginning August 9 (both geared towards adults age 14+), are taught by special guest artist and instructor Janly Jaggard. The third, for young people ages 10–18, entitled coil pot planters | 3 day clay workshop, is a “co-production” by Staunton Clayground, the Art Hive and Mottainai! Read on to learn more about all of them!
We have had quite a few queries about whether we were going to have new handbuilding workshops this summer, and we are very excited to officially announce three! Two, a Sculptural Coiled Forms workshop starting July 16 and an intensive Clay Slabbing and Hollow Forms workshop beginning August 9 (both geared towards adults age 14+), are taught by special guest artist and instructor Janly Jaggard. The third, for young people ages 10–18, entitled coil pot planters | 3 day clay workshop, is a “co-production” by Staunton Clayground, the Art Hive and Mottainai! Click the links or read on to learn more about all of them!
Let’s start with that last one, “coil pot planters | 3 day clay workshop,” because it is starting first (Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, from 1:00–4:00 pm)! Designed for young people ages 10–18, it is set to take place at Staunton Claygroundand the Art Hive.
During the first day, taking place in our clay studio, “Get inspired by indigenous potters Maria Martinez & Louise Goodman as you dive into the art of coil pot construction. We'll share stories and techniques while you build your very own coil pot, ready to house your favorite plant.” The last two sessions will be hosted at the Art Hive. During these two, students will first decorate their pots using underglaze painting then, to wrap up the workshop, “Join Jacque from Mottainai for a fun session on planting and caring for your new green buds in your beautiful vessel!
Don't miss out on this hands-on experience where art meets nature!” Tickets available here!
Our next two new handbuilding workshops, both for adults, are taught entirely at the Staunton Clayground by a special guest instructor, local artist Janly Jaggard. Here’s a link to her bio on our website, and you can check out her art on her own website here!
The first will be a Sculptural Coiled Forms workshop, taking place over five 3-hour sessions, 1:00–4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, July 16, 19, 23, 26 and August 6, 2024.
“It will deal with several aspects of working with earthenware clay and has both the beginner and the experienced clay worker in mind. The focus will be on material and on the design skills that will build aesthetic discernment about handbuilding skills as well as shape, form, surface and texture. Students will begin with drawings or other found references, like images that are of plant and other natural forms such as seaweed, trees, sand dunes, clouds, leaves, legs, etc., which will be the starting point for shape and form and then detail of texture and color.”
The second is an intensive workshop, Clay Slabbing and Hollow Forms, consisting of two 6-hour sessions + glazing day: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on Sat. and Sun., August 9 and 10, and glazing Fri., Aug. 30, 10:00 a.m. until finished (may take less time than the previous two sessions).
As Janly Jaggard writes, “Slabbing is a technique that uses leather-hard clay construction and recalls real-world angular shapes. These shapes are the inspiration for the project students will create in this workshop. Ideas will come from references to buildings, man-made forms such as machines, and manufactured forms. We will make plans and drawings on paper then work on rolling out clay. Exploration of methods of joining slabs and developing surface decoration will be next, as the clay gets to leather hard and ready for building. Decoration and embellishment includes adding clay, piercing, carving, and using color.”
If, on the other hand, it is wheel classes you’re looking for, more experienced wheel throwers ages 14+ can join Nicole Eyerman Hill for her 3-day Wheel Throwing & Surface Decoration workshop, Vases & Carving, in which students will focus on throwing small vases with slightly thicker than usual walls, making it possible to carve out faceting or other designs once the vessels are leather-hard.
This is an interesting way to add interest to the surface of any piece, and can be done either on plain clay as a way to show off the effects of particular glazes or in combination with colored slip or underglaze decoration applied before clear-glazing.
We hope to add at least one more beginner wheel class over the summer, so stay tuned!
Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who has applied for our Studio Membership program! You can expect to hear from us very soon 😃 We’re working through those applications right now!
See you soon at the Staunton Clayground!
Membership Applications Now Open! Check Out Our Membership Info Page And Apply Now :-)
Just a quick note to remind you that Staunton Clayground Studio Membership applications have just become available as of 4pm today, Saturday, June 22. Visit our Membership Info page, and at the bottom you will find the application.
Applications will be evaluated on a first-come-first-serve basis, so we urge you to apply now if you are interested. Spaces are limited!
Hello Friends of the Staunton Clayground!
Just a quick note to remind you that Studio Membership applications have just become available as of 4pm today, Saturday, June 22.
Click this link to visit our Membership Info page, and at the bottom you will find the application.
Applications will be evaluated on a first-come-first-serve basis, so we urge you to apply now if you are interested. We will be starting off with a limited number of members and increasing that slowly over time as we see how things go!
It will take us a few days to process these first applications, but we will get back to you as soon as we can if you fill one out. Accepted members can expect to be invited to one of a series of tutorials we will be holding over the next several days. The studio will officially open for members on Saturday, July 6 at 7am! It will then be available for members to come and work from 7am–10pm, 7 days a week (excluding major holidays).
Come and clay! 😃
Instructor Showcase at Hotel 24 South until June 27! Plus, Studio Membership applications open Saturday, after the Open House!
Don’t miss the Staunton Clayground Instructor Showcase display, in the lobby at Hotel 24 South until June 27! Learn about our staff and teachers and enjoy this display of their work. And don’t forget our Open House on Saturday, June 22, from 11am–3pm, where we’ll answer all of your questions about our new Studio Membership program!
Well, it’s officially summer! I love this season here in Staunton, when Beverley Street turns into a pedestrian zone on weekends and you can stroll from shop to shop, dine al fresco, see kids making chalk murals in the middle of the street, eat gelato, go to outdoor plays and concerts, enjoy live music great shopping at the farmers’ market and, of course, retreat to our lovely cool Staunton Clayground studio to play with clay!
Our town gets plenty of visitors who enjoy downtown, but even if you’re a local, you might want to try and pop into Hotel 24 South sometime in the next few days, because you only have until June 27 to check out the Staunton Clayground Instructor Showcase display in the lobby!
We’ve put together a display window where you can learn about our staff and instructors and their work, and everyone lent us some pretty cool pieces to exhibit. So, when you’re walking around downtown this weekend enjoying Staunton’s very own seasonal pedestrian promenade, stop by Hotel 24 South and see who your teachers might be when you sign up for a class!
Speaking of which, there are still a couple of spots left in our Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class startingthis coming Tuesday!
Or would you rather join us in our nice cool studio this summer and play with clay whenever the fancy strikes you? We’re launching our Studio Membership program next month, so you could do just that! We’re hosting a special Open House dedicated to answering all of your questions about becoming and being a member tomorrow, Saturday, June 22, from 11am–3pm (read the original blog post about it or check out the Facebook Event page for more details), so stop in if you can! The membership application form will open to the general public at 4pm the same day (which is when this link to the Membership Information page and its embedded application form at the bottom of the page will start working). Initial spaces will be limited as we get the program up and running. Applications will be evaluated in the order they are received, so click the above link Saturday at 4pm if you’re interested! Members will be able to start using the studio 7 days a week, 7am–10 pm, starting on Saturday, July 6!
Come and see us!
Is that all? I think so… oh, boy, we've sure got a lot going on around here! We are so excited, and hope that you are, too! 😃
Enjoy the weekend downtown, stay cool, and we’ll see you soon at the Staunton Clayground!
Membership Q&A Open House Reminder! Plus, 2 Spots Left In Beginner Wheel Class Starting Tuesday, June 25
Staunton Clayground is getting ready to launch its Studio Membership Program next month! A special Open House is happening this Saturday, June 22, from 11–3, for the express purpose of answering all of your questions about memberships, classes and anything else you might want to know.
See the new member space, enjoy refreshments and door prizes for 3 lucky winners, who will get a discount on their first 3 months of membership!
Also, last call for sign-ups for our next All-Level Beginner Wheel Class, starting Tuesday, June 25. 2 spots left!
Things have definitely been heating up at the studio, and not just because of our kilns 😁
We have been hard at work not just setting up a ton of great classes (taking place inside where it is nice and cool 😉) but also getting ready to launch our Studio Membership Program next month! And July is just around the corner, so we wanted to remind you about our special Open House happening this Saturday, June 22, from 11–3, for the express purpose of answering all of your questions about memberships, classes and anything else you might want to know about what we’re up to!
We are very excited to show you our new member space and tell you all about what we’re planning. Not only that, but there will be refreshments and door prizes for 3 lucky winners, who will get a discount on their first 3 months as members! Come down and see us! Tell your friends! RSVP on Facebook, if you like. We can’t wait to see you there.
Also, our wheel classes have been filling up fast, but there are still 2 spots left in the Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class starting this coming Tuesday, June 25! It will run Tuesday evenings, 5:30–8:30 pm for 5 weeks.
Come down and clay!
New Sunday Pottery Wheel All-Level Beginner Class Announced And Last Call For "Bowls & Underglaze" Workshop, Starting Tuesday!
A new Sunday wheel class for all-level beginners, last call for sign-ups for mid-level beginner wheel workshop on bowls and underglaze decoration, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for our Member Q&A Open House on Saturday, June 22! There’s so much going on at the Staunton Clayground!
We hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend and staying cool!
We’re writing with some exciting news! We have just posted a new Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class, set to run on Sunday afternoons, 2:30–5:00 pm, June 30–July 28 and August 11, 2024.
Why have we added another one? Well, we have had a lot of requests for Sunday classes, plus the other all-level beginners wheel class we posted just a couple of weeks ago is already nearly sold out! If you were interested in that one, which will be running on Tuesdays evenings, 5:30–8:30 pm, June 25–July 23, now is the time to grab one of the few spots remaining!
If you already have some experience at the wheel and are itching to get your hands back in the clay a little sooner, there’s still a little time to book a spot in Nicole Eyerman Hill’s pottery wheel and surface decoration workshop starting this Tuesday, Bowls & Underglaze.
It will consist of three 3-hour sessions, running from 5:30–8:30 pm on Tuesday, June 18, Friday, June 21 and Friday, June 28, 2024. Sign-ups close after Sunday, June 16, so if you’re interested, now’s the time!
Last but not least, don’t forget about our Open House on Saturday, June 22, from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.!
This event will be specifically dedicated to answering your questions about our Membership Program, which is set to start up very soon! Look for the Facebook Event page, going up this week.
Keep watching this space for news about this and more great summer workshops!
Wishing you a great weekend and, to all of you Dads out there, Happy Father’s Day! 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
Grab Your Spot In Our Bowls & Underglaze Workshop Starting June 18 - Part Of Our Wheel-Throwing & Surface Decoration Series
Grab your spot in our Bowls & Underglaze wheel-thrown pottery workshop, starting June 18! If you are a mid-level beginner or higher, then this three-day workshop is for you! Nicole Eyerman Hill of @eyerman.art will teach participants how to expand their portfolio of decorative techniques beyond simple glazing to create wares that can still be functional and food-safe! The workshop will take place from 5:30–8:30 pm on Tuesday, June 18, Friday, June 21 and Friday, June 28.
We’ve got so many classes and workshops starting this month, and the next one is scheduled to launch just a week from today! We are calling potters with some wheel experience to join our next three-day wheel-throwing and surface decoration workshop, Bowls and Underglazes!
If you can throw a basic 4-inch cylinder on your own, then this workshop is for you!
The talented Nicole Eyerman Hill of @eyerman.art will teach participants how to expand their portfolio of decorative techniques beyond simple glazing to create wares that can still be functional and food-safe!
The workshop will take place over three days, from 5:30–8:30 pm on Tuesday, June 18, Friday, June 21 and Friday, June 28.
That first session is just a week away, so, if you’re interested, now is the time to grab your spot.
More fun is coming soon, so keep watching this space!
Wishing you a great week!
Last Call For Sign-ups for "Mugs & Sgraffito" Workshop, Plus, Opening Reception at the BSSS Gallery Tonight!
Last chance to sign up for Part 1 of our 3-part wheel-throwing and surface decoration workshop series, “Mugs & Sgraffito,” starting on Tues., June 11. Saturday is the last day to sign up, so don’t miss your chance! Also, don’t miss tonight’s Opening Reception at the BSSS Gallery for ceramic art exhibition “Volume and Solitude”. Meet the artists and learn about their craft! 5:30–7:30 pm at 22 W. Beverley Street.
We hope you’ve had a fabulous week. We started our first All-Level Beginners Wheel-Throwing Class on Monday and are very happy to be off and running (or spinning 😁). We’re also excited for the coming week, when we’re going to launch our first workshop of the three-part surface-decoration series being taught this summer by Nicole Eyerman Hill.
In sgraffito technique, a colored surface layer is carved or scraped away to reveal the clay beneath, thus creating the design
The first part, Mugs & Sgraffito, is set to begin on Tuesday, June 11. This workshop is designed for potters with some wheel experience, so if you think this could be the one for you, now is the time to grab a spot! Sign-ups close at the end of the day on Saturday, June 8, so don’t miss your chance!
Also, we wanted to remind you that this evening from 5:30–7:00 is the Opening Reception of Volume and Solitude, a really wonderful exhibition (and we can say that because we’ve been there!) at the Beverley Street Studio Gallery(located inside the Co-Art Gallery space at 22 West Beverley St. in downtown Staunton). Check out the Newsleader article about it that was published this week! The exhibition is curated by our very own Janly Jaggard. Don’t miss your chance to meet the artists tonight!
Wishing you all a lovely weekend!
Studio Membership Q&A Open House, Saturday, June 22, 11am–3pm
We would like to invite you to join us on Saturday, June 22, from 11:00 am–3:00 pm, for a special Open House dedicated specifically to answering all of your questions about becoming a member of the Staunton Clayground!
Mark your calendars! We will be here to tell you all about it and show you around the studio. There will be refreshments and a door prize of a discount on the first three months of membership for 3 lucky visitors!
Exciting news! It has been an action-packed last six weeks or so since we opened our doors. We’ve run a few classes, helped lots of folks get their hands dirty (in the very best way) and made a lot of new friends!
After this soft opening, we are finally gearing up to launch our Studio Membership program by next month, and we would like to invite you to join us later in June for a special Open House dedicated specifically to answering all of your questions about becoming a member of the Staunton Clayground!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22, from 11:00 am–3:00 pm. We will be here to tell you all about it and show you around the studio, if you haven’t had a chance to see it just yet.
There will be refreshments and a door prize of a discount on the first three months of membership for 3 lucky visitors! Stay a while, ask us any questions you have, and we will answer you or even give you a quick equipment demo if need be!
Also, if you made a garden stake at our last Open House and still haven’t picked it up, you can do that on June 22, too!
We are so excited to be nearly ready for this moment we’ve all been waiting for!
Keep watching this space for updates. See you soon at the Staunton Clayground 😃
New Pottery Wheel All-Level Beginner Class Added! June 25–July 23, Sign-Ups Now Open!
Sign-ups are now open for a brand new 15-hour Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class, starting on June 25! It will consist of five three-hour sessions, running on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, June 25 through July 23. Space is limited, so grab your spot now!
It certainly has been an eventful few weeks since our first Open House back in April. Our very first Intro to Clay classwrapped up last week and our first two handbuilding workshops are in full swing, with students’ pieces from both just about ready for the final step, glazing!
“What about pottery wheel classes?” you might ask. Well, the first two Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginner classes we posted both sold out well before their start dates, so we are very happy to announce that we have just managed to schedule an additional one!
cue drum roll
Sign-ups are now open for a brand new 15-hour Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class, starting on June 25! It will consist of five three-hour sessions, running on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, June 25 through July 23, and be taught by Nicole Eyerman Hill. You may know her work from seeing her booth at Art in the Park or from seeing her page on instagram.
We are doing our best to understand what it is that everyone in our community is most interested in and plan our future classes accordingly! If there is something specific you or a friend is interesting in learning and it is not already among the Staunton Clayground class and workshop offerings, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do. We want to know what it is that you want to learn!
Meanwhile, if you see a past class that makes you wish you’d been there, no worries. We plan to offer repeats of our popular classes in the future.
In other news, a lot of you have been asking about when we are going to open up our studio for memberships. Well, we are working now on hammering out the final details of our membership program! We are planning a special open house geared specifically towards answering all of your membership questions. We’ll have the date nailed down in the next few days, so keep watching this space!
Meanwhile, we wish you all a marvelous weekend!
Ceramic Art Exhibition Opening Downtown This Friday at the Beverley Street Studio School
This week we are very excited to announce the opening of a ceramics art exhibition, Volume and Solitude, of which we are a proud sponsor. The exhibition will open this coming Friday, May 31, at the Beverley Street Studio School Gallery at 22 West Beverley Street, and run for seven weeks, until July 27. It is curated by our very own Janly Jaggard. Don’t miss the Opening Reception on Friday, June 7, from 5:30–7:00 pm!
This week we are very excited to announce the opening of a ceramics art exhibition, Volume and Solitude, of which we are a proud sponsor.
The exhibition will open this coming Friday, May 31, at the Beverley Street Studio School Gallery at 22 West Beverley Street, and run for seven weeks, until July 27.
Curated by our very own Janly Jaggard (who will be teaching two workshops at the Staunton Clayground later this summer) it features the work of four different ceramic artists, Noah Hughey-Commers, Katherine Maloney, Tom Clarkson, and Kevin Crowe, and is well worth a visit!
The Opening Reception will be held on June 7, from 5:30–7:00. We plan to be there with bells on and we hope you can make it, too!
If you can’t make it to the opening or if you just want to visit the show, the Gallery is open Wed. & Sun. 1–5, Thurs. & Sat. 10–6, and Friday 10–8.
Stay tuned for more news about Janly Jaggard’s upcoming workshops and more, coming soon!
New Modular Workshop Series Coming in June & July! Surface Decoration for Wheel-Thrown Vessels: Take One, Two or All Three
Get ready for an exciting series of three modular nine-hour workshops with local potter and Staunton Clayground instructor Nicole Eyerman Hill (@eyerman.art), focusing on different surface decoration techniques applied to wheel-thrown work. Pick just one, two or take all three in a row to develop and add a whole new portfolio of creative skills to your pottery creation (15% discount on a future class or workshop for people who sign up for all three classes!)
Get ready for an exciting series of three modular nine-hour workshops with local potter and Staunton Clayground instructor Nicole Eyerman Hill (@eyerman.art), focusing on different surface decoration techniques applied to wheel-thrown work. Pick just one, two or take all three in a row to develop and add a whole new portfolio of creative skills to your pottery creation (15% discount on a future class or workshop for people who sign up for all three classes!). Participants must already have experience with the wheel (be able to throw a 4-inch-tall cylinder unassisted). First workshop kicks off on June 11, so grab your spots now!
Students will first focus on making mugs with a design and shape that lend themselves to sgraffito decoration. They will then move on to learning how to use this technique to decorate their vessels, using a variety of carving tools on colored slips and underglazes applied to the surface of the clay body.
Students will focus on making bowls with an interior surface adorned with painted-on underglaze. This is a fun and practical way to add decoration to the inside of a bowl while still allowing it to be used as functional tableware, if desired, since the underglaze is then sealed with a layer of clear mid-fire glaze to make it water-tight and food-safe.
Students will focus on throwing small vases with slightly thicker than usual walls, making it possible to carve out faceting or other designs once the vessels are leather-hard. This is an interesting way to add interest to the surface of any piece, and can be done either on plain clay as a way to show off the effects of particular glazes or in combination with colored-slip or underglaze decoration applied before clear-glazing.
We hope you’ll come and clay!
Looking for something to do next week? Speaking of workshops, there’s still one spot left in our Sculptural Slab Creations workshop, starting this coming Tuesday. This is a handbuilding workshop that is suitable for people with no clay experience as well as returning potters.
Stay tuned for more upcoming classes & workshops, coming very soon!
Meanwhile, a lovely Memorial Day weekend to all of you from all of us at Staunton Clayground.
A Great Weekend at the Staunton Clayground… With Our First Handbuilding Workshop and Garden Stake Pick-Up!
The studio was a hive of activity as we kicked off our first weekend workshop, Slab Geometric Vases, taught by Nicole Hill of @eyerman.art, and welcomed visitors for our second Open Door day on Sunday afternoon. It was also a chance for attendees of our original April Open House to pick up their completed garden stakes, an activity we definitely intend to repeat, since everyone had such a good time painting them.
Visit the post for shots from the Saturday and Sunday sessions of the workshop!
What a great weekend we had at Staunton Clayground.
The studio was a hive of activity as we kicked off our first weekend workshop, Slab Geometric Vases, taught by Nicole Hill of @eyerman.art, and welcomed visitors for our second Open Door day on Sunday afternoon. It was also a chance for attendees of our original April Open House to pick up their completed garden stakes, an activity we definitely intend to repeat, since everyone had such a good time painting them.
Here are some shots from the Saturday and Sunday sessions of the workshop!
Day 1: Students pick out the vase they want to make, choosing from 4 sets of stencils. They then roll out slabs of clay, add textural designs to their surfaces and use the stencils to cut out the shapes they’ll need to assemble their pieces. These sit overnight, pressed so they won’t warp, to firm up enough to work with.
Day 2: Students assemble their slabs into the final shapes of their vases using clay coils, slip (that’s very watery clay, that works kind of like glue here), tools and…. very muddy fingers (we weren’t kidding about the whole playground-clayground thing)!
Wrapping up our second day, the final slab pieces go into place, the edges get cleaned up, then the vases get wrapped to dry slowly for a few days before they go into the kiln for their first firing. After that, they’ll be ready to glaze!
Stay tuned for photos of glazing day and of the finished products in June!
Meanwhile, if this looks like good fun to you, there are still spots in our next slab building workshop, coming up next week: Sculptural Slab Creations, taught by our very own Cary, where you can try your hand at making purely decorative or highly functional pieces over the course of three mornings (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) + one morning in early June for glazing!
An example of some of the types of things you can make in our upcoming Sculptural Slab Creations workshop!
Come and clay!