Introduction to Clay I: Creative Expressions in Clay
RAKU WORKSHOP: OASIS CLASS 106
Five Week Workshop
Instructor
Amy Komar & Ron Kalinoski
Phone
396-0322 or 416-4893
Studio
Stoneharp Studios, 423 Fellows
Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
E-mail
studio@stoneharpstudios.com
Website:
http://www.stoneharpstudios.com
To Register Online: www.oasisnet.org/myoasis or call: 464-6555
Class 106
Summary:
This class is designed for beginners but can accommodate any level of experience. Utilize the
medium of clay to create a number of objects which will be glazed and fired using the Raku
technique which, after the objects are bisque-fired employs a rapid firing method to glaze, fire,
and cool the object within an hour. All classes are held at the artists’ home studio. This is a very
social, fun, and exciting time! Our final class is a potluck meal where we share lots of stories,
information about our work, and really really good food. Our garden is in full bloom now and our
autumn studio is ready in case of rain. Come join the fun. This class is designed especially for OASIS,
which holds classes only for Seniors (50+). (After all…we’re more fun!)
Description:
We have designed an introductory workshop using the raku firing process because it is so wellsuited to beginning students. It shortens the firing time so students get relatively fast results from their
creative work. All class sessions will meet at the artists’ home studio, including the final two when
the formed and bisqued work is glazed and fired in an outdoor raku kiln.
Returning students are
welcome and may move on to experiment with more advanced methods.
The emphasis for the workshop is to understand clay as an artistic medium, discover its properties,
and learn how to manipulate it to produce objects.
Students create a number of small ceramic objects that they glaze and will be fired using the raku
technique. Raku is a rapid firing method where the objects can be glazed, fired, and cooled
within an hour. Raku fired work is decorative only. Raku firing is always somewhat subject to
weather conditions.
Goals:

Provide an introductory experience to the medium of clay, including forming objects and
glazing them and to begin to appreciate the many stages of object formation when
working in the medium.
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
Exposing students to the raku firing technique.
Requirements:
Time: Each class meets for two hours – once per week; except for the last two classes, which are
three hours each. We have designed the workshop as a five week workshop.
Resources:
We will meet at the artists’ studio. We provide all working materials, including tools and clay. We
provide sample work and books for students to browse for ideas. After the third class, we bisque
fire the clay objects in our studio kiln and then we host the final two glazing and raku firing in our
home studio.
Fees:$75
Schedule: (Wednesdays 1-3 first three classes and 1-4 the final two)
Week/time
Topics
Studio Activities
Overview, Introductory Studio Principles, Pinching
1 (9/12/07)
the Clay (to get the feel for the clay and its
1-3 pm
properties and to give the instructors a sense of
Small cups & bowls,
the abilities of the students)
2 (9/19/07)
Working with clay slabs – forming & impressing
1-3 pm
with tools, stamps, and found objects
3 (9/26/07)
1-3 pm
4 (10/3/07)
1-4pm
Tiles, pendants, buttons, beads
Handbuilding construction
Small vases
Raku Glazing & Firing (3hrs)
Glaze & fire work
5 (10/10/07)
Raku Glazing & Firing (Final Raku firing party)
1-4pm
(3hrs)
Glaze & fire work
Information about the instructors:
Amy Komar
Holds an M.F.A. from Syracuse University. Amy is an artist who has worked in various mediums,
including painting, clay, and performance art for over twenty years. Her work focuses on the
narrative – either involving myth or fairytales across cultures or telling the stories of private lives.
Ron Kalinoski
Ron Kalinoski has worked as a ceramic artist for eight years. His work includes other media – bronze
and cement as well as environmental sculpture. He is best known for his large ceramic drums, life
casting, and raku. He has exhibited and sold his work nationally. Ron has offered Raku Live! In the
Syracuse downtown Arts and Crafts Fair for the past four years to the delight of young and old!
Ron and Amy have collaborated under the name of Stoneharp Studios for almost three years.
More information and examples of their work can be found at their website:
http://www.stoneharpstudios.com.
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