Bill Van Gilder Pottery Workshop

The Functional Pot: Tips, Tools & Techniques

We look forward to having you join us January 5 - 7 of 2024. Friday night there will be a 2 hour slide/lecture from 6 - 8 PM, and Saturday and Sunday sessions will be from 9:30 AM - 4 PM, with an hour lunch break.

Every potter has a list of WHAT they want to make. HOW to make it, is often the question.

During this two-day, information-loaded, demo-workshop some 50+ making techniques will be demonstrated in answer to these ‘how-to’ questions; techniques participants will want to use and adjust to fit their own future work. Short cuts, tips and tool-use at the wheel will be shared through demo after demo.

Hand-building functional forms will be the focus during part of the demonstrations as requested, defining projects and techniques for hand-builders.

“Throughout 50+ yrs. of making functional pots, I’ve collected hundreds of making techniques used to make specific pots, both wheel-thrown and hand-built;”

Demonstrated techniques at the wheel will include:

– Efficient hand positions for throwing
– Simple tools and their use
– Lid arrangements and form
– Spout, rim and lip making and proportions
– Trimming and foot finishing possibilities
– Faceting and fluting as decoration
– Handles and lugs; pulled and hand built
– Making bottle forms; collaring techniques
– Making dinnerware; throwing and trimming
– Making squared and oval baking ware
– Wet, thick slip decoration
– And much more…

A sampling of forms to be demonstrated:

– Open and lidded casseroles
– Pitcher and pouring pots
– Cups and mugs
– Bowl forms
– Dinnerware
– Bottle forms

Hand-building demonstrations may include:

– Slumped oval slab platter making
– Humped squared plate making
– Foot attachment possibilities; slab, sprigged & coiled
– Textured decoration; wet slip, pressed, and resisted textures

Participants are welcome to take photos, and videos for their own use and are encouraged to bring a notebook.

A discussion about glazes will take place during the workshop, as requested. My ^6 oxidation, ^8-9-10 gas, and salt/soda wood-firing slips & glaze recipe sheets will be provided to each participant.

A selection of my potter’s hand-tools (van Gilder ClayTools) and a sampling of my current work are made available for participant purchase.

Refunds are available up to 1 week before the workshop begins. After that period the fee is non refundable. However, you may transfer your ticket to a friend.