Workshop Materials Prep List

Please Prepare for the Instructor:

  • Clay: I usually work with a smooth porcelain stoneware like Cone 6, B-mix or other smooth white clay. No grog or sand, please. I request #50 for myself for a two-day workshop. Each student should have 25# + for a weekend workshop. This will vary. Up to 100# for a week-long workshop, but this will vary.

  • Demo Set Up: Wheel: I NEED my wheel at standing height… I have found that one Cinder block lengthwise under each leg is great! 

  • Table: For working at standing height. A long, tall, narrow table is ideal. It would be helpful to have a table right next to the throwing wheel so I can easily move back and forth.

  • Water: Please have a small container of water for my wheel
    (1 Quart yogurt container is my favorite). I’d like a 2.5 gallon bucket near
    my table to wash up. 

  • Banding Wheel- heavy, tall, blue, Shimpo > this is a tool I consider essential : )

  • White board and pens OR a chalkboard with chalk. On the wall or on an easel
    would be helpful.

  • Tools - Rolling Pin, 5-10 bats varying in size, Clean, lightweight plastic for covering work. Towel, fan to dry work, newspaper, scissors, Sharpie, scotch tape, canvas for slab work, cleanup sponge,

  • Image Presentation Materials- I will bring a Mac Computer for PowerPoint, Image
    presentation as well as a flash drive and an adaptor to hook up to the
    projector. Please have a projector and screen ready to use.

Participants, Please Bring:

  • Sketchbook/ Pencil – It’s fun to take notes!

  • Template Making Tools - 2 Heavy Paper/ Manilla file folders, scissors, ruler, pencil for template making

  • Basic throwing/ hand building tools- Including metal and rubber ribs, cut-off wire, wooden knife, needle tool, rasp, smoothing tools, small scoring tool, rolling pin, serrated rib, hole punch

  • Banding wheel/ turn table- preferrably a free spinning one/ Tall Blue Shimpo style

  • Exacto knife (dull is imperative)- this is for cutting clay.  Sharp ones cut your hands and the canvas on the table…

  • Scotch-Brite pad- for smoothing the clay (just one per person will do)

  • Sponges- at least a small one for smoothing and getting extra water out of cylinders.  And a larger one for cleaning.

  • Towel- for wiping of your hands while working

  • Bats/ boards – each person will want around 5-7 bats/ 1-3 boards to move and organize parts on, depending on the person and projects.

  • Clay – Smooth, grogless clay (Laguna B-Mix is a good choice) – 25# per person for two days.  More if it is a longer workshop.

  • Packing material/ plastic to bring home any greenware home…

  • Heavy dose of patience coupled with a sense of exploration

  • Participants might enjoy links to handouts I have made or articles available online.