Mud And Fire
About
I came to pottery as a later-in-life learner. (In addition to my day job as an IT geek.) It started in 2004 with a first pottery class given as a gift. It has grown to a major focus of my life. I have learned pottery through taking many classes and workshops and by just plain doing. In 2015, I took the step to apply my clay knowledge and my adult education skills I have from my other life (IT career) and started teaching pottery wheel classes. I teach the way I like to be taught, group example and discussion, individual instruction, and independent time, all tailored to the individual learner. This, too, is why I limit my classes to a maximum of six students to allow me to give the proper individualized attention when needed. When I have greater interest in a class, I open an additional session rather than overbook.
See some of my works at facebook.com/mudandfirepottery
Also www.mudandfire.com (old site, new site is under construction)
Pottery gives me a creative outlet. Something to do with my hands to create. My more recent focus is on functional items, in part because I know they will end up in the hands of people to become parts of their everyday lives or be included in special occasions. Besides making pottery, I thoroughly enjoy teaching as well.
Photos and videos
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First we determine what clay and other art background the student brings. Even tapping into non-"art" activities like cooking/baking, and professional works such as engineering can be usedul in clay work. Then we figure out what the student brings to the wheel, ...um, table. From there, we know whatstrengths we and skills we have tio build on and a direction to go.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have 15 years of clay experience. For many years I took numerous clases and workshops. Many classes on a wide array of clay subjects by several different instructors, plus several workshops and other clay ativities. My have focused on range of subjects, wheel throwing and handbuilding, multiple firing methods, electric kil, woodfiring, gas and salt kilns, raku firing, pit/sagar firing.
During many of these years I have been member of different arts co-operatives that gave me additional studio accesses for independent work and personal development as well.
Long before working in clay, I have always had a component of adult education in my life as an IT professional. I have been the one to learn new tools and subjects and be the one to then educate my colleagues. For several years I worked for a software company as a field technician, providing on-site training and implementation services. These skills of being able to educate folks of varyious backgrounds on new concepts and techniques is in my blood.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My present class schedule is a 10-week semester of pottery wheel classes for $300 ($270 tuition + $30 materials/lab fee). These sessions are held Wednesday evenings, 7-10PM. The semesters run January-March, April-June, and September-December.
I am in the process of developing other classes and new workshops on other clay sunjects. Dates, topics, and pricing still to be determined.
How did you get started teaching?
For clay, after having been working with the medium around ten years, I found a studio in my community that was looking to start adult pottery wheel classes and we joined forces. I have since moved on to my own studio space where I now teach.
As mentioned, before clay, and still today, in my career as an IT professional, there has been components of adult education. I have learned new technical skills and theen been the one to educate my colleagues. For several years I worked for a software company as a field technician, providing on-site training and implementation services.
As mentioned before, I've learned to build on a student's existing set of skills and knowledge and find ways to apply then to the clay world. Even if someone has never touched clay before, they never are starting from absolute zero.
What types of students have you worked with?
My primary audience are adult students learning clay as a passtime activity, typically in a group class setting. I have worked with occasional one-on-one special needs clients. I have also worked with youth students, but mostly adults.