Spring weather may be taking its sweet time to arrive, but the last of the snow is disappearing, trees and bushes are budding, we've seen flowers blooming and migrating birds on the wing, so we're optimistic. If you've hibernated this winter, it's time to get out and take a pottery class. Our spring classes, which start from the end of April through the beginning of May, are now open for registration.

One of the classes offered this spring is a combined Spring/Summer Advanced and Intermediate Clay class, which will be taught by Shannon Nelson and run on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, May 7 to July 9. This blended class will give intermediate students the opportunity to work with advanced students and their teacher. Plus, the shorter, 10-week class length will make it easier for students to schedule their summer vacations.

And be sure to mark your calendar for our upcoming free class on Sunday, May 18, at 4:30 pm. Special guest Brigitte Lang will demonstrate how to work with slips and slip trailers. You won't want to miss this.

The Jackson Pottery & Clay Guild hosted another highly successful 3 Days of Clay on March 7-9 at the Ella Sharp Museum. Guest artist Michael Sherrill, of Mudtools fame, is an enthusiastic advocate of extruding because it allows him to hand build pieces without seams and suits the sculptural nature of his work.

During his presentation, Sherrill demonstrated how he produces and manipulates round extrusions to produce different seamless forms. He also showed how he extrudes, forms, and carves colored clay in his "pursuit of colors in transition," as seen in his cup at right. As he worked, Sherrill explained how he began creating tools of his own, which eventually led to his Mudtools line. And he offered some tool making and using advice for potters.

You can see more of Sherrill's striking work here. 

A. You are not alone in your frustration--even the most seasoned potters experience it from time to time. But don't despair, potter and ceramics instructor Annie Chrietzberg has some help for you here:


Readers, if you have a pottery question for Kay, ask away.  And if you want to revisit a past tip, you'll find earlier issues in our studio news letter archive on the News and Events page of Yourist Studio Gallery web site.

Unfortunately, this 3,000 year old technique is in danger of disappearing due to the introduction of modern ceramic technologies, so catch it while you can.