My Workshops - General Information

In all of my workshops, I strive to create a relaxed but productive atmosphere, where the participants absorb a great deal of skills and information in a brief period of time. The workshop format tends to be a very productive learning experience, since the participants generally come willing and anxious to learn. Each workshop includes a series of digital slide shows exploring historical and contemporary work specific to that workshop, plus a slide show about my own work. 

In some workshops the participants receive extensive handouts covering background, technique/process, and recipes. Safety issues and concerns about toxic materials are addressed as a part of all workshops.

These workshops can be offered in formats from one to twelve days. The one- and two-day formats emphasize demonstrations and PowerPoint shows, with no hands on work. The three-day format offers some hands on experimentation, but no firing. I am happy to do a demo-only workshop if that is what the hosting venue requests, but it is important to understand that long-term retention of information and technique increases dramatically in a hands-on workshop.  The colored-clay workshop cannot be done in less than a three-day hands-on format, and in three days would cover only a limited portion  of the content covered in the five-day workshop. 

Depending on the particular workshop, it may be possible to at least bisque-fire in a four- or five-day workshop.  Except for the Ancient Clay workshop, at least six or seven days is necessary to finish a complete cycle of creating, bisque firing, and glaze firing. 

The daily schedule of my workshops is normally 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00, but that depends entirely on the particular venue, and whether or not we need to travel to get lunch.  I like to keep the studio open until 5:00 every day, and am willing to be in the studio from 8:00 to 5:00 if that is helpful.  If evening access to the studio is possible, it's a nice perk for those who wish to put in some extra time.  I always enjoy it when a group of participants comes back to the studio in the evening.  We get a lot done that way. 

Facility and equipment expectations listed in the individual workshop descriptions are based on workshops of five days or less, and therefore do not include accommodations for glaze-firing.

Each workshop description features a list of materials to be provided on-site (paid for by workshop tuition), plus a list of tools and supplies to be furnished by each workshop participant.  Clay must be available on-site, but it is your choice whether to have clay costs covered in the workshop tuition, or to have students purchase clay by-the-bag.  Many workshop venues provide the first 25 or 50 pounds (included in tuition), and students can purchase additional clay as needed. 

I do five-day and longer workshops primarily in the summer, focusing on the East Coast and Midwest in May, and the West during the rest of the summer.  I can do two- or three-day weekend workshops at almost any time during the year, and will occasionally take on a five-day workshop during the academic year,

Each group of workshop participants becomes a cooperative community, and I try to encourage positive social interchange through group meals and other activities. Participants are encouraged to bring slides, photos, or samples of their own studio work to show to the group.

I can provide pricing information upon request.  The workshop host is responsible for my stipend, room and board, and transportation.  You can put me up in a motel/hotel if you wish, but I am happy to stay in a private home as long as I have my own room  and it is not a chaotic or unsafe atmosphere.  I am an easy guest and a flexible eater.  I am not a vegetarian.  How you feed me is up to you as long as I get three decent meals a day.  I like to drink green tea during workshops, hot in cold weather, iced in hot weather.

If you are interested in hosting one of my workshops, please contact me for terms, pricing, and scheduling.

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