Spring and Summer 2011 Classes

I'm offering a few classes this spring. Please sign up quickly. Class size is limited to 8 students but I must have a minimum of 3 to run a class. More summer classes may be added but that is dependent upon the temperatures this summer!

Hand Building (All Levels):

Students will learn a variety of techniques to make bowls, cups and plates with stoneware clay. Coiling and slab building, decorating and glazing will be covered in this four week class. The class fee includes all materials and firings. Work will be available to pick up one to two weeks after the session ends.

Each session is priced at $110. See payment information below.

Spring Session II: Wednesday evenings, May 11, 18, 25 & June 1. 7:00pm-9:00pm.
Summer Session I: Thursday evenings, June 2, 9, 16 & 23. 6:30pm-8:30pm.

All classes are held at 13000 Athens Ave, Lakewood, Ohio. Studio 328 (3rd Floor). Email Gina at artzy_grl@yahoo.com to register. Cash, check or credit is accepted at the time of registration.

Refund policy: I need to maintain a certain number of students to run a class. You must cancel no less then one week before the start date of the class or workshop. A $10 processing fee will be deducted if you cancel. Cancellations will less then one week's notice will not receive a refund with the exception of a medical emergency.

New Sushi Sets!


Not sure if these will be dried and fired in time for my next show but I thought I would share. Enjoy!

Progress.

Another successful open studio is complete! Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shopped, helped me with the to-do list and brought me mimosa fixins! Our next event is Friday, Dec 17th from 6-9pm. Then we open the doors again the next day for the Cleveland Handmade Last Minute Market from 10-6. Its a huge event. Please join us!!!

After the open studio I filled my 10-noon ornament workshop next weekend. But I have spots left in the 1-3pm slot. Drop me an email if you wish to register. artzy_grl@yahoo.com

Holiday Workshops at my Studio
Due to the overwhelming response I'm hosting 2 ornament workshops rather than a cup workshop. If you want to make cups in one by all means go for it! They are perfect for beginners or more intermediate to advanced students. Its also a great opportunity to create some inexpensive and unique gifts!
Ornament Making Workshop
Saturday, November 13th and Sunday November 14th
from 10-noon FULL or 1-3pm (7 spots left!)
Please specify the time when you register!
The first day you will cut and carve your ornaments. The second day you will glaze them. I will fire them for you and add some colorful ribbon. They make perfect gifts for the holiday season. Pick up dates will be arranged for your pieces.
Cost $50.
No refunds can be made for these workshops. Supplies are ordered specifically for each workshop. Registrations will not be held without payment which is due one week before the class start date. No exceptions.

Occasionally my studio is presentable to the outside world. November 6th will be one of those days. Stop by and shop and have glass of vino with me. I will also have dirt cheap seconds for sale.

More things waiting to be bisqued. Bowls, plates and flower pots freshly carved.

New work in progress.

Soap dishes. Both the classic rectangle shape and a new leaf shaped dish.

New Work!

New work!

I've been stamping, smooshing, and glazing mugs all month long. Here is the final result...I'll be posting new work all week. Buy this cup on my Etsy site here.

I am going to be a bad blogger this week. I'm flu-ish and have some stuff going on to share so this is my only post for the week...

If you are interested in taking my class on Wed nights it starts this week! Everything you need to know:

Handbuilding Class

This class is designed for beginning students as well as more advanced students wishing to expand their hand building skills. Using stoneware clay you will earn how to create functional pieces and sculptures using slab, coiling and basic mold techniques. Decorative techniques and glazing techniques will also be addressed.
Tools are available for use. There is no need to purchase any tools separately.

Session 1: Wednesday evenings
Feb 10, 17, 24 and March 3
4 weeks / 7-9 pm

3 SPOTS LEFT!!!

And don't forget to stop by the Bazaar Bizarre Valentine Show this Friday and Saturday. Here's what you need to know:
Bazaar Bizarre Cleveland is hosting a Valentine's show next weekend at 224 Euclid, on Public Square (the old Bang & Clatter theatre space, across from the Starbucks in the BP building) -- come check it out! Event hours are 11-8 Friday and 11-6 Saturday.

You can RSVP here on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?invites&eid=215849410442

30+ vendors makes this the perfect alternative to the mall.

This class is designed for beginning students as well as more advanced students wishing to expand their hand building skills. Using stoneware clay you will earn how to create functional pieces and sculptures using slab, coiling and basic mold techniques. Decorative techniques and glazing techniques will also be addressed.

Tools are available for use. There is no need to purchase any tools separately.

Session 1: Wednesday evenings

Feb 10, 17, 24 and March 3

4 weeks / 7-9 pm



Session 2: Wednesday evenings

March 24, 31 and April 7, 14

4 weeks / 7-9pm



Session 3: Wednesday evenings

Apr 21, 28 and May 5, 12

4 weeks / 7-9pm



Cost $105. Includes (1) 25lb bag of clay, glazes and 2 firings. Additional clay may be purchase for $15 for a 25lb bag. Payment is due upon registration. Class size is limited to 6 students. Spaces cannot be held without payment. Please note: There is a $25 withdrawal fee. Notice of withdrawal must be received no later than 7 days prior to the first day of class. No refunds will be given after that time.



Class location: 13000 Athens Ave, Lakewood, OH. Studio #328.



Please email artzy_grl@yahoo.com to register or with any questions.

I made 18 of these. 9 lived. I have a cracking issue due to the toastiness of my studio in the winter. I'm not complaining but Ohio temperatures cause havoc on my pottery. I threw 30 this weekend. Already down to 29 because one flew off while I was trimming. I fear another one has a handle that is not going to stick.

I am very happy with the results despite the problems I am having. The mugs themselves turned out just as imagined. The glazes worked out perfectly. So while I was defeated in some ways I think these are a success. Hopefully I will have more to come.

New work in the studio.

As I was bisquing my first round of work from January I took on 2 tasks. The first being a photo shoot for work for my web shop. Also known as "my least favorite thing to do". Bleh. After le photo shoot I decided to work on some pendants. I can say I have any clear direction right now with my work. I'm just playing and figuring out what juried gallery exhibits to enter and which festivals this summer I wish to endure. I can tell you this, it will be a lot less than last year.

Shows are tedious for many reasons. The first being I'm a ceramics artists and my work is heavy. I love lugging it around in the hot summer weather and trying to set up the stupid tent. Then I get to answer questions like, "Did you paint this yourself?", "Why is this so expensive?", and of course "Do you make a living off of this?". Welcome to my hell.

Next are the show organizers and fellow vendors. Not everyone can organize a show. You have to take on the task of dealing with a lot of complaints and anticipating everything that could go wrong and planning for it just in case. Some people in this town = epic FAIL at organizing. And most of the time you get good neighbors but everyone once in awhile you get the loud mouth who I like to call sale stealers. You are sitting there talking in a normal tone of voice but the person next to you is so loud that it distracts half your customers all day long. Usually this person has mediocre work and an excessive amount of entitlement.

This is why I enjoy 2 things: my open studio sales and online shops. The studio sales draw in customers who want to see where artists work. Intelligent questions usually follow. And with online I can spend less time dragging ceramics across town and more time actually making work. Hopefully more gallery representation will follow this year. I'm a better artist than a salesperson and I would like to leave the selling up to someone else most of the time.

More work that was displayed during the Nov. 7th Open Studio event. Some of these pieces will be at my holidays shows...others only at the Dec. 19th event. I definitely want to explore making more teapots in 2010.

More cherry blossoms. I like painting them. Thankfully. Because they are becoming quite popular. But my new photo set up at the new home is not good. My lighting is all messed up. I hate this part of dealing with my artwork. Some glazes like to blur. My purple likes to look blue. Good times.


I made a lot of these coaster sets. I'm happy with the results but I painted about 70 coasters so that is close to 300+ blossoms????




I have 7 shows coming up. I promise to formally update my show calendar soon when the last 2 shows are confirmed. In the meantime I'm going to continue the cleaning process for the open studio in almost a week. Its fun trying to make a clay studio look clean.

Last week I decided to update my etsy site. This was delayed by my laptop battery biting the dust. I just received the new battery and my computer is no longer hibernating. So hopefully this week I can continue to add new things to my site. I will add more after the Lake Erie Building Open Studio on Sat, Nov 7th. Hope to see you there.

new coasters. new colors. off to chicago for the randolph street market. hope to see you there sat and sun! i'll be in the indoor indie artist area.

RAINED OUT!

looks like i will see you next week at open air in market square. they cancelled today due the thunderstorms. of course now its sunny and nice out. anyways...visit bridget and i next sat, july 18th. my seconds sale will go on as planned. nothing over $15!

in the meantime enjoy some new art. some of these are making the trip with me to chicago.

i am very excited to be participating in the randolph street market on july 25 and 26. i have never done an out of state show so this will be interesting. the organizers seem amazing and have been putting up with me asking all kinds of questions. i have heard nothing but good things about this show so i can't wait to set up shop then do some shopping of my own.

in the meantime i am spending july making a couple of new things but mostly taking pictures of work before i haul it to chicago. i do a good job of keeping my website info up to date but i haven't updated the pics in a very long time. i can't wait to get some new stuff up there.

i also need to clean house on the etsy site. time for an overhaul. i should also mention on july 11th i will be with bridget ginley at open air in market square. but please note i will not have any new work. i am getting rid of old stuff with a seconds sale! nothing over $15. how can you not like that. i just moved and i need the space. so off it goes.