Intro to Wild Clay

4 Saturdays; March 16th, 23rd and April 6th, 13th from 11-3pm 

Pottery has always been an art and science of the earth. Foraging for local clays begins a conversation with our local landscape in which our understanding of the geological narratives and mineral personalities in our hands deepens with time and experimentation.

This four part series explores the complex chemistry and creativity of working with wild clays of the Pacific Northwest and how to integrate them into your pottery practice.

The first two classes will include a hands-on exploration of the different clay personalities one finds when foraging, how to identify appropriate places for foraging, basics of blending theory, additives and aggregates, and how to process clay for best results.

Everyone will make small pinch pots and tiles for testing, which will then be bisque fired and mid-ranged fired for the third and fourth classes. In the third class, we will discuss techniques for bisque firing earthenware clays and the basics of natural glazes and slips. We will wrap up our final class of the series  by interpreting the results.

******While our greenware is drying and firing, on the weekend of March 30th, between classes two and three of the series, there will be a pit fire demonstration. Pit fire is an elemental and engaging low-tech firing method to achieve bisque results. If you are interested in handbuilding a piece for this or participating in the firing, check out this additional offering here: Intro to Pit Firing******

Hosanna White is a passionate earth artist who works with wild clays, soil and rock pigments, and fire to create elemental pottery in an ancient way. She is dedicated to learning slow crafts that connect her with the source of her materials and the magic that comes from transforming them for everyday use.

Hosanna lives in the foothills of Western Oregon, a geologically rich landscape that has inspired her studio work, Whitesnake Arts. She blends bio-regional history and land stewardship into her artwork painted with a colorful collection of hand gathered earth pigments.

Whitesnakearts.com. 

@whitesnake.arts on instagram