pottery camps
POTTERY CAMPS
AGES 5 - 13
Working in both air-dry and low-fire ceramic clay, students will learn the basics of the potter’s wheel and standard hand-building techniques. Camps include a supervised Noon-1pm lunch hour (meals not provided) as well as a complimentary follow-up glazing session to return to our studio and glaze their work once it has been bisque-fired.
More about these camps...
Pottery Camps are a relaxing, yet exciting and enriching experience (source). Students in Pottery camps at MUSEO Art Academy learn to create fun and functional pieces of art that stand the test of time. Pottery is one of the world's oldest art forms and MUSEO is committed to bringing the magic of this ancient artform to today’s students. MUSEO’s Pottery camps are a unique and hands-on experience which allows students to imagine and create real world items and bring them to life.
The Unique Structure of Pottery Camp
Our Pottery camp experiences are unique. These full-day camps (9am-4pm) run every Friday throughout the summer and each week features new projects. We've designed these camps to explore a variety of clay types including modeling, air-dry, and low-fire clay. The projects optimize creativity and learning in a single-day format.
A Dual Approach to Pottery: Hand-Building and Wheel Throwing
Each Pottery camp covers two main projects: hand-building and pottery wheel throwing. This approach allows students to explore multiple concepts and creation methods in a single day.
Hand-Building Techniques
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Coils are structures created by stacking rolled pieces of clay, perfect for adding intricate details.
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Slabs are flat rolled clay for constructing vessels or as the base for tiles and reliefs.
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Pinch Pots are small vessels or sculpture elements through a pinching motion to shape the clay.
Each technique teaches students the importance of craftsmanship, requiring thoughtful design and attention to detail, especially regarding structure and air flow to ensure kiln safety and success.
The Pottery Wheel Experience
The pottery wheel introduces students to the art of shaping vessels. It's a fun and engaging process where they learn to coordinate hand-eye movements and manipulate the spinning clay. This nearly-meditative experience can be both calming and exciting for students.
Developing Skills Over Time
Repeated attendance at Pottery camps helps students refine their skills. With each session, they gain more control on the pottery wheel and enhance their hand-building techniques, leading to more intricate and advanced creations! We also offer weekly clay classes too for students who can’t get enough after their camp experience as they focus on the creative process!