Join instructor Anika Major for an in-depth dive into wheel throwing, altering, and underglaze in this 4 hour demonstration workshop! We’ll combine wheel thrown parts for more complex shapes, and delve into surface design using sgrafitto and wax techniques. She will begin with wheel thrown cups, and alter them using handmade templates to puff out the form to add curves and asymmetry. Bottomless cylinders will add height and offer options for necks to create bottles, decanters, or vases. Tidy up pots with refining techniques using a rasp and scotchbrite pad for smooth surfaces. We will wrap up by decorating the surface with underglaze. Learn how and when to apply this versatile material, and ways to brush on, layer, carve through, and inlay into texture. Come away with altering techniques to refine your wheel throwing skills, and jump into underglaze surfaces with confidence.

Guest Artist, Anika Major is a Texas-born ceramic artist living in Seattle, Washington. Anika graduated from the University of North Texas, and received her BFA in ceramics and painting. She combines her love of clay and figure painting in her colorful painted pots.The shapes of her pots imitate the lumpiness of the human body, and her surfaces come alive with expressive and flamboyant heroines. Anika’s narratives of romance and queer domestic comforts are informed by her affinity for the pageantry of the rodeo, and the symbolism of the glamorous and feminine cowgirl. Join us in a Free Guest Artist Talk where Anika talks about her beginnings in clay, her inspirations, and her ceramic creations. 

Lecture will be held in the KAC Gallery. This artist talk is free and open to the public. Follow @kirklandartscentereducation for more details. 

RSVP via Eventbrite.

Intro to Clay: Blended Bliss
Mon. 7:30-9:30pm
Jan 10th-March 13th
$450

10 Week introduction to wheel throwing class!

Register Here

Intro to Clay: Blended Bliss
Mon. 7:30-9:30pm
Jan 8th-March 11th
$450

10 Week introduction to wheel and hand building class!

Register Here

Dates & Times
Friday, December 1st (4-8pm)
Saturday, December 2nd (1-5pm)
Sunday, December 3rd (1-5pm)
Monday, December 4th (2-7pm)
Tuesday, December 5th (2-7pm)

Shop the show at Rain City Clay:
4208 SW 100th St, Seattle, WA 98146

Details here.

Mon. 7:30-9:30pm
Sept 11th-Nov 13th
$450

Join this dynamic and inspiring class that will introduce you to the wonderful world of handbuilding with clay. In this course, we will focus on creating functional and charming pieces, including scoops, spoons, small bowls, and candle holders. Whether you're a complete beginner or have some prior experience with clay, this class will provide a solid foundation for your handbuilding journey.

Registration Details

Anika Major will show you how underglazes can be layered for a painterly effect. She will talk inspirations for designs, transferring a design to clay, and painting techniques. Anika has used underglaze on the surfaces of her work for years and has a lot of tips to share! This is a demonstration workshop. Come with a sketchbook to capture your ideas.

Register Here

In this workshop, Anika will show you how she creates vibrant and painterly surfaces using thin layers of underglaze. Learn how to strengthen your illustrations using colorful shadows and linework. We will discuss how to thoughtfully attend to all surface areas of the form, and learn to place imagery that extends beyond the main face of the pot. Create definition through the process of sgraffito, and adding underglaze pencil at the greenware stage. Anika will walk you through firing and glazing tips for midrange glaze firing, but the techniques are useful for both low fire and high fire work. Come away with new ideas and approaches to the surface, and a confidence in underglaze to create illustrative surfaces in your own studio practice!

REGISTER HERE

In this workshop, Anika will demonstrate her technique of figure painting with thin layers of underglaze to build up vibrant colors. Learn to hone your own illustrative surfaces by layering colors, and creating custom skin tones. We will discuss how to thoughtfully attend to all surface areas of the form, and learn to place figures and imagery that extends beyond the main face of the pot. Create definition through the process of sgraffito, and add elements of underglaze pencil at the greenware stage. We will cover firing and glazing tips to highlight the surface at midrange, but the techniques are useful for both low fire and high fire work. Come away with new ideas and approaches to the surface, and a confidence in underglaze to create illustrative surfaces in your own studio practice!

This course is open to all skill levels!

Monday PM Handbuilding, 7:30pm-9:30pm
8 Weeks, August 29th - October 17th
Location: Rain City Clay (4208 SW 100th St, Seattle, WA 98146)
Registration fee: $385

Making ceramic vessels out of slabs is approachable and fun! Create mugs, bowls, bud vases, and more out of soft or hard slabs using a rolling pin, paper templates, and simple tools found around your kitchen or in your junk drawer. For eight weeks, you will be guided through clay-building techniques such as pinching, coiling, working with slabs, and surface development. By the end of the class, you’ll have a good understanding of basic ceramic studio practices. Twenty-five pounds of clay is included when you select the materials kit option. Bring an apron or comfy clothes, a quart-sized bucket (repurpose a yogurt container), and a beginner's set of tools to the first class. Tool kits are available for purchase at SPS or CAC. The class fee includes one bag of clay (25 pounds), all glazing materials, firings, and open studio access.

REGISTRATION OPEN

Thursday, July 7th, 8-10pm
Location: Rain City Clay (4208 SW 100th St, Seattle, WA 98146)
- $95 per participant
- Age 21 and older only
- BYOB

Join me at Rain City Clay for an event of pottery making and socializing with friends. Get a group together, make it a date night, or come on your own! Bring some snacks, your beverage(s) of choice, and try your hand at making vessels with slab construction techniques. (we encourage you to step outside for a snack or drink). This 2-hour session will teach you the basics in a laid back environment. Ready to have some fun? Spaces are limited- sign up today!

A collection of 40+ pieces available online at Companion Gallery. https://companiongallery.com

Sip N' Spin pottery nights are hosted at Rat City Studios:

- Saturday, October 9th, 2:00-4:00pm
- $95 per participant
- Age 21 and older only
- BYOB

Event Description:
Let's get muddy! Join us at Rat City Studios for an event of pottery making and socializing with friends. Get a group together or make it a date night! Bring some snacks, your beverage(s) of choice, and try your hand on the potter's wheel. This 2 hour session will teach you the pottery making basics in a laid back environment. Ready to have some fun? Spaces are limited- sign up today!

Registration Details

Tour Dates & Times:

September 25th & 26th, 2021
Saturday, 10am-5pm
Sunday, 11am-4pm

Located at Stop #1: Rat City Studios
Address: 2410 SW 106th Street, Seattle, 98146
Click here for full Map and Details

The West Side Artists Annual Studio Tour showcases the artwork of 30+ artists at multiple welcoming stops in the West Seattle Area. This self-guided tour is free and open to the public. In an effort to have a spacious environment as a covid precaution, each stop has set up an outdoor display for viewing. Please only enter indoor spaces with a mask over your nose and mouth. The mapped destinations are working artists’ studios and each will have multiple people showcasing their artwork – From ceramics to weaving, encaustic painting to forged jewelry, and from colored pencil to tin collage – We have it all! Explore these neighborhood hidden gems, and make a day of discovering local talent.

Wednesdays, 6:00pm-8:30pm
12 week Course, September 8th - November 24th
Location: Moshier Community Arts Center, Burien, WA
Registration fee: $300

Throw pieces on the wheel and learn to combine them to create more complex forms! Join instructor Anika Major for an introduction to clay or refine techniques you already know. This class will offer different ways to approach objects like cups, bowls, plates, and more. We will also cover glazing basics, and explore ways to create interesting surface designs using layered glazes, slip, underglaze, and oxides. Demonstrations will start 15 minutes after class has begun, please arrive promptly to watch! All levels of clay experience are welcome.

Registration details

Sip N' Spin pottery nights are hosted at Rat City Studios:

-From 7-9pm
- $95 per participant
- Age 21 and older only
- BYOB

Event Description:
Let's get muddy! Join us at Rat City Studios for an event of pottery making and socializing with friends. Get a group together or make it a date night! Bring some snacks, your beverage(s) of choice, and try your hand on the potter's wheel. This 2 hour session will teach you the pottery making basics in a laid back environment. Ready to have some fun? Spaces are limited- sign up today!

Registration Details

One Day Workshop August 14th, 10am-12:30pm
Location: Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA
Registration fee: $120

This workshop will focus on both hand-building techniques for making plates using bisque molds, as well as decoration techniques using underglaze to create painterly surface designs on bone dry wares. Students will be shown how to use a bisque mold to create a plate, how to add a hand-built foot, and the process of smoothing and clean up. Because of the length of the drying process, students will receive a small pre-made bone dry plate to use for the decoration process so that they can work alongside the instructor to build up thin layers of color for bold and colorful surfaces with their preferred design.

Any previous clay experience is helpful, but this workshop is open to all levels. Students will walk away with a finished plate that they have painted and the instructions to design their own plate molds for future work. This workshop will be in-person, hosted at Saltstone Ceramics in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle.

Registration Details

Wednesdays, 9:00am-12:00pm
6 week Summer Course, July 21st - Aug 25th
In-Person Class
Registration fee: $180

Create pieces by handbuilding, throwing or a combination of both. Join instructor Anika Major in this six-week class for an introduction to clay or brush up on techniques you already know! This class will offer different ways to approach objects like cups, bowls, trays, and handles. We will also cover glazing basics and ways to create interesting glaze combinations. Demonstrations will take up no more than 30 minutes at the beginning of each class, please arrive promptly if you would like to see the demo! ONE Open Studio time is included with this class.

Registration details

ONLINE CLASS

Registration: $110

February 17th - March 17th
5 weeks, Wednesday Evenings 6:00pm - 8:00pm
This class is online and will meet via Zoom.

Description: Join instructor Anika Major in this 5 week online class exploring throwing and handbuilding. Learn to make forms using parts made on the wheel, and combine them using handbuilding techniques. We will discuss form inspirations, and work together on how to break down complex projects such as: bottles, trays, and bud vases. Access to a wheel is not required and there will be handbuilt alternatives for each project. Students should get a bag of clay to work with, Cone 5-6 and color of their choice. This class is open to all levels.

Registration Link
(Filter by Instructor: Anika Major)

ONLINE WORKSHOP

Registration: $45

Monday, January 18th 1PM PST/ 4pm EST
Duration: 2 hours with Q&A
Recording Available until the end of January -
SENT the Thursday 1/22 after the live event.

Level: Beginning to intermediate

Anika Major uses both hand building and wheel throwing techniques to get just the shape she is after for thrown and altered cups. In addition to clay demonstrations, she will share her take on marrying a visual narrative with the 3D forms of her vessels! She’ll begin with a thrown cylinder and dramatically alter it by pushing and pulling the form. She will show how to use foam templates to create the rounded, cloud-like shifts in shape in the bodies of her cups. She will also show three types of handles!

Join this 2-hour workshop and come away with tips and tricks for making cups, as well as painterly surface design techniques using slips and underglaze to create flowing imagery that engages all sides of the pot.

Registration Details

ONLINE CLASS

January 13th - Feb 10th
5 weeks, Wednesday Evenings, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Join instructor Anika Major in this 5-week online handbuilding class! We’ll work through the basics of setting up a home studio and streamline your current setup. We’ll learn the handbuilding fundamentals and discuss ways to apply different techniques and processes with projects using coils, soft slabs, hard slabs, and bisque molds. Students should get a bag of clay to work with, Cone 5-6 and color of their choice. Any previous clay knowledge is helpful, but this class is open to all levels.

Registration Link
(Filter by Instructor: Anika Major)

ONLINE CLASS

January 10th – January 31st
4 weeks, Sundays, 11:00am - 1:00pm PST

Add a little fun to your plate in this 4-week class, where we’ll hone in on plates of all kinds! From working small to thinking large, Anika will demonstrate using both throwing and handbuilding techniques, and ways to perfect your plates beyond the circle through altering out of round. Using texture stamps and underglaze, treat your forms like a canvas, and learn to push the boundary beyond the basic shape and surface of your usual plates. This class is intended for all levels.

Registration Details