Greetings! Thanks for clicking the "ABOUT" link! My studio is a private studio. Though I offer classes and workshops, it is really an extension of my home, a place for you to feel welcome, supported, heard, and of course creative! While yes, it is a business, it is super personal and kind of “exclusive.” My classes are small, and you receive all the information and knowledge I can provide to help you succeed. 

 

About me:

Hi! I am Jamie and welcome to my studio page!  I have been making and teaching pottery for over 20 years! I have taught at the UCONN Community School of the Arts, Farmington Valley Arts Center, and at my own studio! I have been a guest instructor (and tutor, substitute teacher) for several school districts and currently teach kids classes sponsored by the Manchester CT Youth Service Bureau! I am the creator of MYOM (Make Your Own Beer Mug) night which I have hosted at several local breweries! I love laughing, music, the smell of clay, rainy days, and cats! I have degrees in Art, English, and Communications. My studio is a home away from home where I love to create, mingle, chat or just chill out! 

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First and foremost I want everyone to feel supported and welcome. This is really a casual, friendly studio where people make friends easily and build a community.

If you would like to check out the studio before registering, give me a call to make an appointment!

Note that I am here always and again, you are kind of sharing my “home” so please treat it with respect.

 

That said please adhere to the following if you come to class.

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• NO OUTSIDE CLAY/GLAZES/or pottery made elsewhere.  

• Please follow all cleanliness guidelines that are posted in studio. Silica dust is a lung killer, There are good reasons for all the cleaning rules posted. 

• Bring your own towels and apron etc and bring HOME TO WASH BETWEEN CLASSES. Dry clay creates dust. Clay dust can be lethal. Work wet and clean wet, do not let clay dry on tools, hands, tables, towels, floors etc. Clean up dust, clay lint, clay bits immediately.

• Arrive on time, class ends on time. 

• There are no make ups for missed classes or unfinished glazing. If there is snow or the instructor has to cancel, arrangements will be made to make up the time.

• Manage your expectations, pottery is hard! I make every effort for you to succeed, but if you are after perfection, this is not the place for you. Things happen, pieces break, glaze fails, on and on. 

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• Studio Rules and best practices

•  While the class can and will be enjoyable, there are a few rules and studio polices that are steadfast and must be followed to make it a safe and clean space for everyone. 

• Failure to do so will result in 1 warning email and subsequently if necessary you will be asked to forfeit  the remainder of your classes and not return to the studio 

• These best practices are to give you the most efficient clay making time and keep the studio safe and clean. 

• The studio etiquette rules are based upon things that have actually happened therefore, I have to put all of this in writing.

• First the etiquette:

• Please arrive on time. If you are going to be more than 10 minutes late know that instruction will not be repeated. If you are more than 30 minutes late please be mindful of others and wait to ask questions if there is instruction happening. If you are an hour late, please just stay home. This will be considered a missed class with no notice and cannot be made up. I will get everyone’s schedule at first class. I am flexible and we will get all classes done, and I added extra days to accommodate those folks going on vacation or missing class with advanced notice. Please use open studio hours! Open studio is Every Saturday 11:30-2:00 Additional Hours will be posted in class.

• If you have some pottery experience, please refrain from teaching the fellow students, unless they specifically ask for help. Everyone learns at their own pace and differently and there are just as many different ways to make pottery! What works for one person may not work for another.

• Follow along with YOUR CLASS SCHEDULE. There may be others at the studio doing different work or on a different schedule. I have a variety of things happening so people will be at different levels and on different projects. Please direct your questions TO ME.

• NO GUESTS or CHILDREN ever. Kids 10 and up can register for the kids class and 16 and up can register for adult class.

• DO NOT ARRIVE INTOXICATED and/or visibly under the influence/smelling of smoke etc. BYOB is reserved for private parties and sip and spin gigs. 

• DO NOT TOUCH ANY WORK THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU!!! I know it is tempting but please..don’t

• DO NOT TOUCH ANY TOOLS THAT ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY CLASS TOOLS or JAMIES WORK BENCH

• DO NOT PLACE ANYTHING ON KILN DO NOT TOUCH KILN

• NO PETS 

• TAKE OUT ANY FOOD DRINKS TRASH YOU BRING IN

• Keep Bathroom tidy and throw out paper towels/trash/etc

• LONG HAIR MUST BE TIED UP FOR THROWING

• LONG NAILS WILL BE CHALLENGING *but not impossible*

• CONVERSATION:

• It gets personal in here sometimes, as it is a cozy environment, however please keep personal details to a minimum and focus on the creativity and creative process. Thanks NO RELIGIOUS/POLITICS/SEXUAL / SEXUAL ORIENTATION/BIGOTED/RACIST conversations will be tolerated. 

• This is a LGBTQ Safe space and all are welcome!

• If you are uncomfortable with something someone said, even me, please bring it to my attention

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• Class ends at the designated time. Please allow 15 minutes to clean up and put your tools away. 

• Wheel throwing is HARD please manage your expectations, however I will give you my best instruction as always.

• BEST PRACTICES AND STUDIO RULES REGARDING CLAY/DUST/CLEANING UP/WORK FLOW ETC…

• WORK WET CLEAN WET- This means DO NOT LET YOUR CLAY DRY OUT. 

• Clay Prep- 

• You will receive your bag(s) of clay on day 1. It is YOUR responsibility to keep your clay moist. I recommend double bagging it and using tupper ware. Air is the enemy of clay.  When you are hand building, put all of your scraps in a bag/container so they do not dry out. Wipe your tools frequently and put any little bits of clay lint into a slip container.  DO NOT LET CLAY GET ON THE FLOOR. Keeping your work area tidy is number ONE. CLEAN UP CLAY BITS RIGHT AWAY! Clay is made of silica, this dust hangs in the air and if inhaled DOES NOT LEAVE YOUR LUNGS. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH

If you are hand building:

• Set up work area on table with wooden plank/small container of water/sponge/tools/baggies or lidded container for clay scraps/metal tray if you are carving to catch scraps/

• Plan your project out before prepping clay. The instructor will tell you how much clay to prep based on the project. This is to avoid you using too much or  too little clay and having to re wedge it up and or it getting dried out. 

• Make your templates, gather any cutters, stamps, surface treatments, and prep your work area. This way clay will not be sitting out getting dry. ​

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• Prep your clay in CLAY PREP AREA ONLY.  Do not roll clay out on the work tables. Do not wedge clay on work tables. IF you need to roll out more clay or wedge and roll please do so in the PREP area. ONLY OPEN CLAY BAGS in PREP area. These bags get full of crusty dry clay. Avoid creating dust by carefully taking clay in and out of bags. Again, a small container and medium tote work great.  Place all scraps in a container  and when you have enough and they are semi moist you can wedge them up and re use if you choose to. 

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IF YOU ARE THROWING:

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• Prep your clay in CLAY PREP AREA ONLY. 

• ONLY OPEN CLAY BAGS in PREP area. These bags get full of crusty dry clay. Avoid creating dust by carefully taking clay in and out of bags. Again, a small container and medium tote work great.  Place all scraps in a container  and when you have enough and they are semi moist you can wedge them up and re use if you choose to. 

• YOU MUST BE PREPARED BEFORE THROWING-You MUST have a container for your scraps and left over clay.  I do not want it, I do not provide the containers for it and I will not recycle it. 

• You MUST have your own towels and apron (if you choose to have an apron) I do not provide towels or aprons and if you bring your own you MUST take them home to wash between classes as the dry clay on these items will create too much dust when unfurled.  

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• You must follow clean up instructions and leave the studio and wheels as you found them. Clean up for wheel throwing will be discussed and is also posted on the wall near the sinks. DO NOT PUT ANY CLAY INTO THE SINK. Keep your scraps or throw them out.You can rinse your tools after you have removed the clay into your bucket. Clay water ONLY NO CLAY SCRAPS go into the buckets in the sink. You can rinse your tools after you have removed the clay into your bucket.

• All clay needs to be removed from the wheels, stools, splash pan and surrounding floor if there are spills. 

• Wheels need to be wiped down and free of clay before you leave. 

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• TOOLS AND SUPPLIES You are welcome to use any of the class designated materials, stamps, templates, cookie cutters, sponges, brushes, etc… PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING on JAMIE’S WORK TABLE OR OPEN ANY DRAWERS! That is JAMIE’S PERSONAL WORKS SPACE AND WORK RELATED ITEMS THEY ARE OFF LIMITS  Thanks!Basically do not touch anything that does not belong to you. Papers, work, containers, etc...Studio tools are for everyone and may be shared, if you buy your own tools, put your name on them please. 

• Please do not leave anything in dish drainer. Clean and put all of the tools and put tool kits back on your shelf and return and studio tools/ cutters/ stamps etc...and bowls etc to their rightful place. ​

• Please remember Pottery making is a difficult but rewarding at times art form. There are so many variables and failures WILL HAPPEN. It is the only way to learn!​

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Please remember these are GROUP CLASSES.I will give you as much attention as I can. This is a loosely/lightly structured environment where I teach the following techniques (slab, pinch, wheel) in a group setting. You will need to be self directed at times, but this allows you the space to create what YOU want. We will do techniques as a class but individual project ideas are encouraged and welcomed.If you need help on deciding on projects I will plan out a schedule and project ideas with you! I am here to guide you on your clay journey! 

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Manage your expectations, don’t strive for perfection and have fun!​

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“That which is not slightly distorted lacks sensible appeal; from which it follows that irregularity—that is to say, the unexpected, surprise and astonishment, are an essential part and characteristic of beauty.”- Charles Baudelaire

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If you would like to check out the studio before registering, give me a call

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Why does everything take so darn long to be "finished?"

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Welcome to pottery making! Firstly the creation process is not something that can be rushed. We are always doing a delicate dance with air and water not to mention humidity! To achieve desired results, care and time must be taken when working with clay as it is a fragile, finicky medium to create with. Clay must dry SLOWLY, otherwise all manner of nightmares can happen, cracks, splits, warps, and more! After the clay is TOTALLY dry it can finally go into the kiln for the first of two firings. The first firing is the "bisque" state. Clay is fired to about 2000 degrees which takes a total of about 48 hours including the loading of the kiln, at least 2 hours, the firing at least 8 hours and the cooling before opening another 12-16 hours and then there is the unloading so... factor in sleeping and eating... give it about 2 days. After that comes the "glazing" time where I glaze all the pieces. Depending on what I am glazing and how, this might take another 2 days, and then back into the kiln the pieces go for another firing, this time to about 2200 degrees and yes, another 24 to 48 hours turn around time. 

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Why can't you just fire a few things at a time?

For maximum efficiency, the kiln should always be full when fired. 

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My pot cracked! What happened?

Well, unfortunately many many things can go awry when working with clay. Sometimes there is a structural issue during creation that doesn't rear its ugly head until firing time. Other times things go haywire inside the kiln that no one can foresee or control. Welcome to the agony of defeat! No matter, just grab a slab or ball of clay and start again. The only way to learn is by making mistakes! Just check out my facebook group "Clay Fail: A Pottery and Ceramics Shit Show" https://www.facebook.com/groups/626606217941800/ and see Clay Fails from potters all over the world! 

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Can I have a private group or party at the studio?

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Sure! Contact me! 

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I am crafty, can I rent your space to teach a class or can I sell my work at your space?

SURE! If you are a local artist or crafts person or make bath and body products, jewelry or anything else, let's meet! 

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That's all for now! Check back for more updates!!!

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Love you! 

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Jamie