Classes & Workshops THE CERAMICS DEPARTMENT at Sedona Arts Center
Ceramics: Independent Study with Ben Roti June 9-July 14, 2025 – Mondays, 3:30-6:30pm
*Designed for experienced ceramicists, this class offers a supportive studio environment for you to explore advanced throwing and hand-building techniques while working on personal projects. (Beginners are welcome in Ben/Lolo/John’s Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday classes or in the Pottery Wheel for Beginners on Saturdays.)
What You’ll Experience:
Advanced Techniques:With guidance from Ben, dive into more complex forms like lidded vessels, plates, and bottle forms, focusing on refining techniques and adding expressive details.
Independent Project Work: This class emphasizes independent learning, allowing you to work on self-directed projects with instructor support as needed.
Enhanced Surface Design:Explore advanced surface decoration, glazing, and finishing techniques to bring your unique vision to life.
From Slab to Form: Building with Templates with Christine Golden June 9-July 14, 2025 – Mondays, 12-3pm
Discover the versatility of slab construction in this hands-on course designed for ceramic artists of all skill levels. Using templates as a guide, students will learn how to create precise, repeatable forms while exploring the unique possibilities of soft and firm slab construction. From functional pottery to sculptural works, this class will provide the foundation needed to design and build refined ceramic pieces with confidence.
Ceramics Explorations: Wheel and Beyond with Laura “Lolo” Aileen Howe June 10-July 15, 2025 – Tuesdays, 9am-12pm or June 12-July 17, 2025 – Thursdays, 4-7pm
Explore the vast potential of ceramics in this six-week course, ideal for students looking to develop, strengthen, and advance their pottery skills in a playful environment. Working with the potter’s wheel, slab roller, extruder, texture tools, and more students will experiment with functional and decorative techniques, turning their creative ideas into tangible works of art.
Exploring and Developing Glazes with John Post June 10-July 15, 2025 – Tuesdays, 1-4pm or July 29-September 2, 2025
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the creation and modification of ceramic glazes. Students will begin by learning how to read glaze recipes and accurately prepare liquid glaze batches. Building on this foundation, the course explores techniques for developing multiple glaze variations from a limited number of initial batches.
Heads Up! with Christine Golden July 26-27, 2025 – 9am-3pm
This workshop is designed to give students experience rendering a life-size human head. We will be using the slab technique as our main form of construction and exploring the expressive nature of the human face while learning techniques that will provide a foundation for making a realistic adult head. Anatomical lessons and demonstrations of the nose, eyes, mouth, ears, hair and neck will be provided.
Hands-On Hand Building with Ben Roti July 28-September 1, 2025 – Mondays, 12-3pm
Discover the possibilities of hand-building in this fun and creative class, suitable for both beginners and experienced ceramicists. You’ll learn a variety of hand-building techniques and explore your personal artistic vision in a welcoming, hands-on environment.
What You’ll Experience:
Foundational Techniques: Learn essential hand-building methods such as slab construction, coil building, and pinch pots, to create functional and decorative pieces.
Creative Projects: Each class includes demonstrations and hands-on practice in crafting items like bowls, mugs, vases, platters, and lidded boxes, plus optional advanced projects for experienced students.
Surface Design and Glazing: Explore texturing, stamping, slip decoration, and glazing techniques to finish your creations.
Historical-Contemporary Mashup:
Re-imagining Ancient Forms with Ben Roti August 1-September 5, 2025 – Fridays, 9am-12pm
In this unique hand-building class, students will explore the fascinating world of historical pottery by re-imagining ancient forms and techniques through a contemporary lens. Students will choose an iconic historical pot or ceramic vessel and recreate it using modern materials and personal interpretation. This course blends traditional craftsmanship with innovative design, allowing students to learn from the past while creating something entirely their own.
Corvids and Canines: Two Types of Animal Portraits in Clay with Magda Gluszek August 9-10, 2025 – 9am-3pm
Whether you enjoy their company in your home or appreciate their howling from a distance, animals are intertwined throughout our human existence. This workshop is designed to broaden your ability to tell their stories through learning to sculpt expressive and realistic animal features. Two types of animal portrait will be demonstrated: the Corvid (raven) and the canine (coyote/dog).
A solid construction technique will allow for flexibility to make corrections and changes as we build. Portrait heads will be created on a simple plumbing pipe armature. I will also demonstrate how to remove a sculpture from the armature and hollow it out, so that you can complete the hollowing process on your own.
Scholarships are an important part of Sedona Arts Center. It has a long history in providing students in need of financial assistance, the ability to hone their skills and creative talents. Art classes and workshops also allow an emotional break from daily life and offer social interaction with fellow lovers of art. We are proud to offer our scholarship program, with the help of The Kling Family Foundation, The Ceramics Scholarship Fund, and the Debbie Winslow Scholarship Fund, which allow us to continue this long standing opportunity.
Our mission is to connect, enrich, educate and lead through the inspiring power of the arts and creative discovery.
Sedona Arts Center is a cornerstone of Northern Arizona’s cultural community and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, this nonprofit organization is based in Uptown Sedona and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enrich the artistic life of the Verde Valley.
NO SALES TAX – FREE PARKING – UPTOWN SEDONA
Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax (an almost a 10% savings!)
