CERAMICS
HANDBUiLDING
We offer handbuilding in both our Main Studio and the MudRoom. In fact, we love it so much that the MudRoom has become our official handbuilding studio equipped with everything we need to create work by hand.
Our handbuilding classes, kids classes, and private events happen in this space and we use a variety of tools, equipment, and our body to create forms of all functions and sizes.
Handbuilding is a way of creating objects out of clay using our hands, along with anything (tools, slab rollers, molds, gravity-you name it!) other than a kick wheel.
Handbuilding is what connected humans to clay more than 25,000 years ago! And that is only the objects that we know about.
The oldest fired ceramic object is a tiny hand-sculpted figurine called the Venus of Dolní Věstonice, which is only a few inches tall.
Picking up a ball of clay and expressing our experiences by pinching, rolling, smoothing and making marks with our hands, is one of things that makes handbuilding so special.
Not one hand-built object is the same, and each time you come to the clay you bring with you that day, that moment, and your experiences.
Handbuilding out of clay you will learn three basic techniques:
Coil
PINCH
SLAB
Using these three foundational approaches you can build almost anything both functional, representational, or sculptural out of clay. We have many classes here at MudCity Clay that offer handbuilding.
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“I loved my Intro to Clay/Handbuilding class! Paisley is so friendly and supportive of all her students. I can't wait to take another class or workshop.”
— ERIN
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I thoroughly enjoyed the handbilling clay class so much that I am taking the second one. It’s a great place to learn something new, and Paisley my teacher is awesome. She’s very patient, helpful, funny, and supportive even when you mess up lol. Love this place!!!
— JOIOUS