Beyond the Basics: Glazing Workshop with Lou Ann Smith – 9/16, 9/17 and 9/24

Dates/Times: 

– Saturday September 16th, 10 AM – 2 PM (Workshop Day)

– Sunday September 17th, 10 AM – 2 PM (Workshop Day)

– Sunday September 24th, 9 AM – 11 AM (Follow-Up Critique/Show and Tell and Re-glazing) 

Price: $200 (Includes: pre-made bisqueware, glaze, firing, some tools, and instruction). Additional tools available for purchase at Clay Studio. 

Description: Learn how to combine glazes to achieve the best results for your piece. In this workshop, Lou Ann will demonstrate how to glaze bisqued work using various techniques, and participants will have the opportunity to practice each technique in class. Lou Ann will cover everything from helpful tips and tricks to make the entire glazing process easier, and getting better results when re-firing work. Students can bring their own bisqueware to glaze, or use the bisqueware provided by the studio for this workshop.

Students will learn the following techniques throughout the course of this workshop:

• How to dip multiple glazes for different effects
• How to use transparent and semi-transparent glazes with underglazes and oxides
• When to use different resist methods to create patterns on your work
• How to add interest with dripping, painting and pouring a second glaze

If students would like to bring their own bisqueware, Lou Ann suggests bringing the following pieces with you to the workshop:

• 1 small cream pitcher (handle optional) with underglaze vignette decoration
• 2 tumblers
• 1 textured mug with a handle
• 5 plates (6″), one with contrasting slip decoration
• 2 shallow bowls (5″-6″ wide)
• 2 rounded vases
• 1 box with sharp edges, box top optional

Lou Ann suggests bringing the following tools with you to the workshop:

• 1 small sponge
• 1 sanding stick
• 1 dull knife
• Brush for wax
• Brush for glaze
• Ear bulb
• Underglaze
• Newsprint paper
• A list of 6 glaze combinations you like

Instructor: Lou Ann Smith

About the Instructor: Lou Ann Smith received a BA in Art Studio from the UCSB, and although her primary focus of study was painting, she also took this opportunity to study all forms of art including printmaking (monoprinting, screen printing, etching, and woodcut), installation sculpture, wood working, and ceramics. Lou Ann continued studying ceramics at SBCC Schott Center for several years after graduating and continued to learn other art forms such as airbrush, and fused glass.
After Lou Ann had her son, she decided to work with fabric as her main medium, and continued her craft by dyeing and printing her own fabric (including shibori and wood block printing). Lou Ann won many awards for her art quilts, but the most prestigious being selected for the Quilt National touring exhibit of 2015. Lou Ann continued making quilts for fifteen years before her niece invited her to take a ceramics class together, and she took up ceramics again. Lou Ann has been working at the Clay Studio since they opened their doors in 2020 and has been experimenting the Clay Studio’s glazes and glaze combinations ever since. Lou Ann puts information about the glazes she uses on her Instagram account (@louannsmith6), and has a lot of information on her website about the clays and glazes available at Clay Studio. (louannsmith.com)