intermediate handbuilding

wednesdays, aug 13-oct 1, 6:30-8:30 with margaret kammerer

LTrompe-l'œil—French for “to deceive the eye”—is a technique that uses highly realistic imagery to create the illusion that objects exist in three dimensions. While traditionally associated with painting, this class explores how clay can be transformed to mimic everyday objects so convincingly, they defy belief.  In this 8-week course, resident artist Margaret Kammerer will guide students through the process of creating sculptural ceramic works that play with illusion and perception. You’ll practice essential handbuilding techniques such as sculpting, pinching, coiling, slab-building, and carving, alongside surface finishing strategies using underglazes, glazes, and cold finishes to convincingly mimic textures and materials.  Expect to turn clay into seemingly real items—like crumpled paper bags, metal cans, textiles, or food—while developing a deeper understanding of how surface and form work together to trick the eye