Schedule for the weekStarting Sunday July 16 at 7pm and ending at 5pm on Friday July 21.
Tips:
Suggested activities and schedules are all voluntary. Each of 10 wheel times can be a time for you to take advantage of having teachers available for developing specific skills listed for that time and for doing the suggested project. But it's’ all for fun so, of course, you may always do self-directed creativity. Self-directed creativity means working on whatever you feel like doing with whatever coaching you need from the teachers.
Coaching and the teaching will end at 4pm and participants are free for the evenings. Except a sunset walk on the beach is planned for Wednesday evening.
The pool is open (without lifeguard of course) for you at anytime during the retreat that you want to take a break, jump in, and cool off.
During open studio times ClayArt West members may be in the studio working with you. They can help you and answer questions.
Sunday, July 16, 1923 7pm Reception Meet and Greet
Meet artist retreat leaders and ClayArt Studio members. Kick off the week, tour the grounds and see Art of Emilie Parker and Zac Hould in Emilie and Douglass’s home.
Monday: July 17, 2023, 10 am till Noon: Morning Studio Time Introduction and Orientations. The first wheel lessons of the week. Coaching by Emilie Parker, Jordan Franco and Clementine Radoff. Suggested project 1 lb bowls and cylinders.
12:00 to 1:00: Lunch and break. Lunch will be served in the pavilion. Dietary needs accommodated.
1:00 to 1:45 Presentation of the creativity exercises we will be learning and practicing for the week. How to be more creative and how to bring artistic self-care and compassion into our lives.
2:00 to 4:00 Afternoon studio lessons: Beginners and Advanced beginners review steps of creating on the wheel. Learn how to control and shape pot rims. How to trim rims that are out of balance. Skills of wet trimming, and smoothing surfaces will be practiced. Pots created from with day will be used for learning creative techniques later in the week.
4:00 and after: Free time. Late afternoon and evenings on Monday include snacks and a swim in the large pool. And unlimited open studio time to work somewhat independently on whatever handbuilding and wheel projects you like.
Dinner on your own locally.
4:30 or 5:00 Transportation available back to the hotels. If you don’t have a car you can leave now, if you want to leave earlier or later, the short trip to downtown or hotels is 1/2 hour walking or around $5 by uber or Lyft.
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9am till 9:45 am. Creativity Meditation. -- A 45 minute walk practicing divergent thinking.
10 am till noon — Morning coaching on the wheel. Reviews on pulling, shaping, collaring and enlarging. Suggested project is hanging bell or shaped vase. Incorporating wheel thrown parts.
12:00 to 1:00 Lunch
1:00 to 4:00 Afternoon Studio Lessons on textures. Demonstration making a cracky texture using sodium silicate and heat gun or hair dryer.
5:00 to 10 pm. Field Trip: Sunset walk on the beach. Sun sets at Santa Monica Beach 8:04. No host dinner on the pier in Santa Monica Beach.
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 9am to 9:45 Walk.
10am to noon: Morning studio time: Demonstration on making lids and galleys. If participants choose to do the project of the morning it’s lids. We’ll also demonstrate and coach on trimming items made earlier. And you'll get a chance to try a super-fun technique of creative trimming from Japan called Kurinuki
12 pm till 1am: Lunch
1:00 to 4pm Field trip to Los Angeles Museum of Ceramic Arts and tour of their galleries studios and book store.
4pm and after: Free time, Open studio, Swimming.
Thursday, Thursday, July 20th
9am to 9:45 Creativity exercises.
10am to 1pm: Morning studio time: Expert Guest artist Zac Hould will give a demo on throwing large. Then he will coach each participant who wants to try it.
1:00 to 2:00 lunch
2:00 to 4pm — practicing lids and trimming. You'll get to learn and practice Scriffito — an Italian technique for surface designs and color. This is also a time to trim some of your previous work and apply handles.
Dinner on your own.
Evening free time: open studio, swimming, or your choice.
Friday, Friday July 21, 2023 9am to 9:45 Creativity exercises.
10am to noon: Morning studio time: Finish items with underglazes . Get everything ready and labeled for dry and fire. Instructions for shipping.
Noon to 1pm: Lunch
1pm to 4pm: Field trip Laguna Clay Headquarters to get at tour of their warehouse, see samples of all their many clays and shop for exciting supplies. Or optionally open studio time.
4 pm: Say our goodbyes and exchange addresses. Finalize instruction for shipping or completion of work. End: 5pm on Friday, July 21, 2023. Plan a zoom reunion demo.