Slab-built Boxes & Lidded Forms

Service Description

Mondays @ 6:30-9pm, August 11- September 15th Boxes have a kind of quiet allure, they are containers for mystery, memory, or function. This six-week course explores the architecture of slab-built boxes and the many creative ways lids can interact with form. Designed for intermediate students with prior hand-building experience, the class emphasizes precision, clean construction, and a variety of functional lid styles including keyed fits, flanges and even clay hinges. Whatever you decide to put inside your creation, this course offers a foundation for thoughtful, container-based clay work. Week 1: Measuring, Cutting, and Joining — Foundations of Box Construction - How to measure and cut from leather-hard slabs - Beveling edges for clean joins - Scoring, slipping, and assembling a rectangular box - Quick intro: keyed lid alignment Week 2: Lid Variations — Fit, Function, and Form - Inset, overhanging, and gallery-style lids - Tips for fit and shrinkage - Building gallery rims or flanges Week 3: Hinges, Handles & Functional Additions - Examples of knobs, handles, and clay feet - Intro to clay hinges (barrel, pin-style) - Discussion of drying and function strategies Week 4: Surface Development — Underglaze, Carving & Water Etching - Underglaze application at various clay stages - Carving techniques and tools - Water etching with wax resist Week 5: Glaze Planning & Final Refinement - Glazing strategies for lidded forms - Preventing lids from sealing shut: wax, tape, dry foot - Pre-glaze cleanup techniques Week 6: Glazing Day — - Help with glaze choices and technical needs - Reinforce lid protection strategies Level: Intermediate Materials Included: 25lbs clay, tools, slips, firing, 6 weeks of instruction. Note: Maximum scale is at 14 inches tall and wide for project pieces.