Intermediate/advanced wheel throwing intensive with Julie Mackinnon
April 25, 2025 April 27, 2025
with Julie MacKinnon
SERIES OF CLASSES

Join us for an extra special 3-day intensive workshop with Julie MacKinnon! With over 25 years of experience in clay and design, Julie’s warm and enthusiastic teaching style has inspired students from across Canada and the U.S. to discover their personal visual language. Known for her humour, creativity, and ability to tailor each class to her students' unique needs, Julie creates a fun, supportive environment that encourages reflection, curiosity, and non-judgment. Julie is thrilled to be coming to Claymates, and is excited to share a customized, fun-filled experience with you.

What to expect:

• Personalized support: Each student will receive a one-on-one FaceTime call with Julie ahead of time to discuss your personal goals and where you might be “stuck.”
• Critique (not scary!): Learn to "see" your pots with insightful, non-intimidating feedback on your current work.
• Foundational skills refresher: Advance your throwing skills by perfecting the basics.
• Making lots of pots and forms: We will explore whatever each student would like to work on, including large pieces, complex forms with seams, teapots, plates, etc.
• Hand-building: Add complementary hand building skills to simplify your design efforts and shake up your perception of the vessel complement.
• Efficiency in your practice: Learn how to time and stage your pieces for better consistency in larger or repeated forms.
• Beyond throwing: How to go about sharing, marketing, and pricing your work.

Takeaways:

• Confidence on the wheel: Leave with intentional throwing skills and a fresh sense of direction in your work.
• A new perspective: Develop a contemplative and creative “eye” to match and challenge your skills.
• Elevated Work: Learn simple techniques to refine and elevate your pottery.
• Health and endurance: Ergonomic tips to enhance strength and reduce bodily strain in your practice.
• Design language: Develop a design vocabulary and ways to incorporate these elements into your work.

Workshop dates & times:

Friday April 25: 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Saturday April 26: 9:30am - 5:30pm (break for lunch 1-2pm)
Sunday April 27: 9:30am - 5:30pm (break for lunch 1-2pm)

Cost: $550 +GST. If you need to split the payment into two payments (half now, half two weeks before the workshop), email us and we can set something up.

Skill level: This workshop is designed for intermediate/advanced students who can throw a 6-8 inch cylinder independently, and are able to work with at least 2 pounds of clay on their own.

Claymates will provide: Cone 6 white/grey clay, slips & underglazes, basic tools, bisque firing of up to 1 cubic foot of work. Glazing & glaze firing is not included.

Students will provide: Notebook & pencil, apron & towel, specialized tools if you have them, any personal surface decoration supplies you want to use, glazes & glaze firing at your home/community studio, lunch.

Special cancellation policy: Because of the large time commitment, we require 2 weeks notice before the start date to cancel your registration. Notice must be given via email. Within 2 weeks of the workshop, a 50% refund is available. Within 1 week of the workshop, refunds are not available. Credits and rescheduling are not available. A $50 administration fee applies to all cancellations, regardless of time frame. When you register for this class, you are taking the risk that you might be sick or injured when the class rolls around. While we understand that illness and injury are outside of your control, they are also outside of ours. We are a small business, and we are not able to give refunds due to last-minute illness or injury.