All Levels Welcome! You must be 15+ years of age to participate. This class is a great fit for those wanting to grow their skills with an instructor present to ask questions. There is a 15” maximum size, in any direction, when creating with clay at RCC.

Each participant will be able to make 3 mug sized embossing plates = 4” x 10”
These will be bisque-fired by RCC Studio between the workshop dates.

Materials: Students will receive one #25 bag of reclaim with their workshop fee.

Bring an apron, comfy clothes, a quart-sized container (like a yogurt container), and a beginner's set of tools to the first class.

Tool kits are available for purchase online or at Clay Art Center or Amazon. The class fee includes all glazing materials, firings, and generous open-studio access for practice time.

About Amy Kastelin (she/her):
This part of Ballard has been my home for twenty-five years and I make my functional pottery in my home studio in the Sunset Hill neighborhood. I have been working with clay since taking classes at Lily and The People Clay Studio in the nineties with the beloved Carrie Gustafson. Originally a wheel thrower, I switched to primarily hand building about ten years ago when I wanted to take a deeper dive into texturing soft slabs.

My obsession with pressing items into clay never ceases to delight me and I am continually on the hunt for new textures to explore. My pieces are made of thin slabs of clay that I texture with all manner of things including hand carved linoleum blocks, bisque stamps, sticks, stones, vinyl wallpaper, building materials, fabric, seeds and of course my fingers.

Once I have constructed the vessels and they are bone dry, I apply an underglaze wash to the entire piece which I then wipe off to reveal the underlying texture. Work is then bisque fired, lightly sanded, glazed and fired again to cone six in my electric kiln.

I draw most of my inspiration from the world around me, and quite specifically what I see on my many walks around Ballard where we have such an astounding confluence of natural beauty, wildlife and industry. My pots are meant to be used in your daily life and hopefully spark some of the wonder and joy I feel when I am making them.

When I am not in my clay studio you can find me walking my two small rescue dogs around Ballard or wearing my other hat as the office manager of the small architecture firm I run with my husband Paul at Whitney Architecture. I also sing soprano in a local all gender chorus called Puget Soundworks whose mission is to make the world a kinder, more inclusive place one song at a time.

Prepare for Class

• Full information on how to prepare for classes is available on our Clay Q&A Platform (Links below).

• Tools: Suggested tools are in the image on this class page.

• Clay: Students will receive one #25 bag of reclaim with their workshop fee.

• Studio Access: Weekly Classes come with access to studio practice hours.

• FAQ’s about classes: https://raincityclay.com/education-faq

RCC Communication Platform

• Join Clay Q&A Here.

• Our studio communication platform, The Clay Q&A “Space”, is hosted on the Mighty Networks App.

• Participation is required to take classes at RCC or have a membership at RCS.

• Clay Q&A is essential to participants. It is where participants may:

  • Buy Clay

  • Schedule practice time

  • Learn about kiln deadlines/ kiln unloadings

  • Hear studio news & events

• Learn more/ download the More about the Mighty Networks App, or text the Mighty Network App to your Phone.
  
  This app can be used on a desktop or mobile device. This app is essential for purchasing clay during the session, scheduling practice hours, and keeping up to date with studio deadlines for kilns and finishing your art projects at RCC.

RCC Clay Participation Opportunities

Read our registration policies, refunds, and other conditions before registering.
Clay classes require some physical strength. Consider a one-time event if you are uncertain of your ability to participate.

• Scholarships for session classes

• FAQ’s for Classes at RCC (Learn More)

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be made via email to info@raincityclay.com
If you want to cancel your class, you may request a refund based on the bullet points below. Then you may rebook yourself for a class that fits better into your schedule.

Last-minute cancellations in classes are difficult to fill - please double-check your schedule before committing to an event. Refunds take several business days to process from the date we receive the email request.

• 100% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student elects to drop a class no later than 10 days before the day of the first class meeting.

• 80% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 7 days before the first class meeting.

• 50% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 3 days before the first class meeting.

• 0% of tuition is refunded if cancellation is made within two days of class for any reason except for documented medical emergencies. (providing a doctor's note). There are no other exceptions to this policy.

• After this period, if a student elects to drop a class or transfer, tuition will NOT be refunded for any reason except for documented medical emergencies. (providing a doctor's note). There are no other exceptions to this policy.

• No refunds or credit will be given for missed classes. Students currently enrolled in 10-week classes may practice during open studio time to build skills even if a class is missed. One-day clay events and lessons do not come with open studio time.

• We reserve the right to cancel a class or workshop up to 3 days in advance of the first class due to insufficient enrollment. If a class is canceled, you will be offered the option of another class or a full refund.

• For some reason, should the studio have an unforeseen need to reschedule the class, you will be notified and given the option to take a class at a later date or receive a refund. Examples of these include power outage, covid flare up, or force majeure.

A minimum of 9 participants is required to run the class. If a class does not meet this, we will give advanced notice about any cancellations and a refund will be issued.