CERAMIC DESIGNERS ASSOCIATION
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Throwing Tall
with Noah Hughey-Commers
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Location: Virginia Wesleyan Univ
Workshop Description
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This will be a fun and busy workshop, giving participants a whole day to create several pieces and hone their throwing skills.
Noah is a very accomplished clay artist who specializes in large wood-fired forms. He will be joining us from the central part of Virginia where he lives and has his studio. During this workshop, he will demonstrate and give tips on how to throw taller forms that can then be manipulated into functional pieces.
In the morning Noah will throw several tall forms while discussing best techniques to achieve larger pieces. Next, he will discuss and demonstrate how to transform a tall cylinder into a functional and beautiful vase shape. After the demonstration each participant will take a wheel and practice creating taller forms.
There will be a break for lunch, then we will have a second demonstration by Noah. In the afternoon session, he will talk about and demonstrate throwing a tall form that can be transformed into a pitcher. There are several aesthetic considerations when creating a pitcher: size, shape, handle placement and more. Noah will review these considerations which are necessary for a pleasing shape. Then the participants will go back to the wheel and practice making a tall pitcher.
Total participants: 15 (we will keep a waiting list once the slots are filled)
Fee: $75 for CDA members, $110 for non-members
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Skill level: Advanced beginner to Intermediate throwing skills. Participants should be able to center 2 to 3 lbs. of clay and throw a cylinder which is 7 to 8 inches tall.
Clay: participants will bring their own, 15 lbs. or more.
Tools: throwing tools and bats
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​​​Member: $75
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Non-member: $110
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Mishima
with Amy Lee
Date: June 6, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Location: Virginia Wesleyan Univ
Workshop Description
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Amy lives in Norfolk and has had her hands in clay for over 30 years. She is a professional who sells her work, gives workshops, teaches at local clay classes, and writes about pottery. She is excited to teach us the Mishima technique using underglazes, plus impart her knowledge of how underglazes work. This will be a hands-on workshop.
Participants will bring:
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2-3 leather-hard to hard-leather-hard pieces made from a smooth clay body (No grog/sand preferred, but this process is still doable on all clay bodies). The toothy nature of the clay will effect line quality) maximum 6”tall or 6”wide
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Pattern ideas they would like to try (patterns will also be provided)
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A fine point Sharpie Marker preferably in blue ink.
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Two soft bristle brushes - one for wax - one for underglaze.
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Multiple small decorating brushes.
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Any Mishima, sgraffito, or needle tools to work with. Otherwise, Amy will bring tools she makes for purchase for $15 each. (cash on day of workshop)
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Adding outline designs to your clay projects can be so much fun. Once you create the outline and add the underglaze you can bisque then glaze as is. Or once bisqued you can color in your design with different colors of underglaze.
CDA will provide the underglaze used for outlining and will have some small samples of underglaze to take home to use on your bisques piece.
Check out Amy’s website: https://amyleepottery.com/
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Total participants: 20 (we will keep a waiting list once the slots are filled)
Fee: $40 for CDA members, $75for non-members​​
​​​Member: $40​​​​
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Non-member: $75
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Past Workshops and Demos
SODA FIRING WORKSHOP by Ray Wood
