This class will lay the foundational techniques and methods for throwing off the hump as taught within the Karatsu tradition of northern Kyushu, Japan. Without the right map, this method of throwing can prove to be quite frustrating, but with the help of a traditional approach that emphasizes the repetition of particular forms, progress is steady and fulfilling. Students will be given a window into the first few months of a traditional apprenticeship through story and direct experience of hands on clay. 

Since this way of teaching has been practiced for 16 generations in some families in Karatsu, the method is honed and smoothed by time. It is efficient, both in the use of material and in the use of the body. The goal of this class is to offer a way to make beautiful objects while being kind to the body. We will pay attention to posture and take note of special tools that aid the development of skill. 

In contemporary ceramics, the quantity of techniques, tools, philosophies, and creative ways of viewing process are too many to count. This is one way that is simple and direct. To be done well, requires a bit of time and practice. One will find that investing energy into one simple method will bolster all other methods, from handbuilding to throwing off the bat. The skills translate and seeing this, there is a real joy in learning. 

PLEASE EMAIL THE STUDIO TO RESERVE. SPACE IS LIMITED! headstoneceramiccasting@gmail.com