Happy New Year from VanGo Pottery!

Hello, friends and Happy New Year! We hope you’re as excited as we are to see what the New Year brings. As of this writing, we are happily awaiting the arrival of some new and exciting bisque pieces. Check out our Facebook page for more information on our newest arrivals: https://www.facebook.com/VanGoPottery

Back by popular demand, we will be offering clay handbuilding classes in the spring. These are 2-part classes in which students of all skill levels create a clay masterpiece during the first class and then paint the fired masterpiece during the next class. Classes are very laid back and lots of fun. We will have a schedule in place within the next few weeks; you can call the studio at 602.468.3136 or “like” our Facebook page to stay on top of the latest happenings.

As always, when you paint your own pottery with VanGo Pottery™ you never pay a studio fee. You pay only for the pottery you choose. All of the following is included in the price of your pottery:

• Pottery (bisque)
• Use of our paints and brushes
• Use of our design tools
• Staff assistance for up to 2 hours
• Cleanup
• Glazing and firing
• Delivery of finished pieces to the party host

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy New Year! Hope to see you soon.

Peace, Love, and Pottery.

VanGo Pottery™ offers Ceramics Classes at our Phoenix, AZ Studio!

We, at VanGo Pottery,™ love playing with clay. There’s nothing like having a ball of clay in your hands and forming it into something amazing and beautiful. And while there is plenty of great equipment available to help with your pottery making adventure, using just your hands a few basic tools can produce beautiful works of art with a purpose.

Three basic handbuilding techniques are pinch, coil, and slab. Utilizing one or a combination of these techniques can yield awesome results. In slab construction, start with a ball of clay and use a rolling pin to roll the clay out onto a flat, canvas-covered surface. Roll in several directions to achieve uniform thickness in the clay. Once your slab is the desired thickness, cut out shapes as needed to construct your piece.

One of our favorite projects is the soda can birdhouse, inspired by our friends at Mayco (www.Maycocolors.com). Using a soda can (or any can of a similar shape and size), wrap a freshly rolled and cut slab around the can. Join the ends together using a coil and slurry. Cut a circular shape from the slab (the size of the can opening) to affix to the bottom. Cut leaf shapes and attach to the top for the roof. Cut an opening in any shape for the bird to enter the birdhouse and make a small hole with a pencil under the opening for a perch. Once the clay has been fired, the birdhouse can be painted and fired again. Use a stick for the perch and hang outside with cord or wire.

We are excited about our class offerings held at our cozy home studio, located in Phoenix, Az. We also have programs for homeschoolers at your location or ours. Hours vary and studio visits are by appointment. Please call us today to learn more about our classes: 602.468.3136.