Detailed information about the workshop coming soon... this article was posted in the November CAG Newsletter and refers to Lynne's upcoming workshop.

Our New Ceramics Instructor: Lynne Meade
By Tamara Selvig

This spring we have a new instructor, Lynne Meade, who will be teaching two beginning throwing classes as well as a Carving Workshop in March.

When I met Lynne at a local coffee shop to interview her, I was immediately struck by her big smile, her enthusiasm, and her beautifully carved ceramic necklace and bracelet. After talking to her for an hour, I was even more impressed with her gifts as a ceramic artist and teacher.

Lynne’s love affair with clay began at the age of eight when her mother bought her some modeling clay, and she created a bunch of little animals. As a teenager she cleaned the studio of a local ceramic artist in exchange for ceramic classes. At Wesleyan University in Connecticut Lynne got her B.A. in visual arts with a concentration in ceramics. Part of the curriculum involved learning how to teach, and Lynne became a teaching assistant. She has participated in over 20 group exhibitions, as many trade shows and craft fairs, and has been published in over 12 publications. Lynne has been a ceramic instructor in nine different art centers, including eight years at MIT.

Lynne specializes in teaching beginners how to throw and has a special technique involving the placement of one’s elbow. She explained that she can teach students to center in two weeks. First she holds the student’s elbow in the correct position as they center the clay. She can look at a student from across the room and call out “elbow!” and the student will correct their position immediately. She recommends her classes to anyone who is a beginning student or needs a refresher course on basic centering or throwing skills.

The Carving Workshop promises to be an amazing day. Lynne’s techniques involves placing a two or four-sided symmetrical design on a pot quickly and easily using a grid. She does her carving when the pots are bone dry, as this allows more control, sharper cleaner lines, and makes it less likely to poke a hole through your pot. She finds dental tools are the best for precise carving.

Her beautiful carved pots are made with porcelain clay and covered with a clear glaze. She found glazing frustrating, and loves the clean look of a clear glaze over white clay. Each of her pots takes her two to six days to carve. She also creates murals, tiles, and jewelry.

In addition to being an accomplished ceramicist, Lynne enjoys raising her 12-year-old son and playing competitive softball two to three times a week.

We are fortunate to have Lynne Meade as another wonderful instructor for our clay program at Civic Arts.

How to Sign Up?

This workshop is filling up fast! To enroll and guarantee your spot, please call 925-943-5846 or visit www.arts-ed.org/.