Schedule of Classes

"Hand-built Whimsical Ceramics" with Walter Reiss

Ceramicist Walter Reiss will demonstrate spontaneous soft slab techniques, impressing and deforming textures by stretching, twisting and tearing. Reiss will instruct students on how to create unique whimsical teapots and wall pieces with many ideas to take home. This is a hands-on workshop, so wear clay clothes.

Reiss has been a clay artist for 40 years. His exhibition history includes the Monarch National Clay Competition, Ceramic USA and the recent San Angelo Museum National Clay Competition. Reiss is Merit Award Winner in the 1995 Fletcher Challenge International Clay Competition.

April 13, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $110 - CLOSED

Walter Reiss is an accomplished ceramicist who has been exhibiting his work for the last 37 years at both the Sawdust Art Festival and the Festival of Arts. Walter describes his work as a combination of dark whimsy using the plastic properties of clay to realize his vision. His numerous awards include the International Fletcher Challenge Award.

"Digital Photography" with Mary Hurlbut

Learn the art of seeing light, while also having those pesky technical questions answered in plain English!  Please bring your digital camera and the manual it came with.  Wear shoes for walking.  We will spend time in the classroom covering the basics of using your digital camera and some of the "art" of photography.  You will also receive a handout to help you remember all we cover.

Then we'll get outside for a walking tour of the area to practice all you've learned before returning to the class and uploading the images to a computer for viewing and discussion.  Please feel free to make a list of any questions you have about digital photography and email them to Mary one week prior to the class:  hurlbut.mary@gmail.com.

April 20, 2013 from 1-4 pm, $95

Photographer Mary Hurlbut is "inspired by light, humbled by beauty" and still a beach girl after 50 years! Mary considers all of Laguna Beach her "studio" and knows the secret spots: hidden coves, quiet trails, and urban alleys. She knows the tides, weather, and seasons of her hometown. Mary loves swimming in the ocean, hiking Laguna's coastal hills, library books, good coffee, sailing on wild, windy days, and most of all, spending time with my family and friends.

"Glassblowing" with Christopher Jeffries

Learn to gather glass from the furnace and shape it into paper weights, shapes, vases, cups and more.

With over 20 years experience, our professional glassblowers will teach students how to blow glass and experience the process of turning molten glass into awesome works of art. Hands-on basic and intermediate skills in glassblowing. At the end of the weekend students will have artwork they have personally created. Class size limit 4 students.

April 6, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250 - CLASS FULL
April 7, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250 - CLASS FULL
April 13, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250 - CLASS FULL
April 14, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250 - CLASS FULL

After graduating from Chico State University with a degree in Fine Art, Christopher continued on to study sculpture and design at Lorenzo de Medici in Italy. He then traveled throughout North America, working with professional artists.  His desire for more knowledge and skill led him to the Czech Republic, where an apprenticeship with master glassblower Igor Muller allowed Christopher to acquire the fine techniques and designs that inspired his career.  Christopher was then fortunate to attract the attention of Dale Chihuly and serve an apprenticeship at the prestigious Boat House in Seattle.  Recently, he was honored with the opportunity to teach at the historic Corning Museum of Glass in New York.

"Glassblowing" with Gavin Heath & Muffin Spencer-Devlin

Learn to gather glass from the furnace and shape it into paper weights, shapes, vases, cups and more.

With over 20 years experience, our professional glassblowers will teach students how to blow glass and experience the process of turning molten glass into awesome works of art. Hands-on basic and intermediate skills in glassblowing. At the end of the weekend students will have artwork they have personally created. Class size limit 4 students.

April 20, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250
April 21, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250
April 27, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250 - CLOSED
April 28, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $250 - CLOSED

A native of Capetown, South Africa, Gavin has been blowing glass since 1987, studying the art at Palomar, Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, and Cal State Fullerton.  He is a 20-year exhibitor in the Sawdust Art Festival and the Festival of the Arts.  Exhibits of his work have also been mounted at Art Expo New York and various other venues.  Among the many collectors of Gavin's work are Aaron Spelling and Nelson Mandela.

Muffin was a professional golfer for 21 years.  She "fell into glass" 6 years ago and fell in love with the art.  She was apprenticed to John Barber for four years and has been an exhibitor at the Sawdust Art Festival for 4 years, teaching solo and with Gavin for the past couple of years.

"Oil Painting Workshop" with John Eagle

Come paint a colorful seascape and landscape in oils with Laguna artist John Eagle. Learn about design values. Color mixing will be emphasized. Beginning to intermediate artists are welcome. 

John Eagle was born in Ashtabula, Ohio. He grew up in Hawaii and the San Francisco Bay area. His artistic career began in San Jose, California, where he completed his undergraduate degree. Post graduate studies include Otis Art Institute Los Angeles and the Laguna College of Art & Design. His style developed from exposure to many types of art, and natural scenes, and a great love for the style of French Impressionists. He is nationally known for his impressionist scenes of the Laguna Beach area. John is a registered artist in Who's Who in American Art.

April 20 & 21, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $145

"Jewelry Fabrication" with David Nelson

In this class you will learn basic and advanced jewelry design and fabrication using sheet metal and wire. Incorporate gemstones in your design using bezel setting, overlay construction and piercing with the jeweler's saw and other fabrication methods. Students will also learn soldering with acetylene, as well as buffing and polishing techniques. 

April 20 & 21, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $225 - CLASS FULL

David, originally from Houston, Texas, always knew he would be an artist. When David first exhibited in the Sawdust Art Festival 43 years ago it was as a pen and ink/watercolor artist.  A self-taught jeweler with a background in design, David has been a popular teacher here at the festival.

"Forging a Silver Bracelet" with Mike Heintz

In this two-day class, students will be introduced to tools and techniques of a basic jewelry workshop, including sawing, soldering, sanding, anvil forging, filing and finishing. Students will walk away with something they will treasure for a lifetime, while acquiring information that instructor Mike Heintz developed over decades. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn from Master Jeweler Mike Heintz. This rare class is limited to four students, so register now! Registration fee includes $50 for silver. 

April 6 & 7, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $275 - CLASS FULL
April 14 & 28, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $275 - CLASS FULL

Originally from South Dakota, where he studied art and industrial art, Mike moved to California and taught high school art before getting his Masters degree in Metalsmithing.  Mike has  been an exhibitor at the Sawdust Art Festival for the past 39 years.  Many of his techniques are self-taught and he will share his knowledge with you in this class.

Create a 3-dimensional rabbit using paper clay and polymer clay along with a variety of other mixed materials.  Students will sculpt, paint, design, wire, hand sew and embellish in this fun two-day class.  Both days are necessary to complete your piece.

April 7 & 14, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $175 - CLOSED

Patti is a 33 year veteran exhibitor of the Sawdust Art Festival.  She has always shown her polymer clay people in over 700 different sports, occupations and just fun people.  Four years ago she started creating multi-media fairies and the bunnies "sprung" from there.  A crafter who has always enjoyed creating in many mediums, this is one of her newest projects that she is eager to share. Come create one of these special display dolls for yourself or a loved one.

"Pottery" with Mark Winner

The class will cover basic throwing skills and techniques on the potter's wheel including centering the clay, pulling the clay into a cylinder, forming the clay into basic shapes of bowls and vases. Students will use the basic tools, including the rib, to manipulate and form the clay shapes while throwing.

April 20, 2013 from 9AM-4PM, $125 - CLASS FULL

Artist Mark Winner has created ceramics since 1981 in Laguna Beach, California.  He creates his unique ceramics in his studio home with his wife, Sue Winner, who is also an artist collaborating on some of his ceramic pieces with human form sculpture details.  Mark is a proud participant of the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival for the past ten years creating fine ceramic pieces collected and treasured by many patrons.  His pieces have been shown in Ceramic Review, and Clay times Magazines.  Also interviewed for a television spot advertising the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival and Mark's fine ceramic pieces he creates.