Ceramic Arts Studios

As our new campus grows and the buildings are completed, this page is updated with the most recent information.

While we are in the process of constructing our new 320 acre mountainside campus, ceramic arts residents have access to equipped studios in our beautiful summer barn overlooking the farm. We currently offer electric and wood/salt kilns, electric wheels and kick-wheels, equipment and space for hand-building and sculpture, and fully-stocked raw materials for glaze and clay body development. Until the new studio facilities are complete on campus, we can only support clay residencies from May through early September.

Our current clay studio is temporarily located in the clay barn at the farm. Once the new Studiohouse is completed in 2028, we’ll have a beautiful new, custom, professional, year-round clay studio on the main campus. In the meantime, this sheet details the information you’ll need to know about the current clay barn studio.

Sited on the farm, the beautiful new barn has large sliding doors with views out to the pasture, with plenty of fresh air and ventilation. Built from locally harvested and milled timbers, it is a warm and inviting structure with a stone floor. It does not have heat and is currently open to residents from May through mid-September only. Note that the farm is a 10-15 minute walk from the main campus. You may choose to hike the trail down to the studio, walk the road, grab a bike, or drive. 

There is no running water in the barn. We use a simple and effective bucket system for clean and waste water. As with all studios, drying time can be tricky depending on the time of year and the weather. We have fans to assist when needed, and pots and sculptures can often be seen outside of the studio on wareboards. 

One corner of the barn is dedicated to raw materials and studio glazes. Another corner houses the electric kilns, shelves, and furniture. The second half of the barn is for private studio spaces and class wheels. The center is for shared work space. There is a second floor for storage.

Outside of the barn is clay storage and our bluebird clay mixer.

Each resident studio space is approximately 9’x9’ square. Artists can arrange their space according to their work needs with access to: 

  • a work table 

  • ware cart with shelving 

  • stool and electric wheel

  • Clip lights

Artists must bring their own:

  • throwing, trimming, and glazing tools

  • towels and sponges

  • respirator (required for raw materials usage, sanding ware, and firing the wood kiln)

  • kiln gloves and kiln safety glasses (required for firing the wood kiln)

  • Favorite clay and glazes (or purchase here)

  • You may wish to bring additional bats, clay-specific canvas, your own brushes, etc. 

Tools and equipment currently available in the Clay Barn or in the Kilnhouse:

  • Bluebird clay mixer

  • Skutt electric kiln model KM-1027-3 (c9 max). Dimensions: 22”x27”

  • Skutt electric kiln model KM-1227 (c8 max). Dimensions 28” x 27”

  • Single chamber, catenary arch wood kiln (on campus) which fires approximately 250-300 pots. The kiln has a single, removable venturi burner for overnight pre-heat. (note: the wood kiln is NOT available to fire without significant advance notice and planning with staff)

  • Rocket kiln built by Lisa Orr

  • Gas/soda kiln coming in 2027 (please inquire for availability)

  • Small, custom, low-fire wood kiln coming in fall 2027 which can be easily fired by one or two people

  • Electric wheels, Randall kick wheel, Leach treadle wheel. A limited number of plaster, masonite, and plastic bats

  • Work tables and a selection of canvas

  • Reclaim drying trough

  • Banding wheels

  • Cottle boards and mold-making equipment

  • Rolling pins and slats

  • A small selection of beginner throwing and trimming tools for classes

  • A small selection of brushes

  • A variety of buckets

  • Glazing items, sieves, and mixers, and scales

  • Communal shelves with ware boards

Studio glaze selection may include:

  • Pinnel clear

  • Glossy white

  • Jet black

  • A variety of slips

  • Honey clear

  • Gustin shino

  • Salt white

  • Hunt Celadon

  • Hamada green

Purchasing Clay and Raw Materials:

You are welcome to bring your own clay and materials or purchase these when you arrive. You will be sent a Clay and Materials list with pricing for what is kept in stock. You may also choose to order materials and clay from Bailey Pottery Supply in Kingston, and have it delivered to Craigardan. Please contact us for the ordering deadline and info.

Kiln Use:

There is a reservation/sign-out sheet in the studio for all kilns. All residents must first receive training and approval from the studio manager before firing the kiln for the first time. After approval, residents may fire the kiln at any time while adhering to protocol.

The wood kiln is always fired as a team led by Craigardan staff. There is no guarantee that the wood kiln will be fired during your residency although we try to schedule a few firings throughout the season in advance. Wood kiln firings require significant planning and a lot of work to fill the kiln. If you wish to participate in a wood kiln firing while here, you must contact us in advance of your residency to discuss the possibility. If this is a non-negotiable for you, then we suggest signing up for a wood firing workshop or weekend instead of / or in addition to a residency.

Work flow:

When planning your residency, carefully consider timing and workflow to be able to achieve your goals in a limited amount of time. Work backwards from your date of departure and create a calendar to plan when your last firing must be – reserving time for cooling, unloading, and kiln and studio clean up. Determine your last possible making date to allow for drying times, bisquing, and glazing. Then, calculate how many days of wet work you’ll actually have. And, to be sure that the kiln is available when you need it, plan in advance and sign out the kiln.

Alternately, you may wish to use your time in-residence to only make work and take home bisque ware, or once-fire. 

Your Studio Experience:

A clay residency at Craigardan is for experienced ceramic artists. This means that you know how to:

  • Make work independently in the studio

  • Make glazes and glaze work

  • Load, fire, and unload an electric kiln

  • Maintain a clean, orderly, and safe studio environment

  • Adhere to the posted rules of a community studio

  • Ask for help. 

You will receive a brief clay studio orientation upon arrival. There is no studio tech and all clay residents are required to share studio responsibilities including daily clean up. If you have studio specific questions or need help, please reach out to staff.

You are welcome to ship personal materials and supplies to Craigardan in advance of your residency. Shipping or transporting all materials, supplies, and artwork home is your responsibility. Personal items and artwork may not be left behind. If you bring it in or make it here, you must take it with you when you leave! If you wish to donate sculpture for permanent outdoor installation, please speak with staff in advance. 

What about reclaim? We have a clay reclaim system and you are welcome to either donate your reclaim to the studio (only if it is cone 10 clay) or take it home with you in bags or your own buckets. If you have enough time, you are also welcome to reclaim your clay while here by slaking it down and using the plaster drying trough.

Please email program@craigardan.org with questions.