The Ceramics Glazette
Check out what’s happening in the Foothills Art Center Ceramics Studio below!
- Ceramics Studio Policy
- The Ceramics Shoppe: buy materials for your classes here!
- Not sure which class you’re ready for? Check out this flowchart or reach out to Yen Chu at yen@foothillsartcenter.org
Clay Play!
June 4, 2025
Exciting new workshops continue to pile up! If you’re traveling this summer but want to stay active in the studio, or if you just want to plan a fun evening with loved ones, check out our calendar. From a tasteful botanical dish to a bee spa for our little friends in need, we have the project for you.
Check out the latest additions to our growing team of clay instructors below!
Meet the Instructors
Rachel Bierma
Rachel Bierma is a ceramic artist based in Evergreen Colorado and the artist behind the studio Strike Slip Ceramics. With a degree in Geological Engineering, she blends science and design with work focused on geology and the natural world. Rachel has 15 years of ceramics experience and works with a variety of claybodies and techniques to reflect the beauty and complexity of the earth.
Peri Charlifu
Peri Charlifu was born in 1962 in Alamosa Colorado, his Father was an art teacher and his Mother was a social worker. He grew up in Denver and Aurora Colorado, studying art from an early age and continuing to this day. He attended Metropolitan State College and studied Art, Psychology and combined his studies using Art as therapy. He now does Art full time.
Peri has been selling his work for 40 years, and has been selling almost exclusively in the science fiction convention market for almost 22 years. He teaches workshops and seminars in pottery, sculpture and theory on a regular basis. He is Guild Primus and founding member for Convention artists guild and a founding member of the Stoneleaf potters guild.
As of this year Peri has made over 75,000 individual pieces of art, most of which are functional handmade pottery pieces!
Although an accomplished and proficient graphic artist, Peri’s first love is pottery. He is highly skilled in both Wheel thrown and hand-built work. He mixes all his own stains and glazes, and has developed an underglaze technique that he uses in 90% of the items he produces.
Garden Party!
May 14, 2025
A new summery workshop just made it onto the calendar, and there are many more to come.
Let’s make art for the outdoors! Our Garden Party class will guide you in creating flowers, gnomes, critters, and more. Ideas and techniques for pieces like mushrooms, fairy houses, bird nests, and cottages will be provided, or, come with your own idea, and we can help you make it come to life!
Meet the Instructor
Please join us in welcoming Stephanie Schmidt to the team! Stephanie has been teaching Ceramics in Jeffco since 2006 and lives in Denver. She currently teaches Ceramics and Jewelry at Golden High School. She is a fan of Colorado hikes, Jim Henson, gardens, and most anything vintage.
Check out her work below!
Bowling Night!
April 22, 2025
We’re gearing up for a sweet summer celebration — The Ice Cream Socia-bowl — and we need your help!
We’re inviting volunteers to join us in the ceramics studio to throw handmade bowls that will be used to serve ice cream this summer at Artsweek.
Each person that purchases a bowl at our fundraiser gets free ice cream and goes home with one of these unique, handcrafted pieces — a functional keepsake made right here in our community. Proceeds will go to growing the Foothills Art Center Ceramics Studio!
📍 Where: Foothills Art Center Ceramics Studio – 809 15th St, Golden, CO 80401
📅 When: May 17, 5:00pm-8pm
🎯 What: Bowling Night!
Whether you’ve been throwing for years or you’re just getting comfortable at the wheel, we’d love to have you join us! We’ll provide everything you need — just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to get a little muddy.
This is a great chance to spend time in the studio, connect with fellow makers, and support a great cause. Light refreshments will be served! Please email Yen Chu at yen@foothillsartcenter.org to RSVP.
New Workshop ALert
April 20, 2025
Hi Clay Crew! Please join us in welcoming our new instructor, Ren Cannon! Ren is teaching a new and exciting ceramics surface decoration course this summer, beginning June 26th.
If you’re finding that glazing and decoration is your least favorite part of the ceramics process, join us and let’s experiment with the possibilities and make it fun! In this class, students will make functional pieces and refine decoration techniques to make them sing! The instructor will lead students in creating depth in surface decoration using colorful layers of stains, underglazes, and slips. Students will explore surface carving techniques such as Mishima and Sgraffito. Students can also work on making pottery/dinnerware sets, refining what they want out of a functional piece, and using decoration and consistency to bring everything together.
Meet the Instructor
Ren (they/them) is an artist based in Denver, CO. They have a BFA in Fibers and Drawing from Colorado State University in Ft. Collins although they primarily work as a printmaker and potter right now. They think that the best way to learn is to experiment, make mistakes, and gain some knowledge rather than seeking perfection. When not in the studio, Ren likes to ride bikes, pet dogs, learn about science and nature, and try new things.
Learn more about the artist on their website, or follow them on Instagram @3felts!
