Jim Cullen
4595 Highway 357
Campobello, SC 29322

864-320-5358

jcullensc@bellsouth.net

Jim was born in Chicago, IL and moved to Campobello, SC in 2003. He is a self-taught potter since 1976. He studied commercial design at Institute of Design, Chicago, IL, photography at Institute of Design, Chicago, IL, Filmmaking and Video Production at Columbia College, Chicago, IL. He is an Animator in Film and Video, Editor in Film and Video, Producer/Director in Film and Video. He retired from Argonne National Laboratory as Photo/Video Team Leader. Jim spent 34 years in the Film and Video industry. He was owner of Illinois Valley Pottery, Marseilles, IL. Jim has attended many workshops, classes and demonstrations with some of the best potters in the United States - Charles Counts, Steven Hill, Tom and Elaine Coleman, Robin Hopper, John Glick, Ron Roy, Malcolm Davis, Lynn Smiser Bowers and more.

Jim just retired (for the second time) from Clay-King.com in Spartanburg, SC. He has taught classes at Illinois Valley Pottery, TSD Design Gallery and the Spartanburg Museum Art School.

"I enjoy teaching and sharing skills, techniques and experiences with students. I'm interested in the form, the function, and the technical approach to working in clay. I also believe that working in clay has medicinal attributes that soothe and heal. Throwing a pot requires concentration and focus, but gives solace and relaxation in the process"

CLASS DESCRIPTION

In this class you will learn to make creative, fascinating and often serendipitous ceramic beads for necklaces, bracelets or wall hangings using basic handbuilding skills and porcelain clay. The pieces are dried, bisquie fired, painted with a glaze and then rapidly fired to 1700 degrees in a gas kiln. The red hot pieces are then removed from the kiln, placed in small metal containers with newspaper, sawdust or leaves to produce an unpredictable variety of colors and surfaces.

LAB FEE: $35.00 which covers the weeks supplies. There is additonal clay for purchase. Tools will be available or bring your own. 5 lbs of clay are included in the lab fee. Additional clay will be available for purchase from the instructor. Bring buttons, stamps and any decorative objects for impressing into clay for unique patterns on beads and pendants.

MAXIMUM NO. OF STUDENTS: 8

Pre-requisite: None