TOM TURNER SCHOOL
OF ART POTTERY

I have been at Turner Lane for a little over a year now and have created a wonderful place to live and work. The studio space came together quite well for me and for my students as well. The past year has had a steep learning curve as I got used to a new life, new environment, and focused in on each students needs. I have taught all over the country, but this is a very unique situation because it is my studio and the one to one is like nothing else. You can go to whatever workshops you want, but you’ll never get as much for your time and money as you will in this situation. I think the student comments attest to that.

Being able to share 45 years of Ceramic Art research and development with students is a real joy for me. What a student learns here goes home with them so they can apply it to their work forever. It doesn’t matter if they choose to work with porcelain or not, the technical and aesthetic concepts apply to all pots. The main concept is to help the student learn mental and physical skills that will help them improve their work forever.

Classes have been mostly one at a time, but a maximum number will be six students as the school develops. I base my work and teaching on a philosophy of “material, process, and form”, along with attention to detail. By learning about the materials we use along with mastering the techniques to use these materials, allows us to deal with form, design, and creativity. Without control of the material, you are it’s slave. Success and progress will be dependent upon each student’s effort and concentration while at Turner Lane. My classes are about thrown pottery as I am not a caster, ram-presser, or sculptor; I am a potter. Students will work exclusively with my porcelain while here, but concepts and practices apply to any body these choose to use at home.

Students have been choosing their most convenient time to take classes and some have taken two days and others three days. Naturally, there is more information and progress in three days and if you are traveling a great distance, three days makes more sense for the money invested. The more advanced the student, the more information flows and greater progress is possible. I have taught all over the country and in many ways, but this is like no other teaching, or learning. We do about 8 hour days and it is very intense and focused.

I am taking students from the beginning level on up to professional potters making their living with pots. I feel there is something to learn here for whatever level you are currently working, and for whatever your intent is. Please feel free to email me with any questions you might have concerning classes. Each student is responsible for their own transportation, lodging, and meals.

There is an abundance of wonderful adventures in and around the Asheville area to visit while you are here. You can go to the following website for that information. www.ashevillechamber.org . I am also just 40 minutes from the world famous Penland School of Crafts, and only 20 minutes north of Asheville.

Classes are $200. a day and that equates to $25. an hour and you probably pay your plumber $75. an hour. Payment can be made in advance to secure your class time. Everything you need is already here, so all you need to do is show up with lots of questions and enthusiasm. I ask that each student either call or email so we can discuss your training and experience with clay and what you would like to concentrate on while here.

For overnight accommodations you can go to the following links.
www.pondercove.com a dog friendly B&B
www.choicehotels.com , type in Mars Hill, North Carolina for The Comfort Inn, or call 828-689-9000 and ask for Jody and she will give you a small discount if you tell her you are coming to Tom Turner’s School of Art Pottery.

TOM TURNER
P.O.BOX 717
MARS HILL, N.C. 28754
828-689-9430
tt@tomturnerporcelain.com

CLAY ART POST

If you want to learn more than you can imagine at a very reasonable price in a beautiful setting, try Tom Turner’s porcelain school. Last month I spent 3 days with Mr. Turner in an intense learning experience that has produced a quantum leap in the quality and vitality of my work. For $200 a day (plus the cost of a very reasonably priced hotel 10 minutes away from his Mars Hill, NC studio), Tom Turner answered every question I could think to ask. He cheerfully demonstrated every skill I wanted to learn. He also showed me techniques I didn’t know I was missing – a situation common for those of us who learn by workshops and occasional classes.

He provided detailed information about a wide array of forming, trimming, and firing techniques, and explained why he does them the way he does. 40 years of experience was poured over me and it was one wonderful time. Now, a month later, I am still amazed at how much I learned and the depth of knowledge Tom Turner shared with me. He is a very talented teacher who is fully invested in his students’ success and in passing on what he knows to others. With kindness and humor, plus a wealth of great stories, he
corrected my mistakes, deepened my appreciation for detail, and shared his views on form and design.

BTW, if porcelain intimidates you, he has developed a porcelain formulation that will make the transition to the beautiful white stuff easy and rewarding. I strongly urge anyone interested in a remarkable clay learning experience to sign up for Tom Turner’s porcelain school.

Virginia Ainslie
3812 North Sixth Road
Arlington, VA 22203
vainslie@aol.com