• We hope you have enjoyed the first class of the Spring 2 session. Thank you for joining us!
• Open Studio Reminders:
  • If you are a new student and have not attended your first class yet, please wait to attend Open Studio until you have been to your first class.
  •  If you sign up for an open studio slot and cannot make it, please sign on to Sign Up Genius again to remove your name from the list, opening availability for other students on the waitlist. You can also cancel your reservation through your open studio sign up confirmation email.
  • Please only sign up for one day. You must receive permission from the office to sign up for two open studio spots. 
  • Handbuilders sign up for handbuilding slots and Wheel Throwers sign up for wheel spots.
• Note: there is NO Open Studio this Saturday, May 9th. Regular open studio times will continue Sunday-Tuesday.
  • Please only sign up for one spot!
• The Studio will be closed tonight, May 8th starting at 4pm – the end of Saturday, May 9th.
• Come visit our Petals & Pots event this Saturday for flowers & gifts for Mom (or anyone special in your life!)

Pottery Studio News

• Great news: we have a new, more stable pink glaze for our potters to use! Check out “Cherry Blossom” and enjoy!
• We have a new Studio tech intern: Alex. Please feel free to say hi if you see him around the studio this month!

• This was the last week of the Spring 1 session (Sunday students, you have one more class this Sunday!)
• FIRING FEES ARE DUE IN YOUR LAST CLASS! If you have had your last class and have not already paid your firing fees, please pay now!
  • Students are responsible for totaling up your own firing fees. If you did not attend your last class, please come in sometime this week to total up your final amount, or email us and we can send a picture of your sheet. Thank you.
  • If you do not pay by the end of today- we will charge your card on file the amount calculated on your sheet.
• There is regular open studio this weekend, for Spring 1 students.
  • Wheel throwers: if you are only glazing, please sign up for a handbuilding OS slot.
• Spring 2 Classes start this Monday, May 4th!
  • Classes run May 4th – June 29th, no classes May 24-25
  • There is NO Open Studio Saturday May 9th. The Studio will be closed for our Petals & Pots event. We hope to see you there!
• For those of you joining us for the Spring 2 session, we have a couple of add-on pottery classes with space available!
  • Making the table Part 2: Beyond the Basics (May 5th-26th): Create the pieces that bring a table to life with Railyard Arts Owner & Founder Jill Leary; one thoughtfully made form at a time.  https://railyardartsstudio.com/product/making-the-table/
  • Spare Wheel, a supplemental wheel class ages 16+: Thursdays 4pm – 6pm for Spring 2 students only! Please email us for more info.
  • Wednesday Handbuilding, 1pm – 4pm: learn even more about clay and how to use sculpture and handbuliding techniques to expand your clay work! Taught by Althea Llewellyn. https://railyardartsstudio.com/product/wednesday-afternoon-handbuilding-sculpture-spring-2/
• There has been some question about what to pay for test tiles. Test tiles should be recorded as follows: anything measured around 2x2x2: 50 cents. Any test tiles measured larger (ie pinch pots): please measure & record as usual.

• Next Week is the last week of the Spring 1 session
• FIRING FEES ARE DUE IN YOUR LAST CLASS! Please plan to bring your preferred method of payment to class. We ask that you total up your final amount due and pay DURING your final class.
  • We sent an email with details on how to pay your firing fees earlier this morning. Please refer to that email for all information regarding firing fees!
  • Students are responsible for totaling up your own firing fees. If you do not plan to attend your last class, please plan to come in to total up your final amount. Please email us with any questions.
  • There are signs with the QR codes to Railyard’s Venmo and Zelle in both the pottery & handbuilding room. If you are paying with cash or check, please put in the envelope on the desk with a note including your name, class/teacher & amount paid. No change, please round up or down.
  • If you prefer to pay with credit card, please let us know the amount to charge and we can charge your card on file, plus the processing fee!
• There is no break between sessions! If you are joining us for the Spring 2 session, classes begin on Monday, May 4th!

Studio Note: we are missing a number of ware boards. If you brought any home, please return as soon as possible! These are communal boards for usage by all students and members and we ask that they do not go home with you.
Please avoid taking other communal supplies home, such as: microfiber towels, scissors, tools etc.

All Spring 2 Classes now open for general registration online!
Spring 2 dates: May 4th – June 29th (no class May 24th & 25th)

We are offering a supplemental wheel class on Thursdays 4pm – 6pm as an add-on for those adult students currently enrolled in another pottery class. This is combined with the Teen Wheel class (ages 16+), taught by Amy Menasche and is offered for current students in either wheel or handbuilding to learn on the wheel, or continue building on what you are learning in your regular class. If this class interests you, please email us to learn more and sign up! Spots are limited.

THIS WEEKEND!
Special Event in the Art Gallery this April: Animal Matters New Watercolor Paintings by RA Member and former teacher Maria Kaprielian.
Opening Saturday, April 18th 1pm – 4pm
(Other viewing times: April 19th 1-4pm, and 25th and 26th 3-6pm

Spring 2 dates: May 4th – June 29th (no class May 24th & 25th)

Reminder: next week, April 14th & 15th is the charge date for re-enrollment in Spring 2 classes. If you prefer to pay by another method, or want to cancel or transfer your class, please let us know before next week! If we do not hear from you otherwise, we will be charging your card on file to register you for the Spring 2 session starting Tuesday next week.

Special Event in the Art Gallery this April: Animal Matters New Watercolor Paintings by RA Member and former teacher Maria Kaprielian.
Opening Saturday, April 18th 1pm – 4pm
(Other viewing times: April 19th 1-4pm, and 25th and 26th 3-6pm

Spring 1 Classes resume on Monday and run April 6th – May 3rd. 4 more weeks.

There IS Open Studio this weekend (including Sunday).
There is no Wheel Class on Sunday!

Spring 2 classes will be registering soon! Please let us know if you need to make any changes to your class, including canceling!
Spring 2 dates: May 4th – June 29th (no class May 24th & 25th)

Special Event in the Art Gallery this April: Animal Matters New Watercolor Paintings by RA Member and former teacher Maria Kaprielian.
Opening Saturday, April 18th 1pm – 4pm
(Other viewing times: April 19th 1-4pm, and 25th and 26th 3-6pm)

———————-

FREE Glazing 101 Workshop with Jill Leary, Railyard Owner & Founder (Sunday, April 19th, 12:00pm-1:00pm):

• Only a few spots left!
• To Register: Call (914-617-8541) or email (info@railyardarts.com) to reserve your spot! (NO online registration required)
• About the Workshop: This free workshop is designed to help you better understand the glazing process so you can make more confident, informed decisions with your work.
  During this session, we’ll walk through the fundamentals of how our studio glazes work and how to use them effectively. You’ll learn how to get consistent results with our bucket glazes, how to use the Glaze Wall as a guide for color choices and combinations, and the differences between Stroke & Coat, slips, and underglazes—along with how to use each effectively on your pieces.
  We’ll also cover the basics of kiln firing, including the difference between bisque and high fire, temperature ranges, and what types of glazes and pieces belong in each firing.
  This is a relaxed, informative session with plenty of time for questions. Whether you’re new to glazing or just want a refresher, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the process—and fewer surprises when you open the kiln.
  Open to all pottery students.
  
  
  
  

Spring Break: There are no classes next week (March 30th – April 5th)!
– The Studio will be open and there WILL be Open Studio both weeks (March 28th – 31st, and April 4th – 7th)
Spring 1 session- classes will resume the following week and run April 6th – May 3rd.

Spring 2 Registration Note:
Registration will be opening in Mid-April! For those wishing to continue their class in the Spring 2 session, we will send a reminder about the auto-enrollment charge dates about a week before, or please see below for the registration plan (for adult pottery classes only):

• Current Pottery Students’ Cards Charged: April 14th or 15th (If cancelling or paying by a different method, please do so before these dates)
• Available spots in Clay Classes open to the waitlist: April 16th
• General Registration Open Online: April 17th (any remaining spots now available to general public)

Clay Recycling & Wedging Reminder:

This week, teachers will be reviewing proper clay recycling and wedging in class.

We’ve noticed the bins under the wedging table are not being used correctly. Too much usable clay is being placed in the recycle bins instead of being wedged and reused, causing the little bin to overflow.

Please be mindful to wedge and reuse clay whenever possible, and only place true scrap in the recycle bins.

Thank you for your help in keeping the studio running smoothly.

FREE Glazing 101 Workshop with Jill Leary, Railyard Owner & Founder (Sunday, April 19th, 12:00pm-1:00pm):

• To Register: Call (914-617-8541) or email (info@railyardarts.com) to reserve your spot! (NO online registration required)
• About the Workshop: This free workshop is designed to help you better understand the glazing process so you can make more confident, informed decisions with your work.
  During this session, we’ll walk through the fundamentals of how our studio glazes work and how to use them effectively. You’ll learn how to get consistent results with our bucket glazes, how to use the Glaze Wall as a guide for color choices and combinations, and the differences between Stroke & Coat, slips, and underglazes—along with how to use each effectively on your pieces.
  We’ll also cover the basics of kiln firing, including the difference between bisque and high fire, temperature ranges, and what types of glazes and pieces belong in each firing.
  This is a relaxed, informative session with plenty of time for questions. Whether you’re new to glazing or just want a refresher, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the process—and fewer surprises when you open the kiln.
  Open to all pottery students.
  
  
  
  

Spring Break will be March 30th – April 5th. The Studio will be open and there WILL be Open Studio that week (April 4th-7th) and the week before (March 28th – 31st).

Studio Note

• As a reminder: please do NOT touch other students’ pieces. If you cannot find your piece or need to look around the class shelves, please speak with the instructor or studio manager to help you look.

• Thank you for joining us this Spring! We hope you enjoyed the first week Spring 1 classes!
• Open Studio Reminders:
  • If you are a new student and have not attended your first class yet, please wait to attend Open Studio until you have been to your first class.
    • New Students, please refer to the Open Studio email with important information about Open Studio, Firing fees and more!
  •  If you sign up for an open studio slot and cannot make it, please sign on to Sign Up Genius again to remove your name from the list, opening availability for other students on the waitlist. You can also cancel your reservation through your open studio sign up confirmation email.
  • Please only sign up for one day. You must receive permission from the office to sign up for two open studio spots. 
  • Handbuilders sign up for handbuilding slots and Wheel Throwers sign up for wheel spots.

Studio Note

• The baking soda/vinegar greenware surface technique can cause flashing in our kilns. As a result, we can no longer fire pieces with baking soda on the surface. Any pieces with baking soda will be removed from firing.

• For most classes, this was the last week of the Spring 1 session! (Please see scheduled makeup classes below).
• FIRING FEES ARE DUE IN YOUR LAST CLASS! If you have had your last class and have not already paid your firing fees, please pay now!
  • Students are responsible for totaling up your own firing fees. If you did not attend your last class, please come in sometime this week to total up your final amount, or email us and we can send a picture of your sheet. Thank you.
• Spring 1 Classes start March 9th!
  • Classes run March 9th – May 3rd, no classes March 30th – April 5th!
• Besides the makeup classes scheduled next week, there is a one-week break between sessions.
  • We will be having regular open studio the weekend of the off-week for those needing to add any final touches or finish glazing. Wheel throwers: if you are only glazing, please sign up for a handbuilding OS slot.
• This month is Mug Madness in the Shop! We would like to feature both our shop artists and our students and your marvelous mugs. If you have a mug you would like to share on our Mug Madness post please email to Kellie and you will be featured! Kellie@railyardarts.com

Makeup Classes:

Sunday 3hr Wheel, March 1st and 8th– 12:30pm – 5:00pm
Monday Handbuilding, March 2nd regular class time & Thursday March 5th 10:00am – 1:00pm
Monday Advanced Wheel, March 2nd regular class time & Thursday March 5th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
also:
Kid’s Clay, March 2nd regular class time
Mondays with Mireille, March 2nd regular class time
Teen Art, March 2nd 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Monday Stained Glass March 2nd regular class time