Exploring wheel throwing and form alteration. On Saturday, we’ll dive into my personal process and demonstrate the techniques I use to create a wide variety of forms. We’ll focus on functional wares – bowls, mugs, cups, bottles, pitchers, and teabowls—while discussing the considerations behind each shape. We’ll also explore multiple approaches to altering thrown forms, including trimming, accentuating, and finishing techniques. 

Johnny Arvizu grew up in Douglas, Arizona, a small border town neighboring Agua Prieta, Mexico. He began working in ceramics in 2017 at Cochise Community College, where he was introduced to soda and wood firing. The seemingly endless possibilities within these atmospheric firing methods sparked a lasting passion for soda firing. Johnny later transferred to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he earned his BFA in 2023. He has since taught several workshops across the U.S. and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in the near future.