Students Got Skills

Click for a carousel of photos of student's work in progress. Most of my students aim for accurate rendering, as you can see.

Fong Choo Workshop is Well-Received

Participants in Fong's demonstration workshop said they were "honored to see the master at work," and expressed boundless eagerness to apply all they learned in the studio. We hope to have him back again someday, and to offer more workshops like these.

Unfinished work, ready for firing.

Unfinished work, ready for firing.

Various teapot handles.

Various teapot handles.

Fong!

Fong!

Glaze samples.

Glaze samples.

New Painting by Dori DeCamillis

Here is one of a few new pieces Dori completed in the past few months. More of Dori's work can be seen in the gallery at Red Dot. Come and see them under the new LED lights!

Lid Handle Spout

Red Dot Gallery is pleased to announce "Lid Handle Spout," a gallery exhibit and two-day demonstration workshop by Internationally renowned ceramicist Fong Choo, October 9 - 11, 2015. A reception for the artist will be held Friday the 9th from 5 to 8 pm. For his workshop in the Red Dot clay studio on the 10th and 11th, Fong will demonstrate his process for making teapot forms from start to finish, including handle-making and glaze techniques and recipes. The gallery exhibit will run through the end of November.

“One must push the limits, test the waters, search, prod and explore the many boundaries of clay,” says Fong. His work has received numerous awards from prestigious institutions including The Smithsonian Craft Show, The Philadelphia Museum of Art and The American Craft Exposition. He is an adjunct faculty member at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, and remains committed to a life as a practicing studio potter.  

The teapot is arguably one of the most challenging and intriguing forms in clay. Fong will demonstrate the hand building and wheel thrown work required to explore the teapot form, with an emphasis on “play.” There will also be demonstrations with simple homemade tools to use on teapots along with unique gadgets and ‘doo dads’ designed for use in the studio.

“We are honored and excited about Fong’s show and demo,” says Red Dot owner and clay instructor Scott Bennett.” He is known for giving some of the best workshops in the clay arena, and his artwork is unique and precious. He’s been a good friend for many years, and we are finally getting him to make an appearance in Birmingham.”

The workshop is limited to 10 people, and the cost is $95 for the two day workshop with lunch on your own on Saturday and a pot luck on Sunday. 

 

The Clay Studio at Red Dot

Mud Dabblers Opens Friday

Mud Dabblers, an exhibit featuring the work of Scott Bennett's clay students, opens this Friday, 6-8 at Red Dot Gallery. Click on images below to advance slide show.

Our First Clay Student Exhibit

Please join us at Red Dot for our first clay student show. Here's the article reprinted from the Homewood Star about the exhibit: 

Red Dot Gallery is hosting its very first student exhibition for Scott Bennett’s clay students. Entitled “Mud Dabblers,” the show will begin with an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 7 from 5-8 p.m. It will continue through the end of September. Students will each display several ceramic pieces that they have personally selected from work they’ve completed in clay class at Red Dot. Most work will be for sale.

Many of the clay students at Red Dot have been taking classes from Scott Bennett for years, and others are newer to the medium.

“We are proud that our students range from total beginners to professional artists with advanced degrees in art,” said Bennett. “Our one-room school house method has proven to be beneficial for all of our students, and definitely spreads inspiration and enthusiasm.”

Red Dot’s mission has been to create both a happy and sociable environment for their students, and to offer them a place to exhibit once the student’s work has developed a personal voice and a solid body of work. Because of the numerous steps in the clay process, the clay students take longer to develop a style and a good number of pieces to exhibit.

“It’s exciting to showcase clay students for the first time,” Bennett said.

Leave a Google Review

This painting is (sort of) about being a snooty art critic. Don't do this when you leave a review.

This painting is (sort of) about being a snooty art critic. Don't do this when you leave a review.

For those of you friends who would like to tell the world how much you love Red Dot Gallery, we have made a page giving detailed instructions on how to leave a Google review. We've been told it isn't easy for everybody, so this step-by-step guide (put together by the lovely Annabelle DeCamillis) will lead you through it. You do have to create (or have) a Google account, but that only means you'll be able to post reviews. You can do other stuff with the account, but you don't have to. They will not come after your firstborn child...even if you'd like them to. 

Here's the link: Post a Google Review for Red Dot Gallery

Thank you so much to those of you who have posted, and to those of you who will.

Without A Net Blog

Check out Without a Net Blog, where Red Dot owner Dori DeCamillis posts explanations about her series of animal paintings (which are self-portraits of her mind states.) Posts will appear regularly, so keep checking back.

Mary Compton's HALCYON

Red Dot presents paintings by oil painting student Mary Compton. Open June 12 though August 1. Check out her student page for samples of her work.

Recent Student Work

Dori has enough students to ensure that new paintings are being finished often at Red Dot. Click the image(s) below for a carousel of new work.