When: Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Where: 5301 McKee Road, San Jose, CA 95127 (in the Fellowship Hall at the back of Foothill Presbyterian Church)
Cost: Free

From the artist, Liz Burkhouse:

I will be demonstrating how I make my ceramic sculptures, starting with inspiration and rough cartoons to using clay coils and molds to create the figures.

My sculptures frequently start with a common saying or expression—many of them suggested by friends and customers. A cartoon sketch roughs out the idea and after a number of iterations in clay (some more successful than others) the final version becomes a regular item in my inventory. Because each one is individually made—with a slight difference in expression, an added touch of irony, a change in color--even the repeats are surprisingly unique.

My sculptures are made of ceramic paper clay (usually a white sculpture clay mixed with paper pulp to create a stronger, lighter-weight medium). I build pieces using coil and slab techniques over newspaper forms, which are removed before firing. The fired pieces are glazed multiple times with bright, low-fire glazes and may be finished with various enamels, paints, and accessories. Some are assembled after firing using epoxies. More popular pieces are produced using molds. My newest work are “Imps” made of paperclay, fired, and cold finished with acrylic paints.