Professor Colby Parsons along with Ms. Knox in the Art House back yard.

Art students look on as Professor Parsons throws with 25 lbs of clay.

View inside the 25 lb. vessel in progress.

Throwing with 50 lbs of clay was the next demonstration.

Coaxing the clay into the cone shape.

Opening the clay.

He slowly works on pulling the walls.

Keeping the rim compressed is a very important element to the large scale projects.

The inside is shaped to a gentle curved surface.

The walls are pulled higher...

and higher...

Explaining how compressing the base next to the bat will make the form 'rise' in height.

Compressing the base.

Recentering the top that wandered out of form with the compression.

Smoothing the walls.

Flaring the rim.

Trimming the top to make it level.

Shaping the vessel.

And more width.

Forming the slanted edge rim.

Cleaning the base.

The 25 lb bowl on the right - 50 lb on the left.

Anna HS learning about raku

Students listening to Professor Parsons.

Texas Women's University Ceramics Professor Parsons visited the Art House for a workshop with Anna High School art students on April 2nd. Parsons demonstrates here throwing a vessel with 25 lbs of clay.

Ms. Laura's Friday adult class also watched Parson's demos.

Professor Parsons starts throwing the large amounts of clay in the standing position to get more body leverage against the clay.

Ms. Knox assists steadying the wheel with her foot as the weight makes the wheel want to wobble.

They moved to the outside firing area and Professor Parsons gives a brief history on raku.