// The Clay Empire

Ishpeming, Michigan Tile Installation Nelsons 096, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

This Raku Handmade Clay Tile and Mosaic installation is in Ishpeming, Michigan.

They have a real busy kitchen with a full and active household. They had trouble finding their counter space with all the activity. Now I have been told, they do not have that problem. They want to see their tile installation every meal, every day.

What a compliment that was to hear. It is very rewarding putting myself into others daily lives with my raku clay tile & mosaic. If you are looking at indulging yourself this year, think raku handmade tile!

~Teddy Bear

Jon and The Clay Empire, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

Hand over hand, students get the feel of a centered piece of clay that is formed into a vessel.

This was the class every mother wanted to take with their child. However, I really hated teaching this class unless they had taken my other classes first.

Too often the wheel turns more people off of clay then draws them to it. The wheel is only about 20% of what you can do with clay. Actually it may only be like 9%.

Students of all ages need some victories before tackling something so complex and fickle as the wheel. Some get it right away, others it takes years. However, I can teach you how to pull up a vessel in one three hour session. However, I have heard and agree that it takes about a garbage can full of clay thrown on the wheel before you get the feel.

The one great thing is it is like drawing and riding a bike. Where ever you leave off, you can pick it right back up very quickly.

However, the wheel is not all that is cracked up in clay!

It is a wonderful tool, but like the pinch, coil, and slab, it is only a tool. You are the craftsperson and artist.

The only reason I do not like sharing this great experience is that I do not want to turn one person off of clay. I want to assist everyone to find their niche in clay. It is the most innate material any artist could utilize. You can do it all in clay.

~Teddy Bear
Mr. Chad T. Everson

Archived Photo’s 125, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

This class pushed students to dream. Then to take that dream and make it a reality in clay. Students are encouraged to think of themselves as architects, designers, landscapers and engineers.

It is simply amazing what students are able to do with the basic understanding of the properties of clay. Students have more success if they have taken my clay 101 class prior.

I enjoy teaching this class with a great air dry clay I have found that works and feels like normal clay. It air drys in 3-4 days and can be painted.

What would your castle look like?

~Chad T. Everson
The Clay Empire

Archived Photo’s 151, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

This class is where students create their very own first business. The business is making either marbles, beads, pendants, medalions or all the above.

Students are introduced to a free market that changes as the class progresses. They “sell” their creations at the free market price and obtain, treats, finished beads and art work.

Students can be sole proprietors or form partnerships or corporations. Does it really help to have more hands to help or does it hinder? Will an entrepreneur pop up and find a new market or idea that will net them more profits?

Every class is different because each student is talented and creative in exceptional ways. I have taught this class to kids of all ages and each time I do, I am very impressed at the outcomes.

Often school prepares students to become employee’s. I tend to teach my students to dream of being employers.

It will be interesting how many little clay empires pop up as my students reach the age when they decide, am I an employee or employer?

Either way, each student should have a good respect for both!

~Chad T. Everson
The Clay Empire

Raku Tile ND Landscape, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

Raku Clay Tile North Dakota Landscape Closeup. I have really enjoyed turning my woodcuts into clay tiles. Then you add Raku Clay and glaze and they really turn out magnificent.

This is a woodcut that I love. The subject matter is a tree that I passed by very often. The tree had found refuge among the field stone stacked up among its roots and at it’s base. This little island of rock and tree was surrounded by an ocean of North Dakota loam turned over ready for planting. Soon, wheat will overflow the ocean of loam and this tree will be the jewel of properity.

This tree looked good in foliage or stark profile as the winter winds tested it’s North Dakotan toughness. This North Dakota landscape sticks with me. It is a testament to endurance and beauty.

I think any North Dakotan who is transplanted in another land understands this tree’s landscape.

~Teddy Bear

I found this great video on Youtube.  I am very interested in draft animal technology especially when it was utilized to manufacture clay.  Enjoy!

 

lion header, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

I wanted to share this close up of a tile installation. Raku Tile is truly awesome in it’s range of color. Just add texture and have fun with your design.

100_9450, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

I love this picture. This was taken at one of the many summer camps I put on here in Minnesota. Assisting children to overcome their fear of something as basic as fire and letting them see how it can transform something into something very beautiful.

The respect of fire, enables me to assist others to respect and embrace fears and obstacles in their life. While I am not a pastor, I am an artist who inspires others to dream that American dream and embrace their fears and overcome them.

It is something that with this new media that I am doing on a much grander scale then even my dreams could of ever imagined!

Join me!

Mr. Chad T. Everson

THECLAYEMPIRE LOGO W WEBSITE, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

This is the Logo of The Clay Empire.

T- The, or my middle name Theodore

C- Clay or my first name Chad

E- Empire or my surname Everson

This is my clay mark and is on mostly everything I do. I approach life as an artist, a conservative artist. I think I am very good at bringing about beauty and getting a message across with things I find myself surrounded with, whether they are clay, sticks or people.

Help get the word out!

Mr. Chad T. Everson

dec2007 082, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

Here is a close up of the handmade raku tile step project. I love the divergent shapes and the raku clay marbles let alone the copper lusters and the white crackle glazes. Raku is especially for those who want something stunning but not commercially boring with the look of being manufactured by machine.

If you look close you will see the many textures and the varied glazes that really ignite my eye to wander to each individual tile.

It is fun, we had guests lately and I found them just sitting on the stairs touching and looking at the tiles. They were coming up with their own projects for their kitchen backsplash.

It is truly a wonderful product that has really added to the value of our home.

If you are interested in a bid for your project, email me at:

theclayempire@chadeverson.com

Enjoy!

Chad Everson