Figurative Vessels with Jane Kelsey-Mapel Turn your favorite animal into a sculptural vessel
Saturday | April 4, 2026 | 9AM – 4PM | Dennis Ott Ceramic Studio
One-Day Hands-On Intensive
Have fun turning your favorite animal into a functional or purely sculptural cup, a human head into a pitcher or a torso into a flower vase. During this one-day workshop, participants will use hand building and modeling techniques to create a figurative vessel of their choice. Jane will demonstrate slab and pinch construction techniques, modeling facial features, hair and clothing and the use of translucent underglazes. She will discuss basic human and animal anatomy as it relates to the vessel form. At the end of the day, participants can expect to have a uniquely expressive sculpture that happens to also be a vessel.
Materials: See Materials tab for details
Age Requirement
Ceramic workshops are designed for persons aged 18 and over, or with instructor approval.
26 0404w JKM
Jane Kelsey-Mapel
Jane Kelsey-Mapel is known for her expressive sculptures of people and animals in clay and mixed media. Her work is held in museum and private collections across the US. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Arizona State University. A dedicated art educator, Jane has taught at universities and community colleges in Texas and Arizona for over 35 years. She currently teaches ceramic figure sculpture at Mesa Arts Center and the Shemer Art Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Materials for students to bring:
Clay (provided by Sedona Arts Center)
You may use any clay you are familiar with and like for hand building. For good detail and use with underglazes, I recommend Cone 5 BMix (smooth). If you are a beginner or if you prefer some sand/grog in your clay, I recommend Cone 10 WSO White Stoneware.
Glazes
I will be demonstrating with Duncan EZ Stroke underglazes (made by Mayco). I usually fire these to cone 5 and leave them unglazed. The clear glazes that I sometimes put over them are: AMACO Sahara Zinc-Free Clear HF-9, Mayco Crackle Matte Clear SW003, AMACO Clear Satin SM-10
Firing
The art center will provide the firing
Tools
Cut off wire
Needle tool
Small wood, plastic or metal modeling tools for detail work (no more than ¼” wide on rounded end) such as this set of stainless steel tools from Amazon. Amazon Link
Ribs: smooth edge flexible, metal rib serrated edge flexible metal rib soft rubber rib either blue by Kemper or small red by Mud Tools
Metal table fork
Ruler
Brushes that have a little spring, not too soft for smoothing and applying slip: ½” or 1” flat brush ¼” round acrylic paint brush
Wooden rolling pin like for pie crust or larger or use slab roller in studio if available
Banding wheel (turn table), plastic like Rubbermaid or metal (optional)
Plastic for covering work to keep it wet.
Reference Books
Animal Anatomy for Artists, the Elements of Form by Eliot Goldfinger
How to Draw Animals by Jack Hamm
Mastering Sculpture, The Figure in Clay by Cristina Cordova
Anatomy for Artists, A visual guide to the human form by 3dtotalPublishing
The Craft and Art of Clay by Susan Peterson (a general ceramics text, can be found on Amazon for less money if you don’t buy the most recent edition)
Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist by Stephen Rogers Peck
The Artist’s Complete Guide to Facial Expression by Gary Faigin
Cancellation Policy
Registration and Cancellation Policies
Registration
Each student must enroll individually.
Classes must be paid in full upon registration.
Students may register online or call Sedona Arts Center Office at 928-282-3809, Ext 1 or toll free at 866-282-3809 Ext 1.
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express are accepted or student may pay with cash or check by registering in person during office hours Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
In-Person and Online Classes Cancellation
Students must cancel or transfer at least 7 days prior to the first day of class.
If a student cancels or transfers before the 7-day cut-off, a 15% fee will be applied.
If a student cancels within 7 days prior to class, there are no refunds.
If Sedona Arts Center cancels the class for any reason, all payments made will be refunded in full.
Note: If traveling to Sedona, we strongly urge students to purchase refundable airline tickets or travel insurance in case of workshop cancellation due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen changes. Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for non-refundable ticket purchases or lodging fees.
Important Message
Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for providing make-up sessions or issuing refunds, credits, or transfers for courses missed as a result of illness, emergencies, or other events beyond our control. There are absolutely no refunds after the cut-off date for any reason, unless Sedona Arts Center has to cancel the workshop, then all fees paid will be refunded in full.
