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Art Clay Training, Classes, Courses and Workshops

In this section you'll find teachers of Art Clay. The section is divided into several pages to make it easier for you to find the Art Clay class you're looking for.

This page outlines the different Art Clay certifications.

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Art Clay Certification

Art Clay Certification has two levels. Level One Certification requires you to have some basic experience with metal clay, they don’t take complete beginners.

In order to become a certified instructor, you must successfully complete the Level One Certification course. This course is designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of Art Clay.

At Level One in the UK, a number of projects have to be completed exactly as they are specified in the Art Clay Beginners Book. The Level One course is normally three days. The focus is on technique, precision and finishing pieces to a consistently high standard. On this course there is no design freedom in the project. One major advantage is that the course includes a very comprehensive toolkit and all the materials needed including silver findings.

In the USA, the curriculum consists of nine different projects taught over 24 hours of instructiotn (typically three eight hour days), and covers a variety of techniques. Some of the techniques include use of organic forms, creating flat and round-shank rings, addition and firing of gemstones and glass, creating a mirror finish, and much more. This course provides general and technical information, as well as some helpful teaching guidelines.

Once Level One Certification is passed, holders can teach introductory/beginners Art Clay classes and normally get a small discount on buying Art Clay from the official distributors of Art Clay. Level One Certification holders can call themselves Art Clay Level One Instructors.

In the UK, the Art Clay Guild have now specified that Level One Certificate holders must wait six months from the completion date printed on their Level One Certificate before they can attend a Level 2 Certification course. This time should be used to refine skills and prepare for Level Two Senior Certification course.

The Senior Certification course is designed to provide advanced techniques as well as a creative challenge for the individuals who have completed Level One Certification. In the US, there are a total of seven projects taught over 32 hours (typically four eight hour days). This course teaches students to incorporate gold foil, brass, and fine silver bezel wire. It also introduces the use of three-dimensional design, with emphasis on detail and fine finishing. Successful completion of this course entitles you to apply for Senior Instructor Status in the USA.

Art Clay World, USA, approves and certifies instructors into the Senior Instructor community by reviewing an application and examining a selection of three pieces of original work. The pieces submitted must reflect the techniques and skills the individual learned during their Art Clay education, as well as the ability to creatively design original pieces while following guidelines. A non-refundable $200 application fee is also required from anyone submitting for Senior Instructor status.

In the UK, Level Two Certification covers more advanced techniques and normally runs over four days. A number of pieces have to be completed during the course. Like the Level One Certification, the Level Two projects have to be completed exactly as they are specified in the Art Clay Advanced Book. There is no design freedom on the pieces. There is a criteria list of all the skills and competencies the instructor is looking for and this has to be completed successfully for the certification to be awarded, together with three pieces made after the course which are submitted and evaluated by a panel. In the UK, these three pieces must be submitted within 60 days from the completion of the Level Two course. Candidates for Level Two Certification will also have to prove they have access to a kiln.

A bigger discount on buying Art Clay from the official distributors of Art Clay is an advantage of the Level Two qualification.

Crossover Certification

In the USA, a Crossover Certification is available. The Crossover Certification course is a three-project class that covers some of the specialty Art Clay products. This class is available to certified PMC Instructors. In order to qualify, an individual must have become Level One PMC certified before December 1, 2007 or Level Two PMC certified any time thereafter. All students that take a Crossover Certification will be required to submit a copy of their PMC certificates.

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