OPA Video Library

The OPA Video Library is available to all full members of OPA. There is no charge to borrow a video, but you must pay postage. You can avoid the postage costs if you pick up or return a video at an OPA general meeting, or to the librarian in person. The borrowing period is one month in your possession (excluding time in the mail). There is a limit of two videos at a time.

Please keep in mind that most videos in our collection are copyrighted and are intended for private viewings only. Showing these videos in a public space such as schools may be a copyright violation. (If you are a teacher, talk to your school administration about copyright.) You may borrow them to view in your home with friends, but you cannot charge admission. (And we know the public is clamoring for a seat in your house!)

To rent a video:
Complete and follow instructions contained in the Video Rental form (pdf)
or submit theOnline Video Rental Form

New Videos

2007 Karl Knudson At the Wheel (44 min) Showcase demo filmed by Theresa Knight and edited by our videographer, Diantha Knot.

2006 Tool Making with Janet Buskirk  DVD (set of 2)  (44 and 74 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by Theresa Knight and edited  by our videographer, Diantha Knot

2007 Handbuilding with Flat Coils with Amy Swanson  DVD (9 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knot and her husband Jan.

2007 The Nuts and Bolts of a Teapot with Larry Nelson   DVD (41 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knot and her husband Jan.

2007 Printing on Clay with Brad Menninga  DVD (32 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knot and her husband Jan.

2007 Handbuilding Using Textured Slabs with Dennis Meiners  DVD (36 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knott and her husband Jan.

2007 Making Figures Using Pottery Techniques with Leslie Lee  DVD (42 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knott and her husband Jan.

2007 At the WZheel with Karl Knudson  DVD (53 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knott and her husband Jan.

2007 Pushing Clay with Thanbinh Duong  DVD (54 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knott and her husband Jan.

2007 Throwing Porcelain and Slip Decoration with Richie Bellinger  DVD (47 minutes) Showcase Demo filmed by our videographer, Diantha Knott and her husband Jan.

Get a Handle on It by Tony Clennell  (58 minutes) DVD  A great handle is capable of making an ordinary pot “exceptional”. Learn a variety of handle making techniques that will take your work to a new realm. Handles are pulled, thrown, handbuilt, altered, and discussed.

The Art of Making Teapots by Virginia Cartwright (30 minutes) Virginia Cartwright shares with you her techniques of making spouts, lids and handles without the use of the potter’s wheel. She demonstrates three different forms and shows examples of artists’ work from her collection.

Throwing with Slabs and Coils  by Bonnie Staffel DVD   ( 60 min)  Bonnie shows her techniques of throwing using slabs and coils into forms such as plates, platters.

Extrude It!  With David Hendley Volume 1 DVD . (72 minutes )  David uses his extruder to make a variety of functional and decorative forms. Beginners will find helpful tips while the experienced potters are sure to discover new ideas, tools and processes to incorporate into their work

Ceramics Monthly Archives - set of 3 DVD’s All issues cover to cover of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.  These are viewed from a computer.

Color and Fire - Defining Moments in Studio Ceramics 1950-2000 (51 minutes) Produced in conjunction of the Los Angeles County Museum Art's exhibition of the same name, this lively program explores the evolution of the late-20th century ceramics, leading figures in their field; Ruth Duckworth, Ron Nagle, Wayne Higby, John Mason, Otto Natzler, Richard Shaw and Peter Voulkos  and others discuss major themes and debate over decorative arts versus the fine arts.  A wonderful video!

Working with Water-Soluble Metal Salts  by Gary Holt – Berkeley CA  DVD 2006  Self Produced. Explanation of the use of these soluble salts on porcelain.  Gary gets some fantastic effects and has done extensive testing with the combination of the different chemicals.  This DVD can be viewed on both computer and TV.  There is a PDF file with more information.

2006 Showcase Demonstrations

Amy Swanson – Handbuilding Using Flat Coils
Thanhbinh Duong – Pushing Clay
Ginger Steele - Just Something Else to Paint On
Frank Gosar – Making and Using Brushes for Pottery
Dave and Boni Deal – Throwing Large and Surface
Karl Knudson – At the Wheel
Alan Higinbotham – Platters to Vases. A thrown Spectrum
Jim Koudelka – The Vessel as Canvas

Instructional

Inlaid Colored Clay by Virginia Cartwright (44 min) VHSVery clearly done where the mystery of working with colored clays is explained.  Virginia does a wonderful job of presenting the techniques in and easy to follow manner.

Paper Clay Workshop by Rosette Gault  (120 minutes) VHS and DVD  A two hour workshop on all aspects of paper clay - porcelain, raku, slip, terra cotta and earthenware.  Ms. Gault is the author of two books on the subject and a well known authority on the subject.

Beverly Toyu: life Mask Interview by Father Riley (30 minutes) OPA’s own Beverly Toyu is interviewed on a San Francisco TV show called "Body and Soul." Includes footage of Ms. Toyu taking a plaster mold of Father Riley’s face, and several examples of raku-fired masks.
Clay Whistles: Construction techniques and nuances involved.

Handmade Tiles, Volume 1: Forming the Tile (58 minutes) VHS and DVD  Frank Giorgini demonstrates tile-making processes detailed in his book of the same name. Includes methods for making plaster tile molds, using a tile press, colored clay inlay, and shellac resist.

Raku Ceramics: Jim Romberg  (75 minutes) Well-known potter Jim Romberg demonstrates his approach to raku including throwing, handbuilding, decoration and firing.

Jim Robinson: ( 2005)  Glaze Fit and Clay Bodies

Pottery Decoration  by Tom Shafer   Traditional Techniques with an introduction by Stephen Jepson.

Soft Slab Techniques with Lana Wilson (37 minutes) VHS and DVD  Lana Wilson has developed a loose way of working with very soft clay to make organic looking, sculptural vessels. She demonstrates how to achieve her unusual clay surfaces by texturing and stretching the slabs in various ways.

Six Easy Pieces -Part 1: Virginia Cartwright:  (38 minutes) Virginia Cartwright shows easy ways to make several pieces for beginner potters.

Woodfiring with Hiroshi Ogawa and Jack Troy  Produced by Alison Hardin

The Climbing Kiln of Woolman Lane  by Richard Hotchkiss  (45 minutes DVD) Designed in 1971 this is a six chamber wood fired climbing kiln and a pioneer in the world wide ceramic community.  The kiln is 60 feet long and over a thousand cubic feet.

Documentary

A Life in Clay   - Ruth Duckworth (45 minutes)  Ruth Duckworth -   At 86 a study in contrasts.  Her simplistic philosophy "Work comes from play" belies her complexity of her vision.  She is a pioneering artist, enriching the form and nurturing our collective wonderment.

Anagama with Lou Nils:  (13 minutes) VHS and DVD  Documentary film of the Women's Anagama firing at East Creek Oregon  Filmed by Nathaniel Hitchcock.

Rudy Autio Makes Night Music: Rudy Autio  (40 minutes)  Enter the studio  and the creative experience of Rudy Autio in a most informal  and comfortable way.  Follow him in the process of creating one of his signature vessels.  A wonderful film.

Black Pottery of Nicaragua: A Woman’s Tradition (18 minutes) (in English and Spanish) Presents several artists working in the polished black pottery tradition, similar to San Ildefonso pottery of the American southwest. The women demonstrate their forming and firing methods. Good firing ideas for raku and pit firing enthusiasts!

Ceramic Showcase 2005: DVD  Great scenes from Showcase 2005, setup, booths, work.

Clay  Art at K. Clark Gallery - Eugene OR (54 minutes)

The Courage to Create  Masters of Contemporary Indian Art.  1995 Lifetime Achievement Awards.  Maria Martinez, renowned Pueblo potter and first Indian artist to achieve superstar status.   Allan Houser, an influential and innovative painter and sculptor.

Daughters of the Anasazi, Lucy Lewis, Emma Lewis Mitchell, Delores Lewis Garcia (28 minutes) Famed Acoma potter Lucy Lewis and her daughters demonstrate their traditional methods from gathering and processing clay to forming finishing and firing. Emma and Delores explain their work and philosophy. Watching them work is a humbling experience for impatient modern techno-potters! 

The Movie "Ghost": Demi Moore:  Fun movie with terrific clay throwing scenes.

 Shoji Hamada, A Potter’s Way and Work (28 min) VHS and DVD  A fascinating portrait of the man and his way of working. Traces the beginnings of clay prospecting and refining methods, shows the workshop, forming and decorating methods, firings and finished wares. Also Hamada’s collection of folk art and the annual Mistukoshi exhibition.

Quiet Places: Robin Hopper : (27 minutes) A sensitive and thoughtful visit to Choisin Pottery on Vancouver Island.  An absolutely lovely and inspiring film.

M.C. Richards - The Fire Within    DVD (60 minutes) A brilliant and inspiring film about a brilliant teacher and artist.

Paul Soldner :  Playing with Fire:   DVD  (60 minutes)  Explores the evolution of an American visionary who is one of the great living legends in the field of ceramics.

 A Retrospective:  Paul Soldner:  Thrown and altered clay.  Segments of the artist in his studio throwing and layering clay, assembling sculpture, glazing and firing the piece, revealing how he creates his work.

The Potters of Seagrove  Seagrove Potters: The Clay Process – Theme and Variation by the North Carolina Division of Cultural Resources.

Successfully Marketing  your  Production: Stephen Jepson  (90 minutes)

Beatrice Wood:  Mama of Dada (60 minutes) Premiering on her 100th birthday, this video celebrates the artistic and emotional expression of this unique person.  She is seen in studio talking about her work, life and experiences with the great artists of the century

Portrait of an Artist -  Toshiko Takaezu  VHS and DVD  A journey into the zen-like world of an internationally acclaimed potter.   Surreal, volcanic landscapes, a summer garden  in rual New Jersey….compelling images of teabowls, and 12 foot high ceramic forests.

OPA Demos: many by Teresa Knight

1997 OPA and Showcase - Schwab Demo
1991 OPA Workshop:  Horsley, Lee, Gumm, Lampert
2005 Brushmaking and Decorating:  Frank Gosar
2005 Throwing Large and Decorating Techniques: Dave & Boni Deal
2005 Surface Decorating Techniques:  Jim Koudelka
2005 Handbuilding with colored Clays: Faith Rahill
2005 Tight Techniques for Loose Expression:  Natalie Warrens
2005 Working with Slabs of Clay: Cynthia Spencer
2005 Showcase Demo: Hokkaido Potters
2005 Throwing Forms off the Hump: Hiroshi Ogawa
2005 Slipping into Form: Victoria Christen
2005 Teapots: Patrick Horsely
2005 Adding Texture using homemade tools:Janet Buskirk
2005 Pushing Cla:y Thanhbinh Duong
2005 Art as a Spiritual Activity: Jack Walsh
2005 What's Cooking: Tom Rohr
2005 Big Pot Competition Big Pots

1. Call or email Colleene Little stating that you will agree to the terms and conditions. See #4
2. She will send you the video right away. She will send a DVD for those videos that we have on DVD/VHS unless you state VHS.
3. You have one month to view it and then you send it back in the same envelop. The cost is under $3 to send back. Please send it back when you are through since we always have waiting lists for the popular titles.
4. If you keep it more than three months or lose it (Marilyn will harass you to get it back sooner) you will be considered a member not in good standing which could keep you from applying for Showcase, etc., until it is resolved You don't want that!  We want to make these available for everyone and get a better use of them.  If you lose it you will need to pay for its replacement. These are OPA assets.

Colleene Little
P.O.Box 746
Castle Rock, WA 98611
littlecreations@cni.net
360-274-4312

Grace Sheese