Featured Course: Advanced Wheel: Mentorship with CPT (16 week)

Instructor: Carolynne Pynn Trudeau
Duration: 16 Weeks | 3 Hours per Week                                                        
Intended Level: Advanced Wheel (we recommend a minimum of 1 Intermediate Wheel class and Independent Studio Practice or equivalent)
Includes: 1 bag of clay, 2 group bisque firings, 3 group glaze firings, and access to LOAM’s raw materials for glaze testing, 16 hours of Independent Studio Time (unlimited for shelf members) in addition to class time.

For artists ready to move from making to mastering.

Program Rhythm

• Mentorship Meetings (8 sessions) – Guided discussions and critique with Carolynne
• Guest Studio Visits (2 sessions) – Insights from professional artists aligned with your interests
• Technical Sessions (4 sessions) – Glaze mixing, kiln theory, firing, and testing
• Independent Studio Time & Studio Time (2 classes ) + 16 hours included (unlimited for shelf members)
• Final Exhibition Opportunity – Showcase your completed series in Loam’s gallery

This 16-week mentorship led byCarolynne Pynn Trudeau with the support of LOAm Technicians and Guest Artists, is an immersive experience designed for ceramic artists who are ready to move beyond repetition and into refinement — uncovering what makes their work truly their own.

Unlike a traditional class, this mentorship emphasizes process over product. You’ll work in a small group (maximum 6 participants) through a combination of guided critique, self-directed studio time, and research-driven exploration. Carolynne acts as mentor, not instructor — helping you articulate your aesthetic voice, strengthen your technical foundation, and expand your creative confidence.

Over the course of the program, you’ll move from deep reflection to technical experimentation, refining a body of work to be exhibited at Loam’s gallery. Through Carolynne’s mentorship and the support of guest artists and technicians, you’ll learn to think like a professional studio potter — managing your workflow, testing materials, and producing cohesive, expressive pieces.

What You’ll Explore

• Developing your personal design language and aesthetic voice
• Refining form, proportion, and concept through critique
• Experimenting with glaze chemistry and clay body compatibility
• Learning to load, fire, and evaluate your own kiln results
• Beginning to create a cohesive series — from ideation to professional finish
• Writing artist statements and preparing for exhibition

Who It’s For

This mentorship is for experienced ceramicists ready to refine their craft and process. Participants should have intermediate wheel experience and the ability to work independently in a shared studio environment.

About the Mentor

Carolynne Pynn Trudeau’s lifelong relationship with clay began in the mud-filled ditches of her childhood, where she sculpted tiny figures and their imagined worlds. That early spark evolved into a 40-year career as a professional potter and educator — one defined by both craftsmanship and curiosity.

After studying Fine Arts at McMaster University, Carolynne apprenticed under potter Helen Brink, spending years immersed in every aspect of studio practice. Her work has since been presented to international dignitaries, earned awards, appeared in publications, and become part of both public and private collections across the globe.

She has taught thousands of students — from elementary to university levels — while continuing her own studio practice. Through all of it, her motivation remains simple and sincere: to share the quiet satisfaction of clay, the way it connects the hand, the heart, and the maker’s intent.