I’ll Make You A Punty You Can’t Refuse with Jason McDonald

On a block of East State Street in Black Mountain, North Carolina, a compact hot shop fills the air with the dry, metallic heat of a furnace and the rhythm of practiced blows. I’ll Make You A Punty You Can’t Refuse with Jason McDonald is a five‑day intensive at the NC Glass Center that teaches the Venetian approach to thin‑walled blown goblets. Held August 31–September 4, 2026, this $1,150 workshop mixes morning demos, long student blow sessions, and focused critiques; class sizes are limited to six, ages 18 and up, and a $100 non‑refundable deposit secures your spot.

Mornings begin with an artist demo (9:00–12:00) to introduce forming sequences and core techniques. Afternoons and evenings are devoted to student blowtime (1:00–5:00 and 6:00–10:00), where repetition refines timing, punty work, and the delicate steps of delivering and receiving bits. You’ll practice making and spotting good punties, stretching thin feet, creating a consistent “bulletproof” neckline, straightening pieces on both pipe and punty, and safely removing a finished piece.

The course motto—“fail quickly”—encourages experimentation and accelerated learning. What makes this workshop special here is the mix of old‑world Venetian ideas and the Appalachian arts scene. The NC Glass Center sits at 112 E State St, Black Mountain, NC 28711, USA, a small town with galleries, craft shops, and easy day‑trips into the Blue Ridge Mountains and Pisgah National Forest.

That proximity lets you combine focused studio days with hikes along ridgelines or quick drives to Lake Tomahawk and the Montreat Conference grounds when the kiln cools. The technical challenge of thin‑walled goblets distinguishes this class from casual glass sessions: success depends on rhythm, heat control, and coordinated teamwork at the bench. With only six students, instructors can offer one‑on‑one corrections that translate immediately to better results.

You should expect sore forearms, steady concentration, and the occasional triumph of a clean foot coming off a punty. Practical details matter: bring closed‑toe shoes and cotton clothing, arrive ready for long studio days, and budget for shipping if you can’t carry fragile pieces home. To book or learn more, use the workshop referral link and check cancellation terms—the listing specifies a two‑week refund cutoff and a $100 deposit policy.

Plan to stay within walking distance of the studio—Black Mountain’s compact downtown puts bed-and-breakfasts, coffee shops, and equipment stores a few blocks from 112 E State St. Evenings are ideal for crit sessions, local dinner conversations, and quick scouting trips to sunsets on nearby ridge roads. If you fly, Asheville Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport, about a 25‑minute drive; rental cars and local shuttle services make gear transport and glass shipping logistics manageable.

Expect to leave with sharper skills and a few fragile trophies, too.