Sculpture Workshops

In this fun hands-on, 2-day workshop, students will create whimsical fairy houses. First, with instructor and individual guidance using handbuilding techniques like slab construction and decorative attachments, each student will complete a unique fairy house of their own. On the second day, the group will bring their creations to life by painting them with underglaze. Clay, underglaze and most studio tools will be provided.

Sketchbook, writing device, and any personal clay tools.  

Designed for students with bisque-fired clay pieces, this 2-Day workshop offers hands-on guidance to bring each sculpture to a fully finished state.(no more firings) Whether applying a “cold finish” / “patina” for the first time or refining an existing surface, participants will receive both technical instruction and aesthetic insight to help determine the best approach for their work.

Participants are welcome to bring multiple pieces and use all materials while they are available.

Take your ceramic surface decoration to new heights with Sgraffito. Sgraffito, an Italian word meaning “to scratch”, is an ancient pottery technique involving carving through a top layer of slip to reveal a contrasting colored clay beneath. In this workshop, Renee will teach you how she uses this technique with underglazes, to adorn her pots and tiles. 

The workshop will begin with a short slide presentation, a demonstration and then the students will practice this  technique with a leather hard pot they have supplied or a tile, which will be on hand for them.

-One to two forms that are leather hard ready for carving during Workshop.  -Personal carving tools. – inspirational imagery for carving.  

Begin by examining the overall body shape with discussion on composition.

Construction starts on the hollow clay form focusing the eye on simplification of shape, support structures, adhesion and compression of the clay. Demonstrations will be given on the following elements:

• Skin, scales, folds and feathers
• Texture and Pattern
• Muscular definition
• Tentacles
• Hair, eyes and ears

Surface finishing techniques and ideas for bases.

Participants will be able to make their own animal (no bigger than 12 “) and should bring imagery of the subject they would like to create front, back, profile and close up of the face.

 Build a ceramic wall piece in this 2-day hands on workshop! Using slabs Amalia will demonstrate and assist as students construct a 2D ceramic piece of their own design. She will discuss various painting, drawing, and layering methods as well as relief sculpture to build a rich “clay painting”. This workshop is great for beginners, storytellers, and 2D artists. The clay is your canvas. Bring your ideas and lets get back on the wall! 

Day 1. 

• Intro, Slide show 
• Demonstration: Building your form. 
• Idea Brainstorm. 1 on 1. 
• Begin building wall pieces. Finish by EOD 

Day 2. 

• Flip over and clean/refine 
• Relief demo 
• Work Time 
• Painting with Slips/Underglazes 

 Sculpting and carving tools, paintbrushes different sizes, Sketchbook or drawing pad. 

Create your own customized clay stamps in this one-day ceramics workshop. Drawing on the rich history of pattern and texture in clay, you’ll design, build, and carve your own stamps. Amalia will demonstrate techniques such as sprig stamping, textured rollers, and relief carving.

Participants will be introduced to the canon of decorated pottery throughout history, experiment with relief carving to develop original patterns, and create unique, reusable stamps to incorporate into their future ceramic practice.