Ceramics workshops
In a workshop you learn to work with clay from the very first touch: how it is prepared, modelled, dried, fired and glazed. The group arrives as beginners and leaves knowing how a finished sculpture comes about, from a lump of clay to a fired piece. Everyone keeps their own work, and we choose the workshop format to suit your time and your group.
Five workshop formats
| Format | Visits | What you do | What we do | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay and delivery | 1 | You model your own piece in clay | We dry it, fire it, seal it with cold glaze and deliver the pieces to you | Everyone, especially larger groups |
| Two sessions | 2 | First you model in grogged clay, then you come back to glaze your fired piece | We dry and fire between the two visits, and fire again after glazing | Schools, associations, groups who want the whole process |
| Two firings, we glaze | 1 | You model in grogged clay | We fire, glaze and fire again, then deliver the finished pieces | Groups who cannot come twice |
| Mugs for little ones | 1 | Children sponge-paint ready-made mugs | We fire and deliver the finished mugs | Kindergartens and lower primary classes |
| Glazing and firing on site | 1 | You glaze ready-made mugs or objects | We fire them straight away in front of the group, using one of the open-air techniques, and you take them home the same day | Team building, day trips, groups who want to see the fire |
How long does it take?
The workshop itself takes two to three hours. Pieces fired in the studio are usually delivered within 1 to 4 weeks, depending on our workload. With on-site firing you take your pieces with you.
Group size
Up to 30 participants per workshop, so that everyone gets enough attention and explanation. Larger groups by arrangement.
Open-air firing techniques
Firing on site is the most exciting part of a workshop: the pieces come out of the kiln glowing, and fire, smoke and colour appear in front of the group. We offer several techniques, so groups who return can learn a different one each time.
Raku
The glowing piece is placed in sawdust; smoke and flame give it a metallic lustre and a fine web of cracks in the glaze.
Naked raku
No glaze; the smoke leaves black-and-white patterns on a smooth surface.
Horse hair raku
Horse hair laid on the hot piece burns away and leaves thin dark lines.
Obvara
The glowing piece is dipped into a fermented mixture of flour and water, which leaves brown marks and patterns on the surface.
Pit firing
The pieces are fired in a dug pit with wood, leaves and salt, as in ancient times.
Saggar firing
The piece is sealed in a container with organic materials, which gives unpredictable, natural colours.
Not sure which format to choose?
Tell us how many you are, how much time you have and what you would like to take home. We will suggest the best option.
Tell us how many you are and when you would like to come.
For a group, all we need is the number of people, a rough date and what you are interested in. We will come back to you with a suggested programme.