Explore Ceramic Workshop

Throughout this course, we will be using the ancient hand-building pottery technique called: Pinching.

This simple yet potential way of manipulating clay can create different surfaces or tensions. Initially pinched clay has a surface similar to dimpled fruit with a flaccid quality, but from here a precise form full of life and vigor can be transformed.

We will experience these clay body qualities by moving from basic pinching in workshop 1 to intermediate building in workshop 2 and advanced hand-building in workshop 3.

Workshop 1: A Fledgling With one ball of clay and basic pinching, we will join the rim of your pinched bowl to create the body of a bird. From here its head and tail are manipulated from this body with fingertips and thumb. The beak is also pinched from the same ball of clay.

Now two wings are joined to the bird’s body, initiating a free-flying feathered friend. The surface will be finished by making use of Sgraffito in the classic Delft color scheme. The duration of drying time before glaze and firing depends on the weather. A nested ceramic bird will thereafter return to its maker.