In this two-week workshop, students will embark on an immersive exploration of the bowl form, not just as a functional object, but as a sculptural vessel and an abstract artistic expression. Using a variety of hand-building techniques, the focus will be on double-walled construction to accentuate volume and the relationship between form and space.

Throughout the course, students will begin by creating small maquettes—rapid, three-dimensional sketches in clay—allowing them to experiment freely with shape, proportion, and structure. These initial models will serve as a foundational resource for refining ideas as the workshop progresses, enabling students to brainstorm and engage directly with the material in a spontaneous, iterative manner.

The core of this workshop will revolve around the translation of these solid objects into hollow forms. With an emphasis on proportion, structure, and surface, students will learn the nuances of building hollow vessels, exploring the potential of exaggerated features and their impact on the overall aesthetic. By customizing tools to facilitate this process, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to manipulate clay in order to bring their designs to life.

Drawing from the artist's personal approach to vessel-making, this workshop encourages students to explore the language of the form. Through careful attention to how slight shifts in the arc of a bowl can transform its nature of containment, students will learn to imbue their work with intentionality and meaning. The process of repeated scraping, pinching, and carving will be essential in building and refining each piece, leaving behind traces of the artist's hand that enhance the narrative and character of the work.

As the forms evolve, students will also engage with surface treatments and glazes, learning how layers of glaze can manipulate scale, shifting from intimate details to expansive gestures. By the end of the workshop, students will have created a collection of sculptural bowls that are not only visually striking but also deeply personal in their exploration of space and form.

Whether you’re a seasoned ceramicist or looking to push your practice into new, uncharted territory, this workshop will provide the tools, guidance, and inspiration to elevate your work and deepen your understanding of sculptural pottery.

 

Materials and Tools Provided:

• Clay (earthenware)
• Specialized tools for customization
• Firing in a reduction or soda kiln (TBD)

What You'll Take Away:

• An understanding of double-walled construction and its role in emphasizing volume
• A series of original, sculptural bowl forms
• New tools and techniques for creating hollow vessels
• An expanded knowledge of surface treatments and glazing
• The skills to translate abstract ideas into tangible forms

Ideal For:
Ceramic artists with basic hand-building experience who want to deepen their understanding of form, volume, and surface in sculpture. Those interested in exploring the vessel as both a functional object and an abstract artwork.

We look forward to creating and learning with you in this dynamic, hands-on workshop!