Workshop Offerings

Tired of the 2lb Limit?

 It’s time to push your boundaries and transform your studio practice by mastering the physics of larger forms. You’ll level up your centering mechanics and refine your throwing techniques so you can confidently handle more clay than ever before, while refining your throwing skills to increase your capacity at the wheel. We’ll dive into advanced body mechanics and the secrets of pulling taller, even walls with more substantial amounts of clay, all while addressing safe studio practices to keep your body happy and healthy. This class is for the intermediate potter ready to stretch the medium—goals are personal, but the progress is real.

Single Pots to Cohesive Collections Focus on the discipline of making multiples. Whether you’re building a full dinner service or a set of tea bowls, you’ll gain the muscle memory and design eye needed to produce work in series. Unlocking the secrets of unified groupings, you’ll learn how to "think in sets" by replicating form, weight, and volume with precision. We’ll dive deep into the geometry of consistency, exploring how shared silhouettes and unified surface decorations turn individual pieces into a family. From nestable bowls to stackable plates, you’ll master the tools of the trade—like calipers and ribs- and learn to design work that lives—and stores—beautifully together. If you’re confident with the basics but crave consistency, this deep dive is for you.

Beyond the Cylinder: Advanced Form
Move past the basics of cylinders and bowls and challenge your technical limits in this exploration of complex ceramic forms. Designed for potters comfortable with centering and basic throwing, this series is built for students who have mastered the fundamentals and are eager to explore more complex architecture on the wheel. guiding you through specialized techniques like galleries and lids, double-opening, closed forms, and composite pots. Refine your eye for proportion and master finishing techniques that turn a simple pot into a beautifully, intentional- work of craft

Tired of sitting down at the wheel only to have the clay call the shots? 

This course is about throwing with absolute intention. Transform your relationship with clay and move beyond "accidental pots" to command the clay into the exact forms you envision. We’ll break down the physics of the wheel so you can transition from reacting to the clay to directing it with confidence.  We’re moving beyond the "what" and into the "how" of masterful throwing. 

In addition, we’ll dive into ergonomic body mechanics to keep you pain-free and the hidden physics of clay structure to make the material work for you. From the meditative rhythm of the spiral wedge to strategic centering, we’ll sharpen your technical edge while protecting your most important tool: your body. 

This workshop is a total system upgrade for your studio practice. Whether you’re refining a trimming technique or mastering big, commanding pots, you’ll leave with a more intuitive, efficient, and healthy approach to making.

Ready to transform your space with custom-crafted tiles ?

 This workshop empowers students to create custom installs, providing the technical skills to design and build professional-grade tiles for high-impact home decor projects like kitchen backsplashes, bathroom accents, and durable table tops. 

Custom Tool Fabrication: Learn to design and construct your own tile cutters, ensuring every piece in your project has a perfectly uniform, signature shape.

Precision Planning: Discover  methods for calculating shrinkage and layout patterns to ensure a seamless final installation.

Technical Foundations: Gain essential knowledge on selecting appropriate clay bodies for durability, and master best practices for warpage-free drying and successful firing.

Hands-on Production: The afternoon is dedicated to a "test-making" session where you will produce your first batch of tiles. 

* Please note that firing of the finished tiles is not included in the workshop fee; however, you will leave with the knowledge and tools to manage this process at your preferred studio. 

Unleash the full potential of your pottery in this immersive surface design intensive. Designed for both hand-builders and wheel-throwers, this course shifts the focus from form to the canvas of the clay, teaching you how to transform ordinary pots into extraordinary works of art. 

Whether you are a beginner looking to find your style or an intermediate artist seeking to refine your technical edge, you will master a diverse toolkit of texture and colour techniques—from ancient carving methods to modern printmaking.

Your creative journey begins with the tactile foundations of stamps, sprigs, and mark-making, moving quickly into the fluid dimensions of slip trailing and underglaze application. As the course progresses, you’ll dive into the painterly world of monoprints and transfers before mastering the vibrant chemistry of slips and Mason stains. Finally, an introduction of high-impact graphic elements through screen printing and custom stencils will be followed by the intricate, high-contrast storytelling of sgraffito, concluding with  glaze applications and wax resist secrets to ensure a sophisticated finish.

Ready to make your designs your own? 

Stop blending in with commercial decorations and start making your own mark! Join our one-day intensive to master the art of screen printing for ceramics—

the ultimate tool for creating one-of-a-kind pottery that stands out in any collection.

You’ll move beyond standard, commercial patterns to design, build, and print your own signature graphics onto greenware. Whether you’re looking to add intricate images or bold geometric elements, this workshop gives you the technical edge to transform your clay into a unique visual narrative. 

Techniques for both printing directly on clay and making your own transfer sheets will be demonstrated.

Ready to take your pottery from the oven to the dinner table? 

This series is designed to turn your pots into cookware.

You’ll master the art of the casserole dish, blending slab construction with altered wheel-throwing to create pieces that handle the heat as well as they handle a dinner party. 

We will focus on designing intuitive handles that provide a secure grip for oven mitts and discuss practises that manage cracking and warping. 

Prerequisites: You should be comfortable centering and throwing at least 2-4 lbs of clay with confidence. Basic mastery of centring and throwing skills required

Does the science behind the "perfect melt" feel like a mystery? 

Stop relying on pre-mixed glazes and start creating your own signature look! This workshop takes the "scary" out of glaze making, providing a hands-on environment to explore custom textures and colours. 

This introductory, one day workshop is designed to transform your studio practice by demystifying the core components of glaze chemistry. We will move beyond the bucket, teaching you to: 

Deconstruct Recipes: Learn glaze materials work together to create stable, beautiful finishes, and what recipes will work with your firing regime.

Identify Success: Learn how to find and evaluate reliable recipes from online databases and glaze journals.

Mix with Precision: Master the practical steps of weighing raw materials as we weigh and blend small batches from scratch.

Test Like a Pro: Learn to create and safely fire test tiles to identify how recipes interact with your specific clay body

Clay for Elementary School Educators

Get ready to get your hands dirty and bring 3-D art to life in your classroom! This approachable, one-day workshop transforms the daunting task of teaching ceramics into a creative breeze for Grade 2–7 educators.

You’ll master the "Big Three" of hand-building—pinch, coil, and slab—while perfecting the essential score-and-slip techniques that keep student masterpieces from falling apart.

In this session, you will:

• Build with Confidence: Complete a series of mini-projects designed to be mirrored directly in your classroom.
• Master the Technicalities: Demystify the drying and firing process, ensuring you know exactly how to prep work for the kiln without the cracks.
• Add the "Wow" Factor: Explore decorating, glazing, and finishing textures that will make your students’ projects pop.
• Bridge the Curriculum: Participate in collaborative discussions on how to link these tactile skills to BC’s Curricular Competencies.

Whether you're a kiln novice or a seasoned creator, you'll leave with the practical skills, technical "best practices," and fresh inspiration needed to lead a successful clay unit.