Workshops

Hands-on workshops are a great way to gain new skills and get into the nitty gritty of a specific subject without committing to a full semester.

Learning through collective knowledge is also an amazing way to share the expertise between makers. We’ll be building our workshops with you in mind, so let us know what you want to learn! 

Summer 2025 Workshops - These 4 week sessions are the perfect way to try something new, hone your skills over the summer or supplement your semester classes.

Get a Handle on Mugs

  • This course is dedicated to analyzing everything about mugs and mug handles – what informs our decisions on form, function, and design, and what techniques can be employed to carry out our optimal mugs.

  • This class is for students who have experience with clay already, and will focus on wheel-throwing. Students should be able to wedge, center clay, and make basic cylinders without help. 

Teapots!

  • This course is dedicated to learning about the forms and anatomy of teapots – bodies, galleries, lids, & spouts. This is primarily a wheel-thrown class that requires a level of proficiency in wheel-throwing. Students should be able to wedge, center clay, and make a variety of forms on the wheel beyond cylinders. The class will also include a number of handbuilt elements, but students will not need to have extensive handbuilding experience.

  • This class is for students who have experience with clay already, and will focus on wheel-throwing. Students should be able to wedge, center clay, and make basic cylinders without help. 

Other workshops we offer from time to time, dates tba

Glaze Making 101:
The Basics to Get You Started

  • Curious About Glazes? Wondering what a frit is and what it does? Want to know how and why these various chemicals make things shiny, matte, or bubbly? We want to get you on the path of learning how to navigate the mysteries of ceramic glazes.

  • In this 3 day workshop, you will learn how to make three base glazes (gloss, matte, and clear) and create variations with each using stains and oxides. For anyone looking to make their own glazes, this is a perfect way to enter the world of glaze mixing as you begin your journey.

    Day I (November 4th - 2-5pm) - We’ll kick off with a lesson and discussion on glaze vocabulary and what the various categories of chemicals do when added to a glaze recipe. Students will receive a handout they can keep. Next, you’ll learn about the various ways to make test tiles as you prepare to make your own set. These will be submitted at the end of class for bisque firing.

    Day II (November 18th - 2-7pm) - Students will learn how to read a glaze recipe, measure, mix, and alter 3 base glazes, then add stains and oxides and adjust and dip tests onto their tiles.

    Day III (December 9th - 2-5pm) - The test results will be ready and students will assess, compare and converse. Since this is the launch point, a discussion of various other types of glaze will be reviewed and there will be time for Q&A.

Mold Making 101: Learning the Basics, from Plaster to Slip

  • This mold making weekend workshop is geared towards beginner and intermediate makers interested in learning how to make your own 2 or 3 part plaster mold from an object of your choice and using the mold to slip cast to make multiples. Two and three part molds are great for all sorts of forms such as cups, mugs, bowls, vases.

  • This mold making weekend workshop is geared towards beginner and intermediate makers interested in learning how to make your own 2 or 3 part plaster mold from an object of your choice and using the mold to slip cast to make multiples. Two and three part molds are great for all sorts of forms such as cups, mugs, bowls, vases.

    Day I: We begin by introducing the process from start to finish, how molds work, why they are made in particular ways, and review everyone’s pieces they brought to the workshop to cast. You will learn how to mix plaster, prepare your object and mold walls for casting, pour the first section. While the mold is setting up, students will break for lunch. (We suggest you bring lunch). After lunch, you will cast the 2nd part of the mold. If the student does not finish the 2nd part on Day I, they can finish it on the following day. Clean up and afterwards, there should be time for Q&A

    Day II: Students will learn how to mix and pour slip into existing molds to learn the process of casting (since your mold will be too wet). You will learn how to time the slip process, pour out slip, and release molds when ready. While the poured molds are setting, you’ll open your molds and clean and finish them. You will learn how to dry and care for your mold and slip casting best practices. You will release and clean cast pieces, review drying time and learn finishing processes. Wrap up.

Nerikomi: An Exploration of Color & Pattern 

  • Nerikomi is a fascinating technique that centers around the decorative process established in Japan. This technique involves layering colored clay and then slicing through the cross-section to reveal intricate patterns. The results reflect a combination of both careful planning and accidental surprise. This course will explore the possibilities of using the Nerikomi technique to create unique patterns and forms.

  • Class I

    Students will be given stains and clay to mix together to produce various colors as well as learn how to make patterns ‘canes’ that will be used to make forms later on.
    *Students can come in for benchtime to work on their canes.


    Class II 

    We will make slabs from previously made patterns which can be formed into various objects like cups, bowls, and anything that can be made from a slab. A smoothing demonstration will happen so students can do this clean up before submitting work for bisque firing.

     *Students can come in for benchtime to work on their pieces, trim.

    Class III

    Sanding of bisqued pieces and glazing works to be fired. Clarity of the pattern is achievable at this stage.

A Certain Slant of Light: Making Lamps by Hand

  • In this 2-day hands-on workshop, students can choose between hand building or wheel throwing a lamp base, glaze it, then learn how to wire it up.

  • Class I

    Students will be given stains and clay to mix together to produce various colors as well as learn how to make patterns ‘canes’ that will be used to make forms later on.
    *Students can come in for benchtime to work on their canes.

    Class II 

    We will make slabs from previously made patterns which can be formed into various objects like cups, bowls, and anything that can be made from a slab. A smoothing demonstration will happen so students can do this clean up before submitting work for bisque firing.

     *Students can come in for benchtime to work on their pieces, trim, and must submit work for firing by 7/30.

    Class III

    Sanding of bisqued pieces and glazing works to be fired. Clarity of the pattern is achievable at this stage.

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Workshop Details

Workshop Cancellation Policy: 

To request a cancellation and full refund minus a $50 processing fee, you must contact us in writing within 1 week prior to the first class of your workshop. Request within 1 week of the first class and you’ll receive a credit for a future class minus a $50 cancellation fee. There are no refunds for cancellation requests made within 48 hours before the start of the workshop or for no-shows. Email info@clayspacebk.com with your cancellation request.

We May Cancel:

If the class does not fill sufficiently, we may cancel and try to move students to another class, apply tuition to another class, semester, or gift card, or provide a full refund.

Missed Class Policy :

There will be no make ups and no refund for missed classes.