Ceramics Classes for Adults
Section Throwing and Coil Building to Make Big Pots
Are you ready to step up your pottery game and create larger, more ambitious pieces? This workshop is designed for potters who want to push the boundaries of their skills and explore the art of making bigger pottery. The goal is to make 2, 12 lb pots in 3 days. Throwing and modified coil building techniques will be demonstrated. For hand builders, one pot will most likely all that can be completed.
Sculpting Stories in Clay
All skill levels are welcome to join ceramic artist Taylor Robenalt for a three-day workshop exploring storytelling through clay. Participants will learn hand-building techniques for creating narrative-driven sculptures, with demonstrations focused on constructing symbolic forms such as flora and fauna, refining surfaces, and assembling complex forms using coil, slab, and pinch methods.
Sculpting Animal Vessels
Join us for an immersive dive into learning how to transform your pots into sculptural animal vessels! Using techniques of throwing and hand-building, students will form vessels that incorporate animal figures by sculpting, carving, and alteration. Instruction will cover basic sculpting techniques such as the hollowing method and how to give the animals expression and defining characteristics such as eyes, ears, and motion. Katie will work individually with each student to help create a pleasing composition, structural integrity and visual interest in their artworks. Class will also include guidance about different ways to glaze and fire the finished work. A basic ability to throw or hand-build a vessel is necessary, students can be beginners at sculpting.
Head Games: Building Bold Sculpted Heads
This workshop explores the creation of expressive, slightly larger-than-life ceramic heads that prioritize gesture, exaggeration, and surface over literal realism. Participants will work solid and with armatures while developing an understanding of structure, proportion, and intentional distortion. The course begins with a low-fire soda kiln experience, allowing participants to explore atmospheric surface effects that will inform their sculptural work. Designed for artists ready to push beyond safe forms, this workshop emphasizes focused making, problem-solving, and guided experimentation.
Floral Application
Finding Your Voice Through Altered Ceramic Forms with Judy Brater
This hands-on workshop begins with a simple bowl or cone form. Students will explore techniques to alter the shape and surface. By creating free - form pieces, we will refine the shapes with sculptural embellishments. This class is designed to expand each student’s decorative skills while having fun at the same time. Students should bring their creative energy, and their favorite carving and texturing tools. The instructor will provide a variety of hump molds and cones to begin our project and finish with interesting and exciting pieces that reflect each student’s personality.
Into the Woods
Step into the world of imaginative clay sculpture with artists Christine and Taylor in this four day workshop devoted to creating woodland beings, with special attention to owls and hares. Through demonstrations and guided studio time, participants will explore approaches that foreground gesture, character, and narrative, learning how subtle shifts in posture, proportion, and expression can transform form into story.
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Visit: 323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741 (Map It)
Call: 828-526-4949 (Main)
828-787-2892 (Ceramics Studio)

This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at NCArts.org

Funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more at SouthArts.org.

Funding is due in part to a Tourism Grant with Visit Highlands, NC. Learn more HighlandsChamber.org