Workshops and Instruction
Pottery is a science lesson that art makes beautiful.

Sgraffito Workshops include an overview of Redware pottery made by the Pennsylvania German potters and a demonstration of the slip trailing and sgraffito techniques used by them to decorate the red earthenware clay. The sgraffito decorating technique has been used for centuries by many cultures and you will choose a design that pleases you. You have the option to purchase 7 inch and 10 inch plates ready to sgraffito. I have books for ideas, tracing paper and writing tools, along with all the tools needed to sgraffito your design. You will scratch your chosen design into the greenware plate, then I will take your plate to my studio to be glazed and fired. You may pick up the finished piece at the studio, at the workshop site or have it mailed to you for the cost of shipping. I request a minimum of 5 weeks to get the plates back to you as the plates must be completely dry before being fired in the kiln.

Head start on your Sgraffito design - draw a 7 or 10 inch circle, based on the plate size you choose for the class and draw your design to fit inside the circle. Designs can be line drawings (coloring books!) or positive/negative ones or ..... Your design does not have to be "traditional".

Sgraffito a redware plate workshop

*** Upcoming 2025 Sgraffito workshops ***

Contact the site to register at least one week before the workshop because I need to make the plates and/or ornaments
Class size is limited

September 13 - Sgraffito Plate Workshop at the Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster, Pa
sign up coming soon

September 20 - Sgraffito Plate Workshop at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, Pennsburg, Pa sign up coming soon

October 18 - Sgraffito Plate Workshop at the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman, Lancaster, Pa sign up coming soon

November 1 - Sgraffito Plate Workshop at the Grist Miller's House located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter, Bethlehem, Pa. Sign up coming soon

Sgraffito Workshops at the studio in Macungie

I can accommodate 1-3 persons in the studio. The plates will be ready to sgraffito and I have everything to complete your design. Workshop fee per person is $55 plus $38 for a 7inch plate, $50 for a 10inch plate and $15 per heart ornament. This workshop is usually 3-4 hours long.

Sgraffito Workshops at your location - contact me for details and to schedule for 2025

Within a one hour drive of my studio for 6 to 12 people. Location should have great lighting! 2 persons per 6 foot table. Ages 16+ and 10 - 15 years old with an adult. This workshop is 5-6 hours in length.

2-Day In-depth Hands-on Experience making Redware - limited scheduling for 2025

In my studio I have space for 1 or 2 students. This is a 2 day workshop. You will make and decorate two 9 inch slipware plates and one 10 inch sgraffito plate. You will roll clay with a rolling pin, shape it using the drape molding method, apply the slip on the sgraffito plate and decorate the clay plates with the slip trailing and sgraffito techniques. The pieces will then be glazed and fired for you. While you are in the studio I will pass along my clay knowledge including successes and not so successful.

Cost is $400 for one student / $725 for two students.

Student work through the years