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" - see below!
*** Upcoming 2023 Sgraffito workshops ***
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Contact the site to register at least one week before the workshop because I need to make the plates
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Class size is limited
September 16 - Landis Valley Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
October 14 - Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville, PA 19438-1020
register for October 14
Sgraffito Workshops at your location - contact me for details and to schedule for 2023
Within a one hour drive of my studio for 6 to 12 people. Location should have great lighting! 2 persons per 6 foot table (Covid rules?). 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 2023
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.