The Big And The Beautiful. A Weekend MasterClass of Throwing Big and Surface Decoration
Schedule
Fri, 29 May, 2026 at 11:30 pm to Sun, 31 May, 2026 at 05:00 am
UTC+10:00Location
The Studio, Unit 11, 7-9 Grant St, Cleveland, QLD, Australia, Queensland 4163 | Cleveland, QL
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Big and Beautiful Weekend WorkshopSaturday 30th May 9:30am -4pm
Sunday 31st May 9:30am -3pm
Join John Brighenti and Carys Martin for a weekend masterclass where you will learn how to ‘throw big’ and the surface decoration techniques to make your pieces beautiful.
This will be an intensive weekend of learning to start the year levelling up your skill set. You will work in a small group switching between tutoring from John and Carys in their respective specialties – large scale throwing and surface decoration. The outcome of the weekend will be two final pieces – one thrown by you on the wheel and one that John has thrown for you before the workshop, each of which you will adorn with detailed surface work under the expert eye of Carys. After the workshop Carys will biscuit fire your finished pieces, glaze with your chosen glaze and fire it a second time, ready for you to collect.
Saturday – 9:30-4pm
You don’t have to be built like a rugby player to throw big pots! Using body weight, mechanical advantage, and good form, John will show you the techniques required to scale-up your throwing from mugs to jugs and beyond. Using 2+ kilos at a time, he will guide you through each stage of the throwing process from centring and pulling to shaping and finishing, using techniques that he has learned and developed over his career in ceramics.
Explore surface decoration techniques (sprigs, sculpted additions, sgraffito, carving, slips, underglazes, tissue transfers, water resist, stencils) and learn how to create layered designs that complement your form with Carys. This is a chance to try new techniques that will suit larger forms, and plan your project for completion in Day 2.
Sunday – 9:30-3pm
“Big” continues on Day 2, by exploring techniques of joining larger forms to create strong and cohesive pieces, as well as trimming large work on the pottery wheel to increase their refinement and ensure their survivability through subsequent firings.
Building on the decorative effects highlighted in Day 1, you will turn towards your now leather hard thrown form to transform it from canvas to original artwork under the supervision of Carys. These will then be left to dry, and be fired and ultimately glazed by Carys, with a finish of your choice from a selection of our studio glazes.
In this workshop you will receive:
· A large (approx. 30cm high) leather hard form thrown by John, to decorate with your choice of surface decoration technique.
· All clay for throwing
· Leather hard test tiles to explore and practise surface decoration techniques upon.
· Underglazes, slips, stains, tissue transfers and additional clay for decoration.
· Biscuit firing of your surface decoration form and one of your thrown forms.
· Choice of a selection of studio glazes (glazing will be done for you) and glaze firing of your surface decoration form and one of your thrown forms.
· Your Surface Decoration Online Guide – a one hour online video guide to surface decoration techniques and tips that you can refer back to at your leisure.
· Small group tuition on wheel throwing big with John Brighenti
· Small group tuition on surface decoration with Carys Martin
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Where is it happening?
The Studio, Unit 11, 7-9 Grant St, Cleveland, QLD, Australia, Queensland 4163Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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