Weekend Ceramics Intensive Retreat

Trade your weekend for a studio retreat. Over two full days, dive into handbuilding, wheel throwing, and slip casting - no experience needed
About this Event

Weekend Ceramics Intensive Retreat

This weekend intensive gives you a complete, hands-on introduction to ceramics, covering handbuilding, wheel throwing, and slip casting, without a long-term commitment required! Whether you're brand new to clay or coming back to build on skills you already have, you'll leave with real, functional pieces and a much deeper understanding of the craft.
Join us Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, from 10:00am to 4:00pm each day (with a lunch break). Over these two days, you'll move through the fundamentals of ceramics, including form, structure, surface design, and studio process, building functional pieces from start to finish.
All tools are provided by Brooklyn Spark! This intensive includes clay for all three techniques, underglazing materials, and firing in the kiln. Please note: pieces will be bisque and glaze-fired after class ends, so finished, fired work will be ready for pickup a couple of weeks after the class ends. Additional clay is available for purchase if desired!
Handbuilding:
This section of the course focuses on handbuilding techniques that allow you to create ceramic forms without using the pottery wheel. Students will learn how to build functional and sculptural pieces using pinch, coil, and slab construction methods.
Through guided demonstrations and hands-on practice, you’ll explore form, structure, and surface design while learning how to properly join clay, refine shapes, and prepare work for firing. This section also introduces basic decoration techniques and texture, giving you the tools to personalize your pieces.
By the end of the handbuilding portion, you’ll have completed several pieces such as mugs, bowls, plates, or small sculptural forms, and gained foundational skills that can be applied to more advanced ceramics work.
Wheel Throwing:
This section of the course introduces students to the pottery wheel and the foundational skills needed to throw ceramic forms. Designed for complete beginners, wheel throwing instruction will focus on developing comfort, control, and confidence at the wheel.
Students will learn how to properly prepare clay, center on the wheel, and form basic shapes such as cylinders and bowls. Instruction will also cover trimming and refining forms once they reach the leather-hard stage, as well as preparing pieces for glazing and firing.
Slip Casting:
This section of the course introduces students to slip casting, a ceramic process used to create forms by pouring liquid clay (slip) into plaster molds. Slip casting allows for consistent shapes while leaving plenty of room for customization through surface design and finishing.
Students will learn the basics of working with slip and molds, including proper pouring, timing, releasing casts, and cleaning seams. Instruction will also cover altering cast forms, attaching handles or additional elements, and preparing pieces for glazing and firing.
Teacher Bio:
Corinna is a ceramic artist and one of the founders of Brooklyn Spark, a community makerspace in Brooklyn. She has been working with clay for over seven years, with a focus on creating playful, functional ceramics designed for everyday use. Corinna is passionate about making art accessible and empowering others to explore creative expression through hands-on learning. She has taught workshops for all skill levels and enjoys fostering a welcoming, low-pressure environment where everyone feels free to make, experiment, and have fun.