10 days hands-on porcelain workshop
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Picture
Press molded and altered porcelain sculpture.
Western porcelain is man-made. With it came characteristics that need specific understanding in order to be successful as a porcelain artist. Once potters understand that they are working with a different medium, everything becomes easier. ​
During a 2-week workshop, we will work simultaneously on 3-5 clay objects: a combination of hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques. Potters will learn to control the drying phases of the porcelain. They will also learn to work with porcelain beyond the wheel.  It is possible to alter the clay at a stage when most potters think the clay is too dry to do anything else to it.
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There are ample opportunity to practice wheel throwing porcelain and hand building techniques under the watchful eye of Antoinette in 2 weeks. 
The schedule below is a general idea of how I present a workshop. It can be changed according to the needs of the students.
The next 2-week hands-on workshop is planned for 2025 at LaMeridiana in Tuscany Italy.
Picture
Wheel thrown altered, carved porcelain sculpted bowl.
My classes are for both wheel-throwing and hand-building potters. 
Since we cover the basics before pushing into advanced work, the classes are suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.
​Day 1: 
Instructor discussion:
  • ​Instructor discuss the schedule with students and make sure they understand the full procedure
  • History and Character of porcelain
  • Demonstration on the wheel for V-bowl
  • Demonstration hand built V-bowl
Instructor Demonstration:
  • Pinching clay - We will use pinching techniques for the altering of the wheel thrown and press molded pieces. 
 Student activity:
  • Start wedging, preparing clay for next day activities.
  • Start planning and pinching bowls.
  • Wheel throwing or hand building - V Bowl
​​Day 2:  
Instructor Demonstration:
Porcelain Wheel throwing/ Hand-building:
  • U-bowl form
  • Discuss tools for trimming
  • Finish pinching process
  Porcelain Wheel throwing/ Hand-building:
  • U-bowl form
  • Discuss tools for trimming
  • Finish pinching process
  Porcelain Wheel throwing/ Hand-building:
  • U-bowl form
  • Dis cuss tools for trimming
  • Finish pinching process
 Student activity:
  • Porcelain Wheel throwing/ Hand building U- bowl.
  • Continue with pinch bowls: specific attention to drying stages
  • ​Make tools
​Day 3: 
Instructor Demonstration:
 ​Trimming Bowls
  • Preparing (Throwing) Slabs
  • Press molding (to prepare shells for envelopes
  • Make molds versatile, build a vessel (envelope)
​Student activity:
  • Prepare slabs, press molded form and basis for envelope – put shells together
  • Continue with bowl throwing/ trimming
  • Practice bowl forms: learn to control the drying process between rim and base​
  • Continue with finishing of pinching​​
Picture
Press molded altered porcelain sculpted bowl. Mississippi Museum of Art Collection.
Picture
Wheel thrown,altered carved translucent porcelain
​Day 4:
Instructor Demonstration:
  • Begin to alter envelope
  • Continue to throw bowls – re enforce techniques
  • Begin to alter bowls​
Student activity:
  • Begin to alter envelope
  • Continue with wheel thrown bowls – start altering process if possible
  • Continue with pinch bowls                                                                                                                                           
​Day 5
Instructor Demonstration:
  • Reinforcement if needed
  • Decorating demonstration:
    • Water etching
    • Carving
Student activity:
  • Continue to alter envelope
  • Continue trimming and altering process and start to finish objects.
  • Finish pinch bowls.
Day 6
Instructor:
  • Finish objects
  • Observe and lend support where needed
Student activity:
  • Continue to alter and finish envelope.
  • Continue with wheel thrown bowls – continue trimming and altering process and start to finish objects.
  • Finish pinch bowls.
​Day 7
 Instructor:
  •  Discussion: Firing and glazing (students must understand how porcelain behave in the kiln)
  • Question and Answer session
Student activities:
 Finish Work and prepare for kiln
​Day 8
Everybody:
  • Assist in securing their finished work for the kiln.
  • Prepare glazes.  
  • ​Bisque fire
  • ​Slide show
​Day 9
Instructor:
  • Demonstrate glazing process
Student activity:
  • Decorating and Glazing
Day 10
  • ​Open kiln, final discussion/ question answer session and wrap up of class.  
  • Clean work space. ​