Porcelain workshops in the USA

Hands-on porcelain workshops
Antoinette's pottery studio in Saltillo, Mississippi

Choose between hand-building or wheel-throwing.
A maximum of 12 students (6 hand builders and 6 wheel throwers) can participate.

This is a fun and loaded porcelain workshop where you’ll learn how to control porcelain, the Diva of clay.
​Spring Studio workshop
May 31 - June 6, 2026
Summer Studio Workshop
​July 26 - August 1, 2026 
Fall Studio Workshop
September 20 - 26, 2026 
We’ll begin with an informal meet-and-greet on Sunday evening. Supper will be served, so please plan to arrive around 5:30 PM.
If you’re bringing a guest for supper, please inform Antoinette in advance so we can plan enough food.
The evening will include:
  • A group discussion on porcelain and pottery
  • Time to get to know one another
  • Sharing images of your work or a finished piece
  • Optional group evaluation of your pottery by Antoinette

WORKSHOP CANCELLATION POLICY

Studio and workshop arrangements

Workshop Timeline 
This schedule is flexible and may shift based on group needs and studio flow.

Sunday – Meet & Greet 5:30-8:30 PM
  • Group introductions and getting to know one another
  • Discussion of pots from Antoinette’s collection
  • Open conversation about pottery and porcelain

Monday – Understanding Porcelain
  • Discussion: The character and behavior of porcelain
  • Demo: Pinch pot technique

Demo – Wheel Throwing
  • V-shape bowl (and U-shape bowl if time permits)
  • Focus on interior and exterior form—good design prevents slumping in the firing
  • Practice both forms and keep one to trim and alter
Demo – Hand Building
  • Making and working with slabs
  • Hand-builders will create V and/or U bowls and sculpted envelope forms
  • Practice turning these into finished objects
  • Keep one of each (including slab elements for the envelope vase)

Tuesday – Tools, Trimming & First Altering
Demo Topics:
  • Porcelain tools: making and buying
  • Trimming right-side up
  • Joining and altering the envelope form
  • First altering session for both hand builders and wheel throwers
Wheel Throwers:
  • Keep work well covered
  • Continue throwing practice
  • Begin trimming right-side up (afternoon)
  • Finish pinch bowls
Hand Builders:
  • Finish pinch bowls
  • Complete basic V and U bowls
  • Join envelope elements and begin altering

Wednesday – Altering & Carving
Demos:
  • Altering and carving porcelain
  • Throwing a wide bowl or tall bottle
  • Review of porcelain’s key characteristics
All Potters:
  • Continue working on two bowls and the envelope vase
  • Focus on altering and carving
  • Your work is entering a critical stage—cover carefully to prevent cracking
Thursday – Refinement & Completion
  • Demo: Advanced altering and carving
  • Q&A session
  • All potters work simultaneously on projects
  • Practice multiple techniques
  • Push toward finishing key pieces

Friday – Finishing & Bisque Firing
  • Final work on all pieces
  • Antoinette will demonstrate by request throughout the day
  • Open Q&A
By 3:00 PM:
  • All work goes into the bisque firing
  • Studio cleanup and return of tools/equipment
Friday Evening:
  • Slide show by Antoinette
  • Group discussion and final questions
  • Group supper (potluck or eating out—group decides)

Saturday – Wrap-Up
  • Discussion: Firing and glazing techniques
  • Troubleshooting cracking
  • Pick up bisque work
  • Final questions and answers
  • Group photo
  • Goodbyes around noon
Each potter will receive:
  • 10 lbs of clay included with the workshop (additional clay may be purchased in the studio)
  • A set of studio tools suitable for porcelain (to be used during the week and returned afterward)​
Wheel-throwing sessions include
  • Pinching exercises to get familiar with the clay
  • Throwing specific bowl forms
  • Altering bowls
  • Guided wheel practice
  • Altering bowls
  • Carving bowls
  • If time allows, some hand-building techniques
Hand-building sessions include
  • Pinching exercises to get familiar with the clay
  • Slab-building an envelope bowl
  • Building a bowl form (time permitting)
  • Practicing essential hand-building techniques

​Studio process and workshop flow
Antoinette will demonstrate each technique, and potters will follow step by step
  • By Wednesday evening, most making should be complete
  • Work will stay covered while altering and carving takes place
  • The studio is heat- and air-controlled, so be mindful of clay drying too quickly
  • Potters will reclaim their clay throughout the week
Some potters will explore both wheel throwing and hand building.

Studio Rules & Guidelines
The studio opens daily at 8:00 a.m. — coffee will be ready in the kitchen.
Classes run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a lunch break from 12:00–1:00 p.m. We will order food; everyone pays for their own meal (Venmo is available for convenience).
The studio closes at 6:30 p.m. This gives you 1.5 hours of independent practice time each evening, Monday through Thursday. During this time, there must be at least two potters present. Antoinette will not count as one of the two.

Meals & Kitchen UseYou are responsible for your own breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with the exception of Sunday night supper, which is provided.
Friday night will be either a potluck in the kitchen or a group dinner out.
Please inform Antoinette in advance of any food allergies or dietary needs.
Guests are welcome to join Sunday supper—just let us know ahead of time so we can plan accordingly.
The kitchen is available for preparing simple meals (salads, sandwiches, etc.), and you’re welcome to gather there anytime for group meals.

Photography & Video
You are welcome to take photos and ​short video clips during the workshop. Please share them with Antoinette, as she uses them for promotional purposes. If you post on social media, please tag her.
Koos will also be taking photos and videos throughout the week. If you do not wish to be included, please let him know upfront. If no objection is made, we’ll take that as your consent.

Traveling & housing options for Saltillo workshops
Saltillo is 4 miles north of Tupelo, Mississippi. There is a direct flight from Nashville airport to Tupelo Regional Airport with Contour. Rent-a-car facilities are available at the airport.
Boarding
Try to stay in a hotel or B&B either downtown Tupelo or on the northern side of Mainstreet. These hotels will bring you within a15-minute drive to Antoinettes’ studio in Saltillo in the heart of business.
Hotels in Tupelo | Air BnB Tupelo 
Choose a place closer to the Northern side of Tupelo to be within 15 minutes away from my studio. ​Anyone that has special needs, please let Antoinette know so that she can be on the lookout for your needs. 
​There are camping facilities about 3 miles away from the studio at ​Campgrounds at Barnes Crossing
Nashville to Tupelo Regional Airport
Uber, Lyft in Tupelo, MS.
Rent a car at the Tupelo airport
 The PDF below is available for download to your documents
Student material list- Studio Hands-on workshops
File Size: 412 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Carving porcelain requires good planning. This jug below was hand-built. Antoinette enjoys music in the background while she is working on her artwork. This Jug is available in Jugs in her Shop
Picture
Porcelain potters in Antoinette's studio in Saltillo Mississippi

Past ​porcelain workshops in the United States. 

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