Antoinette's Ceramic Workshops
Antoinette offers several ways to learn and explore clay, from online instruction and hands-on porcelain workshops in her Mississippi studio to workshops and presentations at venues across the United States and internationally. She also works with schools, organizations and special-interest groups through educational and creative programs.
Antoinette's online ceramic workshops offer structured instruction that students can follow from their own studios and at their own pace. Courses include understanding porcelain, wheel throwing and handbuilding, as well as glazing for complete beginners and introductory handbuilding with stoneware and earthenware clay bodies.
Antoinette works with students and teachers through clay and arts-integrated learning experiences. Programs can introduce pottery processes while encouraging creativity, problem solving and connections between art and other areas of learning.
Antoinette presents hands-on porcelain workshops from her studio in Saltillo, Mississippi. Participants can work with wheel throwing, handbuilding, altering and carving while developing a better understanding of porcelain and its particular characteristics. Workshop groups are kept small to allow for individual guidance.
Special Events with Antoinette
Special events can take many forms, from short hands-on clay experiences and group activities to demonstrations, presentations and inspirational programs. Antoinette works with community groups, artists, organizations and special-interest groups to develop an experience suited to the occasion.
If you have an idea for a special event, presentation or group experience, please contact Antoinette to discuss what may be possible.
If you have an idea for a special event, presentation or group experience, please contact Antoinette to discuss what may be possible.
Antoinette has presented hands-on porcelain workshops at studios, pottery guilds and ceramic centers across the United States and internationally. Each venue and group is different, offering opportunities to share her understanding of porcelain with potters from many backgrounds and levels of experience
Antoinette presents porcelain workshops, demonstrations and presentations for studios, pottery guilds and ceramic organizations. Workshop formats and content can be adapted to suit the interests of the group and the host studio.
Antoinette's Journey with Porcelain
I began working with porcelain in the early 1990s. At the time, I often heard that porcelain was a very difficult clay body to work with. When I finally made my first porcelain bowl on the potter's wheel, I wondered what all the fuss was about. I loved the smoothness of the clay and continued exploring it, making glazed work as well as pit-fired porcelain bottles, bowls and sculptural pieces.
Of course, porcelain had much more to teach me.
In 2005, I began exploring translucency more seriously and wanted to sculpt thin porcelain bowls. As I pushed the material further, I began encountering problems I had not experienced before. My bowls cracked, warped and sometimes failed completely. What went into the kiln came out very differently. I wanted to understand why. That search took me deeper into the history and character of porcelain and, eventually, into understanding why this beautiful material behaves the way it does.
My search for answers gradually became something I wanted to share with other potters. In 2007, my first article about the character of porcelain was published in Pottery Making Illustrated. Since then, I have continued writing, researching, experimenting and teaching what I have learned through articles, online courses and hands-on workshops in my own studio, across the United States and internationally.
Of course, porcelain had much more to teach me.
In 2005, I began exploring translucency more seriously and wanted to sculpt thin porcelain bowls. As I pushed the material further, I began encountering problems I had not experienced before. My bowls cracked, warped and sometimes failed completely. What went into the kiln came out very differently. I wanted to understand why. That search took me deeper into the history and character of porcelain and, eventually, into understanding why this beautiful material behaves the way it does.
My search for answers gradually became something I wanted to share with other potters. In 2007, my first article about the character of porcelain was published in Pottery Making Illustrated. Since then, I have continued writing, researching, experimenting and teaching what I have learned through articles, online courses and hands-on workshops in my own studio, across the United States and internationally.
What to expect from Antoinette's workshops
My workshops are not simply about learning a series of techniques. I want potters to understand why porcelain behaves the way it does, so that they can recognize problems and make informed decisions when they arise. I encourage them to develop their own processes and a style that is uniquely based on their own ideas and experiences.
Demonstrations, discussion and hands-on practice work together. I encourage questions and problem solving, and I work with participants individually as they explore techniques and develop their work. Individualism is important to me, and I help potters build their own stories. This can only happen once they have a better understanding of the material and the confidence to take that knowledge back into their own studio.
Demonstrations, discussion and hands-on practice work together. I encourage questions and problem solving, and I work with participants individually as they explore techniques and develop their work. Individualism is important to me, and I help potters build their own stories. This can only happen once they have a better understanding of the material and the confidence to take that knowledge back into their own studio.
Mentoring and porcelain consultation
Antoinette also works individually with potters who need guidance with a particular porcelain problem or want to develop their understanding and working processes. Consultations may include porcelain faults and remedies, clay bodies, making processes, glazing and firing, or discussion around the development of individual work.
Individual consultations are a fee-based service and can take place online or, when practical, in Antoinette's studio. Please contact Antoinette with a brief description of what you would like to discuss. If a consultation is appropriate, the fee and arrangements will be confirmed before an appointment is scheduled.
Individual consultations are a fee-based service and can take place online or, when practical, in Antoinette's studio. Please contact Antoinette with a brief description of what you would like to discuss. If a consultation is appropriate, the fee and arrangements will be confirmed before an appointment is scheduled.