Workshops

VISITING WORKSHOPS

The Potters School hosts a variety of workshops throughout the year. Workshops are presented by visiting artists as well as our staff, studio members and potters enrolled in our Internship and Residency Programs.

Recent Visiting Artist Workshops have included:

  • Exploring Naked Raku with Wally Asselberghs and Sue Morse
  • Light and Energy: Porcelain Secrets with Monika Armbruster
  • Throwing and Handbuilding with Leo van de Heyden and Domi Gruszecka
  • Workshop manipulation & building with slabs  Lisa Floryshak

Raku Workshops 

The studio holds monthly studio member only Raku firings in our state of the art Raku site throughout the year. Raku workshops can also be scheduled for your group, studio, guild, school, co-op, etc.  See the description below. Our Raku facilities include 7 propane fired kilns of various sizes in a spacious firing area complete with all equipment, materials, and supplies. We can host up to 12 participants.


Raku Workshops are led by our experienced staff and consist of a supervised glazing and firing session. Glazing instruction includes an explanation and description of the available glazes, application, and various expected results. Firing instruction includes information on basic kiln theory, loading, firing in oxidation versus reduction atmospheres, and basic post-firing techniques. Due to the limited amount of time available and the often wide-ranging experience of participants, we will not cover advanced techniques or complicated individual approaches.

Workshops are limited to 12 participants. Each workshop consists of 1 hour of glazing and approximately 5 hours of firing. Two kilns, each with approx 18"Hx 23"W stacking dimensions, will be fired simultaneously for approximately 6 total kiln loads. To maximize the number of pieces fired, we encourage cylindrical shapes and discourage plates and wide bowls, Plates can be fired but they will be fired set on their edge which can cause warping. We will  fire as many pots as possible, but there is no guarantee that everything will be fired. It's better to bring more work than less.

All participants must come prepared for a safe experience: No sandals, no shorts, no polyester clothing, long hair must be tied back. We provide all glazing and firing materials and supplies, gloves, tongs, and all safety gear. 

Work should be made of "raku clay" in order to survive the process.  Steve and the rest of our studio mostly use the Laguna #250, as it has good working properties and can also be fired to cone 6.  Other clay bodies that will work are Standard #239 or #295, or Laguna #200. The #200 has very grog.  Whatever clay is used, we recommend that the work is fired to cone 08 to keep it optimally porous.

Glazing will be done at the beginning of the workshop at our studio.  We provide a variety of raku glazes, but participants are responsible for any extra decorative materials they may wish to use (wax resist, oxides, underglazes, etc).

With our guidance, participants are encouraged to take part in the firing to whatever degree they feel comfortable.  As this process involves hot kilns and open flames, everybody must be dressed safely-- long sleeves and pants, long hair pulled back, no polyester clothing, and closed-toed shoes (i.e., no sandals). 

Fees: $800 minimum covers all of the above. Firing session can be extended beyond the 5 hours. Each additional hour of firing time beyond 5 hours is $75. Scheduling: Weekdays only and workshops must be completed by 5 PM. Call for availability and scheduling.

Advanced and more comprehensive and extensive Raku workshops can be scheduled with our founder and Raku Master Steven Branfman. Please inquire.

 



Kids Workshops - Pottery Parties

Kids Parties: If you live in the nearby metro West MA area, we can come to you for a fun pottery birthday party! Parties can be arranged for all ages, including mixed ages. We will provide a teacher, tools, and materials for an hour of handbuilding. The project will be based on the ages of the participants. After the party, we will carefully dry, bisque, glaze, and glaze fire your work. Pieces are generally available for pick-up about a month after the party.

Site Requirements: To host a kids party, you need an appropriate workspace where we can get a little messy. We will need a sturdy washable table and seating and water nearby for handwashing and cleanup. The floor should be washable as well (no carpets, please). Some spaces that work well are kitchens, porches, decks, garages, or outside at a picnic table in nice weather.

Fees: $500 minimum fee includes up to 10 children and includes all materials and firing fee. Each additional  child up to a maximum of  15 is $50ea.


MEMBERS ONLY

 Upcoming Members-Only Workshops

Our monthly members-only workshops are presented exclusively for Potters School Studio Members and are free of charge. Only our monthly studio member Raku firings carry a firing fee. Please see our Membership page for more information on studio membership. There is a category for you!

**Workshops my be canceled due to lack of enrollment. Please call first before coming down to confirm the workshop is still on!

For a more detailed description of each workshop, visit the WORKSHOP PAGE!

To learn more about becoming a member to have access to our workshops, visit the MEMBERSHIP PAGE!

Up coming and past

Events and Workshops!

Studio Member Workshops are open & free of charge to all current studio members and students. Please note: Workshops will be cancelled due to severe weather or lack of interest. If you plan on attending a workshop please email us an RSVP as soon as possible.


Internationally known clay artist Steve Hilton recently presented this workshop

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Lids.....The Final Frontier

High ranking and esteemed staff member Sarah Whitlock demonstrated the fine art of making lids. If you would like to improve your lid making technically, aesthetically, and functionally, Sarah is a master.  Becoming adept at lids will improve and extend your skills at everything you do on the wheel. You can also be able to apply her demonstrations to hand building. 


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Get ready for the annual

Bowl-a-Thon Benefitting

Neighbors In Need

The 2024 Bowl-a-Thon is in the books

Be on the lookout for the 2025 event and  information about how you can help participate in this annual tradition.

For Studio Members

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Terra Sigillata/Saggar Firing  

with Shamai Gibsh

Master Potter and Teacher Shamai Gibsh. Shamai's work with terra sigillata and saggar firing in known throughout the world through his workshops and exhibitions. His recent book Terra Sigillata Smoke Fire & Clay is the definitive book on the method and technique.

Stay tuned for Shamai’s next visit

  Past Members-Only workshops have included:

  • Woodfiring at Noble and Greenough School
  • Kiln Info and Care with Steve Branfman
  • Making Handbuilt Aka(red) Raku Chawan with John Baymore
  • Oxides with Sarah Fuhro
  • Screen Printing on Clay with Karen Mahoney
  • Feet of Pots with Sarah Whitlock
  • Raku with Debbie Winnick
  • Slip Trailing with Jayne Raphael
  • Low-fire Techniques with Karen Mahoney
  • Big Birds: Thrown and Altered Sculpture with Sarah Whitlock
  • Bottle Workshop with Steve Branfman
  • Group Critique with Jaye Richards
  • The Air in There: Closed Forms with Sarah Whitlock

31 Thorpe Rd. Needham, MA 02494 USA     Phone: 781-449-7687       Fax: 781-449-9098    Email: PottersShop@aol.com     Hours: M-Th: 11-5 F: 10-4