Surface Design Pottery Workshop in Santa Monica

Explore Texture, Pattern & Color on Clay at ARTime BARRO

Join us for a hands-on surface design pottery workshop in Santa Monica at ARTime BARRO, led by ceramic artist Hank. This immersive ceramics class focuses on transforming clay through texture, carving, pattern, and color, using surface as the primary design element.

Rather than building forms from scratch, this workshop is dedicated entirely to ceramic surface decoration techniques. By working on pre-made forms, students can focus fully on mark-making, layering, and visual composition — from bold graphic lines to organic, gestural textures.

Each participant will work with a pre-made leather-hard 8 oz ceramic cup and matching dish, prepared by the studio in advance. These forms are at the ideal stage for sgraffito carving, wax resist, and underglaze application, allowing for detailed surface work without compromising structure.

Throughout the workshop, Hank will demonstrate and guide students through key contemporary ceramic surface techniques, including:

• Sgraffito & Colored Inlay
  Carve through layered colored slip to reveal contrasting clay beneath, creating crisp lines, illustrative patterns, and expressive textures.

• Wax Resist & Surface Abrasion
  Apply wax to disrupt the surface and create areas of contrast, negative space, and visual tension.

• Underglaze & Colored Slip Application
  Layer color over texture to enhance depth, movement, and graphic impact.

Examples of finished surface work — featuring organic botanical carving, abstract mark-making, graphic patterning, and painterly color application — will be available for inspiration throughout the session.

All finished pieces will be clear-glazed and kiln-fired by the studio. Your completed cup and dish will be ready for pickup approximately four weeks after the workshop.

This surface design ceramics workshop is ideal for beginners curious about decoration and intermediate students looking to expand their ceramic design language in a focused, creative environment.

Workshop Details

• Event Type: Surface Design Pottery Workshop / Ceramics Class

• Instructor: Hank

• Location: ARTime BARRO – Santa Monica, CA

• Dates: Thursday, February 26th or March 26th

• Time: 6:30–8:30 PM

• Skill Level: Beginner friendly / Intermediate preferred

• Ages: 13+ welcome

• Capacity: Minimum 5 / Maximum 10 participants

• Price: $70 per person

Includes:

• Pre-made leather-hard 8 oz ceramic cup + matching dish

• All tools, materials, slips, and underglazes

• Clear glazing and kiln firing by the studio