Previous Workshops at Easthampton Clay

Saturday, March 9 & 23 | 4-6PM
The concept of “centering” is a crucial foundation of both pottery wheelthrowing and mindfulness practice. In this class students will gain basic knowledge of wheelthrowing technique while utilizing that lens as a means of better applying principles of mindfulness in their daily lives.

During the two-part Mindfulness and Wheelthrowing workshop, students will be introduced to the technical aspects of wheelthrowing, utilizing the basic principles of mindfulness to develop a healthy throwing practice.

Students will learn how to center clay, utilize the wheel and clay tools and make basic ceramic forms. While learning these techniques, students will also be provided instruction on creating a mindfulness toolkit that can be adapted to their lives both in and out of the clay studio.

February 9th | 6-8PM

Join us for an evening of light! Participants will be hand building a unique ceramic luminary that is sure to brighten your home this winter.

A portion of proceeds from this workshop will be donated to the Children's Advocacy Center of Hampshire County, an organization dear to Easthampton Clay's heart that services children and families in need of therapeutic healing. All materials are included in the cost of the workshop, and EHC will inform participants when their work is fired and ready for pickup.

January 13 & 27 | 10AM-12:30PM
Join us for this one of a kind, two-part stamp making workshop! Participants will learn all of the steps required to make unique stamps from scratch, and put them to use while creating a beautiful handbuilt mug! January 13th will cover the creation of your stamps using greenware clay. On January 27th participants return to hand build mugs and to apply their finished stamps to their creations. All materials are included in the cost of the workshop.

Workshop stamps inspired by Canadian artist Sarah Pike and will be instructed by Easthampton Clay member Lisa Cappello.

February 24th | 10-11:30AM
We are so excited to welcome kids and their parents to our studio for the first of our parent-child workshop series! Kids and their adults will work independently and collaboratively to handbuild a fun filled clay project under the instruction of their teacher. Registration covers the cost of one child and one parent or guardian. All materials are included in the cost of the workshop, and participants will receive a heads up from Easthampton Clay when their platters are fully fired and ready for pick up.

(Ages 6-16, and parents).

March 15 & 29th | 5:30-8:30PM
CURRENT EASTHAMPTON CLAY STUDENTS & MEMBERS ONLY: EHC community members are invited to join Kayla McFarland (of Cultivation Clay) for a special 2 part surface design series. Participants will explore foundational and advanced techniques, from slip trailing to water etching, sgraffito carving, wax resist, various glaze methods and more. On March 15th students will work with wet/green clay before returning for bisque design on March 29th. All tile materials are included in the cost of the workshop.

Friday, April 5, 2024 | 6-8PM

Join us for this one of a kind Passover Seder plate workshop (inspired by Rebecca Kahan), just in time for Passover. During the seder, we don’t just tell the story of the Exodus, we see, smell, feel, and taste liberation. Using traditional handbuilding techniques, we will create a beautiful heirloom plate for the center of your table. We will provide stencils to help hold the items which symbolize the Passover story. All tools and materials are included in this workshop. You will be able to choose a beautiful glaze of your choice and your work will be ready for pick up in time for Passover!

Saturday, May 4th | 10AM-12PM

This workshop makes the perfect Mother’s Day gift or early celebration! Join us for this 2 hour workshop where we’ll be constructing a beautiful flower vase, just in time for Mom’s day. Using handbuilding and surface design techniques, participants will work with handbuilding teacher, celebrated ceramicist and Easthampton Clay owner, Liz Rodriguez, to create unique pieces and lifelong memories. All materials are included with the cost of this workshop and participants will be notified via email when their work is fully fired and ready for pick up.

Registration for this Mother’s Day workshop will be for 2 individuals; designed for Mom and her child (all ages welcome!) If you’re miles away from Mom this year, this would also make an excellent gift for her and a friend or family member to help make the holiday feel special despite your distance. BYOM (Bring Your Own Mom!)

(Ages 10+)

Saturday, April 6 | 10AM-12PM

Looking to get a handle on handles? This workshop is for you! In this workshop we take a deep dive into handle making. Participants will learn the proper way to securely attach handles, how to make handles uniquely your own, and we will explore the ergonomics and consider important functional aspects of a good handle. We will also show you some of our favorite handles! This workshop is designed for beginner to advanced potters who are familiar with their own ceramic practice and are looking for skill growth with their own handle practice. Please note that we will not be producing or firing any completed pieces in this workshop; this is strictly a skill building opportunity for those who are looking to advance their form. All materials will be provided with the cost of this workshop and participants are welcome to take home and/or repurpose their handles/clay at the end of this workshop.

Saturday, May 25 | 10AM-12PM

Our most popular Spring workshop is back! Join us for a fun evening in our studio, where participants will learn to handbuild a functional birdhouse in a style that's unique to them. Explore surface design techniques and traditional handbuilding skills to construct this sweet birdhouse for your back yard, porch or home. Participants will be able to select a glaze color of their choice that we will finish your piece in once fired. All materials are included in the cost of this workshop.

Saturday, August 3rd | 10AM-12PM
Nothing says summer like a fresh bowl of berries! In this workshop participants will construct a handbuilt berry-bowl colander, perfect for washing and serving your favorite summer fruits. All materials will be included in the cost of the workshop and participants will select their preferred glaze color. Easthampton Clay will fire and finish your pieces and email participants when their work is ready for pick up.

Saturday, August 17th 10AM-12PM

This workshop is designed for makers of all skill levels, particularly those who are looking to revive their inspiration and build a solid foundation for approaching creativity, developing design ideas and translating them onto your pottery. Join multidisciplinary artist and instructor Shamara Elizabeth for an exploration of drawing techniques and color theory, and learn how they can inform and improve your ceramics practice. Shamara will help guide you through the process of developing a design idea and finding a style that’s unique to you. Please note that this workshop will largely focus on creative mapping and less on clay work. Participants will not be working towards a completed clay project for this workshop.

Friday, September 20th | 6-8PM
Kick start the season for all things creepy and crawly with this MONSTER MASH of a workshop! Participants will be guided through a sculptural handbuilding project to create a monster creature in a style that’s entirely their own. Instructor Liz Rodriguez will set participants up with the foundational knowledge for handbuilding and ceramic sculpture that will leave participants with a graveyard smash of a monster project! This workshop will be an (optional) COSTUME CONTEST, so get your costumes ready early this year! The winner of the contest will receive a stipend for a free workshop at Easthampton Clay.

Saturday, October 5th | 10AM-11:30AM

Celebrate the spookiest season with clay! Join us for a handbuilding workshop, in which participants will be guided to create their very own ghost lanterns. These lanterns will be constructed from slabs and decorated in your own unique style. Easthampton Clay will fire and glaze your lanterns, and we will reach out once they're ready to be picked up. All ages (7y/o+) welcome, but please note children registered must have a parent also registered and present for this workshop.

Saturday, November 9th | 10AM-12pm
During this workshop, parents and their little ones will each be instructed through the creation of their own unique turkey sculptures! Your ceramic turkeys will function as candle holders for the holiday season, making the perfect centerpieces for your Thanksgiving table. Registration covers you and your little one, with the option to add an additional child. Each participant (parent & child) will walk away with their own ceramic turkey project. Easthampton Clay will fire and glaze your pieces for you!