If you already have experience with hand-building and are looking for new techniques to refine and develop your craft, this five-week modeling course at Fresh Ceramics is perfect for you!

This course is designed for those with a solid foundation in hand-building who want to expand their skills. It’s ideal for Open-Studio members and anyone who has completed at least one basic ceramics course and is now ready to tackle more complex projects and advanced techniques. Whether you have a specific project idea in mind or simply want to challenge yourself with new methods, this course will help you bring your creative vision to life.

What You Will Learn
Perhaps you’ve had a particular ceramic idea in your mind for a long time – a sculpture, a decorative object, or a functional piece for your home or garden. This course gives you the opportunity to turn your vision into reality while refining your craftsmanship with expert guidance.

We will work with a variety of clays, including Paperclay, highly grogged clays, and even Porcelain. Each of these materials has unique properties suited for different types of projects. Additionally, we will explore mixed-media techniques, where you can incorporate other materials into your ceramic work to create unique and expressive pieces.

Course Structure and Highlights
This course combines hands-on practice with theoretical knowledge of ceramic art. Our experienced instructor, Andrea, will guide you through the entire creative process, helping you gain a deeper understanding of ceramic techniques, surface decoration, glazing methods, and firing processes – all while developing your artistic style.

Advanced Hand-Building Techniques
Throughout the course, we will focus on advanced methods such as slab construction and coil pottery. You’ll learn how to creatively combine these techniques to create intricate and detailed forms.

Surface Decoration and Glazing
Surface finishing is a crucial part of any ceramic project. You will experiment with textures, apply engobes (colored slips), and use different glazing techniques to give your pieces a personal and unique touch.

Firing Process
Understanding the firing process is essential. We will cover different types of firings – from bisque to high-firing – and discuss how each stage affects the final outcome of your ceramic work.

Course Schedule and Overview

Day 1 – Introduction and Project Planning
We will start by getting to know each other and discussing your ideas and projects. If you’re unsure of what to create, you can browse through ceramic books and magazines for inspiration. You’ll then sketch out your ideas or create small clay models to visualize them. After that, we will plan the approach and prepare materials.

Day 2 – Advanced Hand-Building Techniques
This week focuses on slab construction and coil pottery. You’ll gain confidence in using these techniques to create more complex forms and structures for your project.

Day 3 – Refinement and Surface Treatment
Once your piece has taken shape, it’s time to refine it. You will learn how to hollow out, reassemble, and perfect your work. We’ll then move on to surface treatments – adding textures, applying engobes, or experimenting with mixed-media elements. This is when your piece truly starts to come alive.

During the next two weeks, your work will be carefully dried and prepared for its first firing (bisque firing) at 960°C.

Day 4 – Glazing and Decoration
In this session, we will focus on the final decorative steps. You will glaze your pieces or experiment with alternative finishing techniques like cold painting. We will also begin planning a small pop-up exhibition, where you can invite family and friends to see your work.

After this class, your pieces will undergo high firing at 1200°C over the next two weeks.

Day 5 – Pop-Up Exhibition and Presentation
The final session is all about showcasing your finished work in a pop-up exhibition at the Fresh Ceramics studio “How to do Art!”. This is your chance to display your pieces and celebrate your creative journey. You will also gain insight into professional presentation techniques – a mini-gallery experience!

Course Details
Duration: 3 hours per session, once a week for 5 weeks (same day & time)
Instructor: Andrea – an experienced and valued ceramic artist from our Fresh Ceramics Team
Target Audience: This course is for anyone with prior hand-building experience who wants to explore advanced techniques and deepen their knowledge of ceramics.

Location NEUBAU
Westbahnstraße 18, 1070 Vienna

Course costs
480 €/person

Language of the course
This course is held in German.
All our instructors also speak English if required.

This intensive course is the perfect opportunity to expand your creative skills and explore new techniques. You will not only gain in-depth technical knowledge of ceramics but also learn how to create complex and detailed works while refining your artistic vision.

We look forward to guiding you on your creative journey!