Handbuilding Playfully with Laura Williams
Details
Nov 01, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Morning Ceramics Studio, 239 SE 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, USA
About the class
Instructor: Laura Williams
Spend two days exploring the expressive process of pinching and coiling with Chicago Artist, Laura Williams. We'll learn to create uniquely playful pots using our most fundamental tool, our hands!
Day 1:
We will open with a chat around Laura’s artistic ethos & ideation process before diving into hands-on making! We’ll kick off by preparing, building & shaping our clay forms, pulling from & marrying various handbuilding slab techniques, watching them play & intermingle! We’ll continue, attaching, darting, and texturizing, as we watch our ideas transform from concepts to reality, all before putting them to bed for the night (and giving them a little kiss on the forehead, while we’re at it!)
Day 2:
With our pieces firmed up a little, we'll spend the second day evolving & dressing up our vessels with decorative coils, highlighting the beauty of leaving our personal marks and imperfections on our work. We’ll add attachments, appendages, and additions (oh my!) to balance our pieces, before tying up all the little loose ends for final touches and decorating - using a mix of terra sigillata & underglaze, two of Laura’s favorite methods.
Ideal for all skill levels, this playful & expressive 2-day workshop is perfect for first-timers, long-timers, and anyone looking to breathe a fresh breath of air into their ongoing process.
Experience recommended: None!
What to bring: Clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, hand towel, apron, and a notebook & pen.
What's included: All materials & tools for use during the workshop.
What you'll be making: 1-2 illustrated vessels, up to 6/8” tall or wide.
Firing: Studio will bisque fire pieces after the workshop, ready for pick up within 2 weeks!
Additional notes & resources:
Additional work time: Students may take work home to finish*, or additional studio time is available for purchase.
Glaze & Glaze Firing: Discounted rates available for glaze-pass access & outside firing (glaze and/or *greenware finished at home).
Schedule: Saturday November 1, 11am to 5pm & Sunday November 2, 11am to 5pm. Both days will include an optional lunch break at ~1:30pm
Laura's Website: laurawilliamsstudio.com
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please let us know 7 days before your class/workshop begins. We are unable to offer refunds, transfers, or exchanges within 7 days of the start of a class/workshop for any reason. Any refunds issued are subject to a 5% processing fee.
Accessibility Accommodations
We are committed to making our space accessible and inclusive for all participants.
Studio Access: Our main entrance includes a set of steps. However, an alternative accessible entrance is available upon request.
Transportation of Clay: The average weight of a new bag of clay is 25 pounds. We are prepared to assist if you require assistance with transporting heavier items.
If you require any accessibility accommodations, mentioned above or otherwise, we kindly ask that you notify us prior to the start of class. This allows us to make the necessary arrangements in advance to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for everyone.
For accommodation requests or questions, please contact us at hello@morningceramics.com.
Minimum Age
Participants must be 16 years or older.
Sign up
HB Playfully (Nov 1+2)
Tickets for this workshop are available on a sliding scale. • Supporter: Pay a little extra to help expand access — every dollar you give above the standard price is matched by the studio 1:1 to fund subsidized tickets. • Standard: The regular ticket price that helps cover the full cost of the workshop. • Subsidized: A reduced-cost ticket made possible by our community and studio support, to keep art accessible for more people.
From $180.00 to $285.00
$285.00
$250.00
$180.00
Total
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