In this workshop, you’ll be guided through the process of hand-building with clay - working with slabs, molds, and a special cut-out glazing technique to create your own sculptural vessel.

You’ll move from concept to creation, transforming flat clay slabs into an expressive piece that goes beyond function.

This workshop is for anyone who wants to deepen their handbuilding practice and explore a more sculptural approach to form. Each participant will create a vessel of around 20 cm in height. But more than that, you’ll leave with the tools and confidence to continue exploring hand-building beyond this workshop.

Course Program:
Day 1 – Concept & Sketch
We begin with ideas, references, and quick sketches - finding direction through form, proportion, and personal approach. You’ll see how architectural thinking can meet intuitive making.

Day 2 – Slab Preparation & Construction
Learn how to prepare slabs and translate your design into three dimensions. We’ll cut and build the basic shapes, focusing on balance, flow, and structural clarity as your vessel starts to take shape.

Day 3 – Building Up & Refining
We assemble and refine the forms - combining elements, shaping details, and working the surface to strengthen both form and expression.

Day 4 – Glazing & Cut-Out Technique (two weeks later)
After bisque firing, you’ll return to glaze your piece and learn Lena's special cut-out glazing method — adding rhythm, lightness, and contrast to your final form.

Dates 2025:

✹ November – With Lena (en/de)
Sat 01/11 – 14:00–17:00 – Concept & Sketch
Sat 08/11 – 14:00–17:00 – Slab Prep & Construction
Sun 09/11 – 14:00–17:00 – Building & Refining
Sat 22/11 – 14:00–17:00 – Glazing & Cut-Out Technique

About the teacher:
Lena is a trained architect who found clay as a creative outlet, after years in the fast-paced industry. Her work is sculptural and hand-built, combining architectural clarity with playful, tactile detail. While her background shaped how she sees design and proportion, clay taught her to follow feeling over function - and that working with your hands can change how you see the world.

Address:
Heckscherstraße 50A
20253 Hamburg

Garage entrance between the numbers 50 and 52 – brown door passing the metal gate :)

Disclaimers:
✹ The workshop is in English (German is also possible).
✹ Each participant will take home one vessel, approx. 20 cm in height.
✹ Pieces will be ready 2-4 weeks after the end of the course.
✹ All materials are included in the price.
✹ Some prior experience with clay is helpful as we’ll move beyond basic techniques and into more complex constructions but all levels are welcome.

Cancellation policy:
✹ Full refund is possible if the course is canceled up to 3 months before the starting date.
✹ After that, a refund of 50% is possible, or rebooking to a later workshop – if available.
✹ In the case of cancellation within less than 30 days before the start of the course, unfortunately, a refund isn’t possible anymore and the reservation will be lost.