Miniature Madness (Nov/Dec) 2026

Service Description

Thursdays @ 6:15-8:45PM, November 5 -December 17 **No class on November 23-29** Clayroom SoMa Session 8: Miniature Madness Description: In this project-based class, students will be guided in the creation of a miniature universe. The projects will encourage students to experiment and reflect on the power of scale and its role in perspective. Through a variety of handbuilding and surface design techniques, students will create a visually cohesive series of miniatures. By the end of the course, students will have a themed set of miniatures and a vessel in which to house them. This course is perfect for beginners and those with some ceramics experience looking to create something more imaginative. Tools & Materials Please bring a sketchbook to plan and record your progress! Feel free to bring any tools you may already have and want to use. Required: N95 Mask Week 1: Introductions & Project Planning Discuss class overview, syllabus, goals, and timeline. Brainstorm ideas, sketch, and plan projects. Create a simple pinch pot for firing mini bisque pieces and begin working. Demo: pinch pots Discuss: handling small amounts of clay, helpful tools Week 2: Workday & Textures Individual check-in. Projects should be mocked up by the start of class! Discuss: different ways to achieve textures Week 3: Workday & Surface Design Individual check-in. Progress of miniatures’ “house,” troubleshooting. Demo & Discussion: Detail work (attaching vs. carving, texturing clay, using different slips, utilizing clay at different stages to yield specific results). Sgraffito, mishima, slip trailing. *Glaze Discussion–If you have no ceramic experience, we will talk glazes during this class Week 4: Workday (Final greenware week) Individual check-in. Container ready to bisque, miniatures in progress but almost done. Everything must be ready to bisque at the end of class. Work will be pushed into the kilns to be ready by the next class. Week 5: Final Glaze Day Individual check-in. All miniatures and containers should be ready to glaze today! Discuss: Finishing techniques, underglaze vs. glaze, celadons, glossy/satin/matte/satin matte glazes. Week 6: Critique/Potluck & Lustre Firing Day Discuss projects, reflect, receive and give feedback! Please bring your sketches to showcase progress of your project. Paint on lustre! All pieces must be finished by the end of class, we will only be doing one lustre firing.