Six Week Surface Design | Friday Mornings

Day: Fridays Time: 10:00pm - 12:00pm Cost: $480 Location: 244 Commercial St., Nevada City, CA 95959 Workshop Description: Join Diana for a hands-on, six week journey into the art of surface design on clay. Each week, explore a new technique to build layered, expressive, and visually rich surfaces. Begin with one-color stencils, then dive into multi-color layering, and learn how to combine stencils with low-tech newsprint transfers. Explore expressive mark making through drawing, etching, and Mishima inlay. Whether you're new to surface design or looking to expand your skill set, this workshop will give you the tools and inspiration to transform your clay work. Week 1: One-Color Stencils – Three Ways In this first session, you'll learn how to turn your own artwork into beautiful, reusable stencils. Diana will guide you through choosing materials, transferring and cutting your designs, and using your stencils to create both positive and negative images. We’ll explore ideal clay choices, and cover the best timing and techniques for successful application. Week 2: Multi-Color Stencils on Clay In our second week, we’ll take your stencil work to the next level by layering multiple colors to add depth and richness to your surfaces. Diana will demonstrate how to enhance and build on your stencil imagery for more dynamic results. Week 3: Newsprint Transfers In our third week, we’ll dive into the art of newsprint transfer—a fun, low-tech method for transferring hand-drawn or printed imagery onto clay using underglaze or slip and newsprint paper. You’ll learn how to create layered, expressive surfaces with a beautifully weathered, handmade feel. We’ll work on both flat and curved forms, and explore how this technique can be combined with stenciling for even richer surface design. Week 4: Mishima Inlay For our fourth week we’ll explore Mishima inlay technique where the surface of clay is carved or incised and then filled with colored slip to create fine lines or patterns that lay flush with the clay surface. Diana will discuss the clay best body to use as well as share methods and tools to achieve crisp lines and clean surfaces. Week 5: Drawing, Etching Diana will share her approach to drawing on clay, including how to prepare your surfaces and transfer your designs with ease. You’ll explore expressive mark making through two techniques: Diana’s signature “etching in clay” method. We’ll discuss how to choose the right tools for your style and how to use them to create unique, emotive line work that brings your pieces to life. Week 6: Combining Techniques For our final week, Diana will demonstrate how to combine all the surface treatments we learned together to create depth and interest to your clay surfaces. We’ll cover timing and order for each surface application.