Level 1 | Nerikomi Masterclass: Colour and Pattern in Clay with Ciara Neufeldt | 2 Days

Join artist Ciara Neufeldt for a colourful two-day masterclass exploring the vibrant technique of Nerikomi, where patterns are created by layering and combining coloured clay rather than decorating the surface. Throughout the weekend, October 17th & 18th from 10:30 - 4:30pm, Ciara will guide students through the complete Nerikomi process, sharing demonstrations, practical tips, and individual guidance as you learn how to create your own patterned clay from scratch. You'll discover how colour, composition, and precision come together to produce striking geometric and organic designs that run all the way through the clay body. What You'll Learn: Across the two days, you'll explore the foundations of Nerikomi, including: Colouring clay: Learn how to stain stoneware using ceramic pigments to create a vibrant palette of coloured clay. Making patterned canes: Create a range of classic Nerikomi patterns including stripes, checks, gingham, swirls, gradients, and floral designs. Pattern blocks: Combine your individual canes into larger pattern blocks, ready to be sliced and incorporated into functional work. Slab building with Nerikomi: Apply your patterned clay to create a unique slab-built mug while learning techniques for construction, finishing, and preserving your designs. Planning future projects: Learn how to store and preserve your patterned canes so they can be used in future work long after the workshop has finished. This workshop is suitable for Level 1 and Level 2 students. While no previous experience of Nerikomi is required, participants should have some experience working with clay and be comfortable with basic hand-building techniques. About the Artist: Ciara Neufeldt is a participatory artist, craftsperson and facilitator. Her practice centres on bringing a moment of joy and celebration to everyday life, through clay workshops and functional large-scale ceramic installations. She specialises in the technique ‘Nerikomi’, infusing her work with bright colour and playful patterns. Her work is made with the intention of creating accessibility to art in our daily lives, by reimagining public spaces and the objects in them. She is consistently working towards collaborative and socially-engaged practices, through making with other people, artists and communities. She was the 2025 Adobe x V&A Creative Resident in Mosaic and Ceramic Tilework and is one of Glasgow Life’s 2026/2027 ‘Artist in Communities’.