Ceramics
Code: C1317-25
-
II
Level II
Students have a basic understanding of forming techniques, such as throwing and hand building. Students have taken one or two ceramics classes or workshops.
-
III
Level III
Students have significant experience with clay forming techniques, such as throwing, hand building and modeling. Students are comfortable with ceramics equipment, such as wheels, extruders and slab rollers. Students are self-starting with some formal training and have taken a minimum of three classes or workshops.
Patterned Vessels
Aug 25 - Sep 5, 2025
9AM-5PM
Concept
This workshop focuses on how to develop intricate patterns on vessel forms. Demonstrations begin with wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques and quickly move into surface treatments using inlaid colored slips on greenware. Using these techniques as a foundation, students experiment with patterns to create multi-layered and creative surfaces. All work is made in cone 5 clays and glaze fired using a clear glaze in the electric kilns. Students are encouraged to bring sketches and source materials that relate to forms and patterns. Students can choose wheel-throwing and hand-building.
Media & Techniques
Stoneware, color slip, underglaze, glaze, potter’s wheel, wheel-throwing, hand-building, carving, piercing, cone 6 oxidation
“At AMACO Brent we believe that creativity should be nurtured and accessible to everyone. That’s why we’re proud to donate materials to support the incredible workshops at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
Anderson Ranch offers workshops for artists of all ages a chance to explore, experiment, and express themselves through hands-on learning with clay. We’re honored to help provide the tools that make those experiences possible—and excited to see what the participants create!
Here’s to workshops full of inspiration, imagination, and art.”
Faculty
Matt Repsher
Matt Repsher’s exposure to art, design, and ceramics started early, learning from his father about making pots. He earned an MFA from Indiana University, and has taught at Indiana University and the University of New Mexico, as well as in workshops at Penland, Arrowmont, and Pocosin Arts. He was a resident at Pocosin Arts in 2015 and a long term resident at the Penland School of Craft from 2017 to 2020. He now has his studio in Santa Fe, NM.
Matt Repsher, Lantern
Ceramics
In 1966, American ceramicist Paul Soldner selected the site for what is now Anderson Ranch Arts Center, forming the foundation for a thriving ceramics program. Then and now, Anderson Ranch is a place where students exchange ideas and examine ceramic art and pottery techniques. It has always been a place where seminal moments of growth happen in an artist’s creative and critical thinking. Here, both beginning and emerging artists gain strong fundamental support, while established artists achieve new perspectives and advance their techniques.
The Ranch Ceramics team provides support, feedback and technical problem-solving, giving each artist the freedom to experiment and grow. Our primary focus is on personal advancement through a process of creative discovery.
The Soldner Ceramics Center makes up more than 10,000 square feet in three buildings with 3 studio spaces and 1 kiln yard; Soldner Studio, Long Studio, Sorenson Studio and Lyeth/Lyon Kiln Building. Soldner and Long studios are used for wheel-throwing, hand-building, or general ceramics creativity. Sorenson studio is equipped with five PotterBot 3d clay printers. The Lyeth/Lyon kiln building is equipped with gas, electric, soda and wood kilns for both oxidation and reduction firing at all temperature ranges. The Ranch offers three wood kilns including a gas/wood hybrid kiln, three gas reduction kilns, one soda kiln and eleven high-temperature electric kilns.
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a tuition discount* in summer one- or two-week adult ceramics workshops** for NCECA members at the student membership level or above. Please email reg@
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
For general information about studio access, shipping, and more, please visit our info page.
If you have any questions regarding your supplies for your workshop, please contact Joanne Seongweon Lee, [email protected].
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- Banding Wheel
- Kilns
- Scissors
- Water Buckets
- Wheel
Supplies
- Engobes
- Plastic for Covering Works
- The clay allowance is 125 pounds for this two-week workshop. Only the clays and glazes chosen for the workshop will be available for use, which are predetermined by the instructor. Please do not bring additional clay from your studio.
- Underglazes
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- 12 inch Ruler**
- Apron and/or Towel**
- Basic Pottery Tools**
- Favorite Handbuilding Tools**
- Favorite Pottery Tools From Your Home Studio
- MKM Decorating Disks 4 inch (DD-04)
- Respirator/N-99 Dust Mask**
- Sketchbook/Notebook**
- Stylus like Kemper DBSL**
- Variety of Brushes**
- X-acto Knife**
Optional Tools and Supplies
- Packing Materials**
- T-Shirt for Screen Printing**
- Underglazes. Anderson Ranch will provide a limited amount of underglazes. Students are welcome to bring their own.
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off. The store aims to stock comparable items, though specific products from the supply list may vary based on inventory.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Course fees includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of course fees for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Dec 1 - 12, 2025
Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM
Atmospheric Firing
Joanne Seongweon Lee
Tuition $2,260
Code C4925-25
Experience the vitality and camaraderie of atmospheric firing this winter in Anderson Ranch’s renowned kiln yard. We begin in the studios by making work, either hand-built or wheel-thrown, for soda firing and wood firing. Joanne Lee will demonstrate how to work with clay bodies, slips, and glazes tailored to various firing processes. Participants learn best practices for loading kilns and how to fire them. Open to all levels, this workshop is an opportunity to build skills and be immersed in a community of makers.
-
O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
-
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop, learn from the comfort of your own home.
Dec 4, 2025
6:00PM MST
10AM JST, December 5th
All Virtual Ceramics Workshops are 2-2.5 hours long
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
Seeking a New Line: Experimenting with Form and Color in Ceramic Sculpture
En Iwamura
Tuition $60
Code VFC4901-25
Push the boundaries of form and color in ceramic sculpture with renowned Japanese artist En Iwamura. This workshop invites you to explore bold, large-scale ceramic forms while discovering innovative surface techniques that bring your work to life. Through En’s unique approach to coil building, you’ll learn how to design and construct large clay forms with confidence. Dive into his signature methods for painting on ceramic surfaces, where water and pigment interact to create rich, spontaneous bursts of color. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this workshop offers invaluable tools, techniques, and inspiration to elevate your practice. From mastering best practices and gaining new technical skills to rethinking your creative process, you’ll leave with fresh perspectives and a renewed excitement for making ceramic sculpture. This workshop meets virtually via Zoom Video Conferencing software (downloadable for free from Zoom.com). Review our Virtual Ceramics Workshop Welcome Guide to learn more about the workshop details.
-
O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
-
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop, learn from the comfort of your own home.
Dec 5, 2025
3:00PM MST
9AM AEST, December 6th
All Virtual Ceramics Workshops are 2-2.5 hours long
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
Piped and Press Molded Porcelain
Ebony Russell
Tuition $60
Code VFC4902-25
Discover playful and experimental ways to shape porcelain and bring intricate textures to life in this dynamic workshop with artist Ebony Russell. Learn how to transform porcelain into a thick, pipeable slurry and use it to create elaborate surface decorations with piping bags and other tools. Ebony will guide you step-by-step, from preparing the porcelain to applying these decorative elements to thrown or hand-built ceramic forms. You’ll also explore how to combine piped textures with press-molded forms, opening up endless possibilities for your work. Perfect for artists looking to expand their creative toolkit, this workshop offers fresh techniques to add versatility, detail, and energy to your studio practice. Leave with new skills, bold ideas, and a renewed excitement for working with porcelain This workshop meets virtually via Zoom Video Conferencing software (downloadable for free from Zoom.com). Review our Virtual Ceramics Workshop Welcome Guide to learn more about the workshop details.