Emily StubbsPatterns, Prints
& Pots
28th June - 2nd July 2027 | 5 Day Workshop | £1,000
During this five-day hands-on workshop students will explore the relationship between drawing, printmaking and ceramics with ceramicist Emily Stubbs. Students will develop their own visual language through observational drawing and experimental printmaking before translating their ideas into richly textured clay slabs. Monoprinting, screen printing, transfer printing and hand building techniques will be taught, then collage and construction of slabs into expressive abstract vessels and sculptural forms.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Course in Detail
This five-day workshop explores the exciting relationship between pattern, print and three-dimensional form. Working with inspiration from the world around, students will develop a collection of drawings, prints, marks and patterns before learning how to translate these ideas into clay.
The workshop begins with observational drawing and experimental printmaking on paper, encouraging students to look closely at shapes, textures and patterns in their surroundings. Students will then explore a range of techniques for transferring these ideas onto clay, including monoprinting, screen printing, transfer printing and creating their own tools for making unique marks.
Across the week, students will build layers of underglaze, texture and pattern to create ceramic surfaces with depth, movement and visual interest. Students will learn how to make and manipulate clay slabs before cutting, collaging and ‘jigsawing’ them together to create an abstract vessel or sculptural form.
Emily will demonstrate a range of hand building techniques throughout the workshop, with plenty of individual guidance to help students develop their own ideas and push the possibilities of the material. Particular attention will be given to composition, joining, edges, angles and how marks move across a three-dimensional form.
Each student will have their own dedicated workspace and will receive plenty of individual attention. There will be opportunities for students to discuss their work with their fellow students and on a one-to-one basis with Emily.
There will be no specific kiln firing during this workshop, however, students’ pieces will be fired and be ready for collection a few weeks later. Alternatively, students are welcome to take away their greenware (students must bring protective packaging when taking or collecting their pieces).
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract. Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
Please see our Student Contract for details.
USEFUL INFO
Course Breakdown
Day 1 – Observation, Drawing and Pattern
Emily will begin by encouraging students to look closely at their surroundings and explore how everyday shapes, textures and patterns can become starting points for ceramic work. Through a series of observational drawing exercises, students will build a personal collection of visual references.
These drawings will then be developed into simple printing experiments on paper. Students will explore repetition, layering, scale, positive and negative space, and how different marks can interact with one another. Students will then begin to develop a visual vocabulary that can later be translated into clay.
Day 2 – Printmaking and Creating Clay Surfaces
With Emily’s guidance, students will take the marks and patterns developed on Day 1 and begin translating them into clay. Students will experiment with creating their own mark-making tools and explore different ways of working into and onto clay slabs.
A range of techniques will be introduced, including monoprinting, screen printing and transfer printing. Students willl experiment with underglazes, layering colour and building texture to create rich, complex surfaces with depth and movement.
By the end of the day, students will have produced a collection of patterned and printed clay slabs to work with during the remainder of the workshop.
Day 3 – Slab Building and Developing Form
On the third day students will move from two-dimensional surfaces into three-dimensional form. Emily will demonstrate slab-building techniques and introduce ways of cutting, shaping and manipulating the printed clay.
Students will begin to experiment with assembling their slabs, considering how different patterns and textures work together. Rather than simply constructing a conventional vessel, students will explore more expressive and abstract approaches to form, including unusual angles, overhangs, movement and asymmetry.
There will be plenty of one-to-one guidance as students begin developing their own sculptural language.
Day 4 – Collage, Construction and Composition
The focus will be on bringing students’ individual slabs together to create a finished vessel or sculptural piece. Exploring the process of ‘jigsawing’ slabs together, students will consider how individual sections relate to one another across the whole form.
Particular attention will be paid to composition, joining and finishing seams, edges and angles. Students will also consider how the movement of their marks and patterns can lead the viewer’s eye around the finished piece.
Emily will work individually with each student to help resolve and strengthen their ideas.
Day 5 – Refining, Finishing and Developing Your Work
The final day will be about refinement and bringing students’ pieces together. Students will have time to resolve construction, strengthen and finish joins, refine edges and make any final adjustments to the form.
Emily will guide students to look at how the surface, colour, texture and form work together as a whole, making considered decisions about the final appearance of their piece.
The day will finish with an opportunity to look at the work produced during the week, reflect on the processes explored and consider how the techniques and ideas developed during the workshop could be taken further in students’ own ceramic practice.
There will be no specific kiln firing during this workshop, however, students’ pieces will be fired and be ready for collection a few weeks later. Alternatively, students are welcome to take away their greenware (students must bring protective packaging when taking or collecting their pieces).
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract.
Please read our Student Contract. Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
Key information
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DATE
Monday 28th June - Friday 2nd July 2027
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CLASS SIZE
Maximum 10 students
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LEVEL
All levels welcome
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CLAY TYPE
Stoneware
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COST
£1,000 (Flexible payment plans)
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FOOD & DRINK
A two-course lunch will be provided each day
GUEST POTTER BIO
About Emily
Emily Stubbs is a contemporary British ceramicist based in York, North Yorkshire.
Emily graduated with a BA (Hons) Ceramics from UWIC in 2007 before setting up her own studio in York. A founding member of PICA Studios, an artist led studio collective of 23 artists, makers, writers and thinkers set within an 18th century printworks in the centre of historic York, Emily exhibits her contemporary ceramics in exhibitions, events and galleries around the UK.
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
Level
Confident Beginners / Intermediate
The workshop would be particularly suited to intermediate ceramicists who already have some experience working with clay and basic hand building techniques and want to develop their understanding of surface, pattern, printmaking and sculptural form.
That said, the course could also be suitable for confident beginners who are comfortable experimenting and want an intensive introduction to Emily’s approach to hand built ceramics.
No previous experience with printmaking is required.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECTThe Schedule
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Welcome breakfast (from 9am - 10am). The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the second day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the third day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the fourth day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the final day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 4pm.
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A two course lunch is provided everyday. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
A delicious home cooked two-course lunch will be provided each day
As well as refreshments throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Ceramic Studio is located on a beautiful orchard in Brenchley, and there are lots of lovely surrounding towns and villages offering numerous places to stay.
We are happy to arrange transits to and from local accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. There may be a small fee for this depending on where you are staying. If you know you will require transits please contact us to enquire before booking your accommodation. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.life.
To see examples of local accommodation, click here.
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If students wish to, they can add flourishes of clear glaze to their pieces and they will be fired once at earthenware temperature (there will be a small additional firing charge).
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There is a small charge for fired work. Charges are as follows:
£5 per 500g for glazed work
£6 per 500g for glazed work with oxide
£10 per 500g for any glazed work over 30cm in height or width
£2 per 500g for work that is bisque fired but not glazed
Please also note that The Ceramic Studio does not offer a glazing service.
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Yes! Morning and afternoon refreshments daily, including teas, coffees, sweet treats, and fresh fruit. A freshly cooked two-course lunch, prepared here in the studio, is also provided every day, with dietary requirements confirmed in advance.
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If we haven’t quite answered your question please click here to view our guest potter FAQs page or email us info@theceramicstudio.life