Toni de jesusHand Building with Porcelain: Floral Vessels with Decals and Lustre
1st - 2nd November and 29th Nov - 1st December 2027 | 5 Day Workshop | £1,250
During this five-day course, divided into two sessions, Toni De Jesus will teach students how to build porcelain vessels using the coiling technique. The vessels will then be adorned with porcelain flowers based on the students’ own designs. In the second section, students will learn how to apply their custom-designed ceramic transfers to their vessels and complete the works with gold lustre. Students will be encouraged to create multiple vessels throughout the course.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWThe Course in Detail
This five-day course is divided into two sessions. The first session, taking place over two days (Monday 1st - Tuesday 2nd November), is designed to help students build confidence in using porcelain as a coiling material, while learning how to control the size and shape of their vessels.
Students will be asked to bring floral inspiration that they can translate into porcelain flowers, either through sculpting or creating flat surfaces. They will be encouraged to experiment with vessels of different sizes and explore how both three-dimensional and two-dimensional floral elements can complement and enhance their forms.
The second session, taking place over three days (Monday 29th November - Weds 1st December), will be held a few weeks later to allow the work to dry, be fired and glazed. During this interval, ceramic transfers will be designed and printed based on the students’ floral motifs.
The first two days of the second session will focus on applying these transfers to the surface of the vessels. Students will learn how to apply transfers successfully to both flat and modelled surfaces, using them to create striking visual impact.
The work will then be fired overnight. On the final day, students will apply gold lustre, using it both to disguise any imperfections or blemishes in the transfers and to add a final decorative flourish to the finished pieces.
Please note, each piece will go through four firings (bisque, glaze, transfer and lustre). All firing charges are included in the price of the course.
USEFUL INFOCourse Breakdown
Day 1 (Full Day): The course will begin with a brief introduction to Toni’s work which will include a showcase of examples and a demonstration of techniques using porcelain to hand coil vessels. Students will begin to coil their vessels with guidance from Toni throughout.
As well a coiling various sized vessels, Toni will also introduce flower making in the afternoon.
Day 2 (Full Day): The second day will start with students completing their creations from the previous day and, for those who wish to, coiling further vessels.
Students will make porcelain flowers (either sculpted or slabbed) to be applied to the surface of their vessels. Toni will guide student to avoid cracks or detachments during the drying and firing stages.
By the end of the second day the making process will be complete and the work will need to dry and then glazed fired ready for the second section of the workshop a few weeks later.
FOUR WEEK BREAK
Day 3 (Full Day): Toni will lead a demonstration on how to cut, wet and apply the transfers to both sculpted and flat surfaces. The students will then receive their transfers and begin to process them ready for application. The application of decals is an immersive and precise process. Toni will spend time with each student, troubleshooting and helping with the application.
Day 4 (Half Day): The process of applying the transfers, especially of sculpted areas is quite lengthy and therefore all of day four will be spent with students carefully applying their floral transfers.
The work will need to be fired to 830C overnight ready for pieces to be worked on the next day. As this firing process will take 24 hours, the course will finish at midday on Day 4.
Day 5 (Half Day): The start time on the final day of the course will be at the later time of midday, to allow time for the kiln to cool. The aim for the day is for students to apply gold lustre to their vessels. Students will spend the afternoon painting gold lustre onto their pieces using precise brushes, to give them the unique look that Toni achieves within his own work.
To finish off the course there will be a group discussion and reflection on students pieces. The work will then be fired following the course and ready for collection at a later date.
Each student will be issued will a small bottle of gold lustre. This is included in the price of the course. Any lustre left over will be the student’s to keep.
Please note, each piece will go through four firings (bisque, glaze, transfer and lustre). All firing charges are included in the price of the course.
Key information
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DATE
Monday 1st - Tuesday 2nd November AND Monday 29th November - Wednesday 1st December
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DURATION
5 day workshop (three full days and two half days)
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CLASS SIZE
Maximum 10 students
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LEVEL
Some previous experience of hand building or coiling would be useful
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CLAY TYPE
Porcelain
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COST
£1,250 (Flexible payment plans)
GUEST POTTER BIOAbout Toni
Toni de Jesus is a Portuguese-British ceramic artist based at Fireworks Clay Studios in Wales. He was first introduced to ceramics in 2008, after returning to England, and later graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2018.
In 2019, Toni was awarded FRESH at the British Ceramics Biennial. His work has since been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including in Italy, Portugal and the USA. Notably, his solo exhibition, Cacúlo, toured in Portugal and across Wales.
Toni’s work is held in several public collections, including MUDAS – Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Madeira (Portugal), Nantgarw China Works Museum (Wales), National Museum Cardiff (Wales), and the Aberystwyth Ceramics Collection (Wales). His work has also appeared on the cover of Ceramic Review, been featured in Vogue USA, and discussed in an essay by Ashley Thorpe in Contemporary British Studio Pottery: Forms of Expression. In addition, he was named among The Guardian’s Design Highlights of 2024.
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
Level
Intermediate
This workshop is suitable for students who have had some experience with hand building or coiling.
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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There will be a four week break in order for the work to dry, be bisque fired and be glazed fired before students return on 29th November.
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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 midday. Students must complete their pieces by midday in order for them to go into the kiln overnight.
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The course will start at the later time of midday so that the kiln has time to cool before being opened. The session will finish at 5pm.
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A two course lunch is provided everyday. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
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 your accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. Please get in touch to arrange this. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.life. To see examples of local accommodation, click here.
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We do not offer a glazing service so cannot glaze your work for you. It may, however, be possible for you to return to the studio to glaze your work by booking a glazing session. Please speak to a member of staff to discuss this before booking. You are welcome to take greenware away with should you wish to. Alternatively you can take your bisque fired work away with you to glaze elsewhere.
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We will usually bisque fire a small selection of pieces following a workshop. Each Guest Potter Workshop is different, however, so please refer to your individual Guest Potter Workshop page for the firing information for your course.
The following firing charges will apply:
£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
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Yes! During this Guest Potter Workshop, you’ll be treated to a Welcome Breakfast on the first day, plus 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