PLEASE NOTE: THIS CLASS TAKES PLACE AT STUDIO SUMI, A CERAMICS STUDIO LOCATED IN INNER RICHMOND AT 5031 GEARY BLVD B/W 14TH AND 15TH AVENUE. YOU WILL SEE STUDIO SUMI ON THE FRONT WINDOW OF THE STUDIO.

ADDRESS: 5031 GEARY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118

In this beginner-friendly handbuilding class from our Simple Ceramics series, ceramics designer Bri Santo will walk you through the steps to transform a slab of clay into a beautiful, decorative, and fully functional ceramic vase! Bri will focus on using basic pottery tools and specific handbuilding techniques as she guides you through cutting out your base and cylinder walls and assembling its final form as a vase. Next, Bri will demonstrate some of her favorite carving tips and techniques for creating different textures and fun effects on the clay surface. You’ll have a chance to play around with these different techniques before applying them to your own piece. Lastly, you’ll choose your favorite color glaze to be added before firing. After class, your clay masterpieces will be glazed, fired, finished, and ready for pick up at a later date. This is a perfect pottery class to get your feet wet with ceramics before you dive into a full-blown ceramics course that involves applying multiple glazes and operating a kiln.

Supplies Needed: None. As part of class, each student will receive enough clay to create a cylinder ceramic vase measuring approximately 6″ in height and 3.5″ in diameter. Also, make sure to wear something that you don’t mind getting a little messy in. We will have aprons to protect your clothing.

Instructor Bio: Bri Santo is the owner and designer behind Sumiware Ceramics and the founder of Studio Sumi, her very own pottery studio located in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond neighborhood. After growing up learning the craft in her mother’s professional pottery studio, Bri has spent over two decades working with clay. In 2021, she launched Sumiware Ceramics, a brand focused on creating bright, joyful pieces for people who want to live more creatively. With the opening of Studio Sumi, Bri now offers hands-on pottery workshops for all experience levels in addition to designing her own ceramic collections. You can also find her teaching workshops around the Bay Area. To check out Bri’s work and also learn more about Studio Sumi, visit her Insta at @sumiware.ceramics and her website at https://www.sumiware.com/.

The rules / important stuff: We have a NO EXCEPTIONS 72 HOUR CANCELLATION policy – this includes cancellation, re-books, gift certificates, moving classes, etc. For more information on canceling a class, please read our cancellation policy. All classes are 21+. If any questions, please email us at info AT workshopsf DOT org.