River Ceramics

I really enjoyed creating each item in this course. I feel much more comfortable working with larger items and creating different variations on vessel shapes. I will definitely be going through the course again to make more!

This course opened a door into creative sculpture I didn’t think I could enter. Following along with the course sections and Jolene’s thoughtful and detailed instructions I was able to create whimsical animals that I loved. The techniques Jolene shares alongside the beautiful creatures she crafts during the course are informative and inspiring. The whole process from beginning to end was so enjoyable. I ended up making 8 pieces during the course and look forward to expanding my skills with the foundation this course provided. Jolene’s style of teaching is warm and engaging. I have taken 4 of her courses and absolutely loved each one.

The course encouraged to play with clay, to let loose and be free. It had a great, laid back approach towards mistakes and a cheeky, playful atmosphere throughout the course. It made me smile and feel warm, and I believe these feelings are transferred into the pieces I made and will make in the future with this method I learned.

The clear instructions and simple demonstrations made it look so easy, but the surprise for me was that it is actually simple to use natural clay slips and sgraffito to achieve unique looks on ceramic surfaces. I love what I am able to do now with my ceramics and have already used the techniques to create a new range based on traditional Maori patterns. Slip and sgraffito can be quick flowing freestyle drawing or detailed and intricate using patterns traced onto the clay - as you like. For me personally, the joy is in freehand drawing and being able to create entirely unique pieces each time I make something, without it feeling like mass production (yawn) or taking forever to carve or paint (fun but not practical or profitable). The course is well priced to be affordable and it's a real bonus that it's always available to go back and check if I forget how to do something. It does not go into a lot of detail about preparing the clay or slips etc, so make sure you take the beginner course first, if you are new to clay. I absolutely LOVED this course and highly recommend it to anyone who aspires to make natural looking pieces with a beautiful unique hand-drawn quality to them. Thank you Joelene for sharing you precious knowledge and talent.

The course videos are very well done, easy to navigate and Jolene does a great job explaining the process at every step. This is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn how to create and use natural clay slips and sgraffito to decorate their own work.