CERAMIC DESIGNERS ASSOCIATION
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SGRAFITTO WORKSHOP
with Karis Swink Barry
Date: Sept 26, 2026
Time: 9 am - 2 pm
Location: Virginia Wesleyan Univ
Workshop Description
Clay artist Karis Swink Barry, who lives in the western part of our state, will be presenting a hands-on Sgraffito Workshop for CDA in September. Karis creates beautiful pieces of pottery that are not only useful but have lovely surface designs. Several of us have seen her demonstrations at the Virginia Clay Festival in Stanardsville, Virginia.
Karis adds engobes, which she makes, to her pieces. Then when dry enough she uses the sgraffito technique to add her designs.
This workshop is a one-day hands-on workshop, There is not enough time for the engobes to dry, so we will be using underglazes, which CDA will supply, to mimic the engobes. Karis will explain how she mixes her engobes, adding stains and pigments for colors, and show us her carving techniques. After her demonstration, we will practice carving our own sgraffito pieces while Karis comes around and coaches us.
This will be a great workshop to try this technique and learn more about the use of engobes (and underglazes) with sgraffito carving. Each attendee will bring 2 or 3 leather hard pieces to use. These can be cylinders, bowls, plates or sculptural pieces.
Where: Virginia Wesleyan University, Ceramic Studio.
When: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 am to 2:00pm (Karis will need time to drive home while it is still light out).
Participants: 20 (we will keep a waiting list once the slots are filled)
Fee: $65 for CDA members, $100 for non-members (will include a CDA membership)
Workshop fees are non-refundable unless we have a waiting list and someone can take your place.
Member: $65
Non-member: $100
Past Workshops and Demos
SODA FIRING WORKSHOP by Ray Wood
MISHIMA TECHNIQUE
Amy Lee shared her extensive knowledge on Mishima techniques using underglazes to fill in gently carved designs in the wax. She broke down the steps into easily understandable segments. The participants then applied these techniques in their own creations.
THROWING TALL WORKSHOP
Noah Hughey-Commers spent the day demonstrating some of his throwing techniques and coaching participants in challenging themselves to push their throwing skills from using more clay, taller cylinders, dryer throwing and pushing the clay to its limits.
BIRDHOUSE WORKSHOP
Pam Gray taught the group how she makes birdhouses. She starts by texturing slabs then cutting out the sides, floor and roof pieces. She shared her technique for joining the pieces and cutting the entry hole for specific types of birds.
KATIE MALONEY WORKSHOP
Katie led the workshop participants through her methods of incorporating animal figures onto her pottery. Participants then created their own interpretation of these methods.
CLAY MOSAIC WORKSHOP
Ginger Jenkot shared slides of the history of mosaic, then guided participants on how to make their picture "mosaic ready". Each participant then created their custom mosaic piece.
SCREEN PRINT on Clay
Kathy Skaggs taught several methods for screen printing on clay: making your own screen, layering graphics and applying them to clay.
CRITTERS Workshop
Carolyn Sleeper spent the day sharing how make Critters. Participants then each created their own fantastic critters.
Screen Print demo
Sherry White showed how to screen print on clay.
Bird Feeder demo
Robert Hitt shared how to make clay bird feeders.
Stamp making demo
Robert Hitt demonstrated various ways to make stamps for pottery.
Jake Johnson Workshop
Jake conducted a 2-day workshop on altering thrown forms, trimming and glazing.
Fran Dumville - KILNS 101 Presentation
Fran gave a very informative presentation on how to maintain, repair, and troubleshoot everything about kilns.
Stephanie Herron - Color Clay Workshop
Stephanie taught the Skinner Blend and other techniques for using color clay.
Brian Bielitz - Woven clay baskets demo
Brian demonstrated how to create a woven basket of clay.
Amy Lee - Triaxial glaze blending demo
Amy demonstrated how to blend 3 different commercial glazes to create new glazes.
Mike Graham - Holey Bowls Demo
Mike shared his technique for creating bowls with the maximum amount of material removed resulting in an elegant "Holey Bowl"
John Tobin - Underglazing Demo
John demonstrated how he mixes and applies underglazes tohis award-winning sculptures.
Stephen Palmer Workshop
Stephen taught us so many new techniques with a focus on underglaze transfers.
Bas Relief Workshop
Suzanne Baur taught various techniques for carving and adding to a surface.
Fountains
Robert Hitt taught how to make a ceramic fountain.
Once Firing
Kary Haun taught how to spray glazes on greenware and then shared the process for firing pieces one time.
Sodium Silicate Pots
Ray Wood taught how to use colored sodium silicate to create dramatic crackle effects on pots.
Raku Firing
Raku workshops are held during the year at different studios.
