Balancing Form — 5-Day Intermediate Throwing Workshop. Holly Rose Morgan 27 april - 1 May / 6 - 10 July

Workshop Overview

This five-day, wheel-based workshop is designed for intermediate potters who want to deepen their understanding of form, balance, and material expression.

Working with vessel forms as a starting point, students will explore where focal points sit within the belly of a piece and how visual weight can be placed in the shoulder, middle, or lower section while still maintaining a sense of lift and balance. The workshop places particular emphasis on working with locally gathered and wild clay sourced from the Deià coastline, using these materials intentionally to soften surfaces and encourage a more relaxed, looser approach to form.

Through a balance of guided techniques and open exploration, the workshop supports skill-building, experimentation, and the development of individual style within a calm, supportive studio environment.

Participants will have unlimited clay to practise throughout the week and will select three vessels that best demonstrate the techniques explored, to keep as valuable studio references.

Alongside studio work, the workshop includes an introduction to understanding locally gathered materials, intentional tool foraging, and optional daily swims along the coastline.

About the Instructor

Holly Rose Morgan is a New Zealand ceramic artist whose practice focuses on form, material, and process. Her work has been sold through multiple nationwide retailers, and she previously ran her own retail space for four years. She has produced collections for award-winning chefs and restaurants and has exhibited widely, including solo shows and a recent presentation of work in a New Zealand public gallery.

Holly’s practice draws on ancient ceramic techniques, local materials, and global ceramic traditions. She has travelled extensively to Japan for research into clay, firing, and materiality, and her work has been selected for national ceramic award exhibitions. Her teaching encourages experimentation, material awareness, and a thoughtful approach to developing form.

Who This Workshop Is For

This workshop is suitable for intermediate potters with prior wheel-throwing experience.Participants should be confident centering and pulling walls and interested in developing form, balance, and personal expression.

This workshop is not suitable for beginners.

Daily Schedule

10:30–13:30 Morning session

13:30–14:30 Lunch break

14:30–17:30 Afternoon session

Course Content

Day 1 – Introduction

• Introduction to the three main focal points on a vessel and how they affect lift, balance, and proportion.

• Demonstration of throwing from a single lump of clay, using foraged tools and the rule of thirds

• Hands-on practice focused on efficient wheel work and exploring focal point shifts

Day 2 – Shoulder

• Creating strong shoulder-focused vessels to support proportion, balance, and lift

• Exploring sharp and soft curves and how they influence visual weight and form

Day 3 – Belly

• Developing belly-focused vessels with lift through controlled belling and central focal points

• Guided gathering of local wild clay along the coastline, including discussion of processing and use

• Optional swim during the material-gathering excursion

Day 4 – Bottom

• Building bottom-weighted vessels while maintaining lift and balance

• Combining techniques from previous days, focusing on proportion and curve transitions

Day 5 – Finishing

• Trimming without traditional turning tools for a more intuitive and responsive approach

• Adding personality through mark-making with foraged tools

• Tutor support to refine and select three vessels for firing with a liner glaze to highlight local materials

Additional Activities

Throughout the week, the workshop will also include:

• Intentional tool fossicking

• Use of local materials

• One group meal during the week

• Optional daily swims

• These elements are designed to support connection, playfulness, and a relaxed creative environment.

Finished Work

Unglazed finishes with liner glazes are recommended to showcase the materiality and locality of the work and to serve as valuable studio references.

What’s Included

• Unlimited clay for use during the workshop

• All tuition and demonstrations

• Use of studio tools and equipment

• Glazing and firing of selected final pieces

• Shipping of finished work included (see below)

• Lunch is not included. The studio is located in the centre of the village, close to cafés and restaurants to suit all budgets and dietary requirements.

Shipping of Finished Work

The workshop fee includes shipping for one standard box per participant, in line with the studio’s intermediate workshop policy.

One box up to 60 × 40 × 40 cm

At the end of the workshop, students will select their final pieces. These will then be glazed, fired, carefully packed, and prepared for shipment. All selected work must fit within the included box size.

Shipping is limited to one box per participant.

Price

€1,300

5-day workshop

Includes VAT, materials, firing, and shipping (one standard box).

Cancellation Policy

Due to the limited number of places available and the advance costs involved, full payment is required to secure a place on the workshop.

Cancellations made 21 days or more before the workshop start date will receive a full refund.

Cancellations made within 21 days of the workshop start date are non-refundable.

In cases of illness or unforeseen circumstances, a credit toward a future workshop may be offered, subject to availability.

No refunds are given for no-shows or partial attendance. We strongly recommend participants ensure they are able to attend all workshop dates before booking.