Pattern & Play: Surface Techniques with Rachel Donner
April 18th
Saturday
10am to 3pm
April 19th
Sunday
10am to 3pm
Registration is now open!
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Price: $175
April 18th, 2026
Saturday
10am to 3pmApril 19th, 2026
Sunday
10am to 3pm
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Participants will learn hands-on surface decoration techniques on leather-hard clay. The workshop will focus on design, planning, and execution of underglaze-based surface imagery, with discussion around sketchbooks, forms, canvases, and workflow for creating compelling surfaces.
Students will begin by decorating 2–3 pre-prepared 4x4” leather-hard tiles, then apply learned techniques to 1–2 of their own leather-hard pieces (smooth, white clay recommended). The emphasis will be on developing design confidence, understanding layering, and exploring new methods of surface expression.
What the Studio Will Provide:
Instructor-Supplied
X-Acto knives, provided by Rachel for student use
Reference materials or handouts, if applicable
Studio-Supplied
2–3 leather-hard clay tiles per student (approximately 4 × 4 inches)
Smooth white clay for tiles (cone 5-6 bmix)
Access to AMACO underglazes
Plain printer paper for stencil making
Wide, shallow water dishes
Buckets and water containers
Studio brushes and sponges (students are welcome to bring their own if preferred)
Scissors for shared use
Tile Preparation
Slabs for tiles will be prepared by studio staff and lab technicians in the days leading up to the workshop.What Students Should Bring:
A small sponge (throwing size)
Paintbrushes in assorted sizes
One to two leather-hard pieces to decorate (smooth, white clay recommended)
Sketchbook and pencil for planning designs
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Cancellations must be made at least 14 days prior to the workshop for a full refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of the workshop are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of the workshop will not receive a refund unless we find a replacement. Thank you for understanding and supporting our instructors and programming.
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Will you be able to fire my work for me if I decide to keep anything from the workshop?
Yes, of course. There is a flat fee of $75. This grants students access to our studio to finish trimming, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing.I’m a beginner, can I take this workshop?
Yes! Rachel is very happy to accommodate all students at any level.What should I bring?
Saturday
April 18th
10am to 3pm
Sunday
April 19th
10am to 3pm
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made at least 14 days prior to the workshop for a full refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of the workshop are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of the workshop will not receive a refund unless we find a replacement. Thank you for understanding and supporting our instructors and programming.
Join the waitlist for
Rachel’s workshops!
About
Rachel Donner
Rachel’s work is defined by process and the sentimental experience of interacting with precious objects in everyday life. She is drawn to moments of intimacy, whether it is the act of bringing a handmade vessel to one’s lips or noticing how daylight moves across a sculpture in the home. Her practice spans many forms, from functional objects to purely decorative works, each grounded in attentiveness to use and presence. Surface, decoration, and painting are guided by a sensitivity to balance, knowing when to add and when to let a form remain spare.
Rachel grew up in northern New Mexico in the small town of Taos, where she lived on a ranch and raised chickens, lambs, dogs, and horses from a young age. She is fascinated by small and often overlooked details such as hands, cat whiskers, moss, patterns, teeth, and subtle textures. Beyond clay, her interests include cooking, reading, cloud watching, flowers, and sewing her own clothes, practices that reflect the care, patience, and observation present in her studio work.