Sunday Skills Sessions: Kurinuki: Carving Clay with Carla Wolfs
Canberra Potters members Only $130.00
Explore kurinuki, a traditional Japanese ceramic technique that transforms a solid block of clay into a vessel through carving and hollowing. In this hands-on session with Dutch ceramic artist Carla Wolfs, discover how to work directly with solid clay to create individual forms, revealing the character of the material through carving, shaping and texture.
Designed for Canberra Potters members with some clay experience, this session is a great opportunity to learn from an acclaimed potter, building both practical skills and your community. Participants are also welcome to stay on afterwards for lunch (BYO) and an afternoon Members Access Session.
| Date: | Sunday 31 January 2027 |
| Time: | 9:30am- 12:30pm with option to stay for lunch (BYO) and a members access session 1pm – 4pm. |
| Teacher(s): | Carla Wolfs |
| Location: | Workshop One |
10 SPOTS LEFT
Description
We’re pleased to present this Sunday Skills Session for Canberra Potters members, exploring kurinuki with ceramic artist Carla Wolfs.
Kurinuki is a Japanese technique in which a vessel is carved from a solid block of clay. Rather than building a form from separate pieces or throwing it on the wheel, the maker gradually removes clay to reveal the vessel within. The process creates opportunities to explore shape, proportion, texture and the relationship between the interior and exterior of a form.
Over three hours, Carla will introduce participants to this distinctive approach to making, guiding them through the process of carving and hollowing clay to develop an individual vessel. Participants will explore how tools, carving marks and decisions made during the process influence the final form, with opportunities to experiment and allow the character of the clay to emerge.
This practical session will cover:
- Understanding the principles of kurinuki.
- Preparing and working with a solid block of clay.
- Carving and hollowing clay to create a vessel.
- Exploring shape, proportion and wall thickness.
- Refining and finishing a carved vessel.
Suitable for Canberra Potters members with some previous clay experience, this workshop offers an accessible way to expand your techniques and experiment with a process that can be incorporated into your own studio practice. All materials and recycled clay will be provided at the workshop for you to try yourself.
After the workshop, participants are welcome to stay for lunch (please bring your own) and continue connecting with fellow members. You may then choose to stay for an optional Members’ Access Session from 1pm-3pm. This independent studio session provides the opportunity to practise your new skills in a relaxed, communal atmosphere.
These Sunday Skills Sessions are about learning, connection and shared studio energy – we’re looking forward to continuing this offering with you.
Find out more about Carla Wolfs here: https://carlawolfskeramiek.weebly.com/
Note: This session is for current Canberra Potters members only.
Fees: Include tuition, workshop access including afternoon members access session, and recycled clay- but if you have a preferred clay to work with feel free to bring your own, just make sure it is on the soft side of leather hard.
-Firing is not included.
What to Bring:
- Your usual pottery toolkit or use the tools provided in Workshop 1.
- Apron, and an old towel.
- Option to bring your own lunch then stay on to practise what you’ve learnt!
- Clay – if you have a preferred clay to work with feel free to bring your own, or purchase additional clay from the Canberra Potters shop
What to Wear:
- Wear sturdy, covered shoes, tie back long hair, and leave any precious jewellery at home for safety.
Sunday Skills Sessions 2027
Our 2027 Sunday Skills Sessions offer members a unique opportunity to learn new skills and get behind the scenes of the working practices of Canberra Potters studio holders. Across four sessions throughout the year, you’ll explore different approaches to making, pick up practical techniques and gain insight into how other ceramic artists work.
- Sunday 31 January | Carla Wolfs (visiting artist) Kurinuki: Carving Clay
Explore the Japanese technique of carving a vessel from a solid block of clay. - Sunday 18 April | Lia Tajcnar – Slip, Surface and Decoration
Discover creative approaches to coloured slip, slip trailing and printing with newspaper. - Sunday 18 July | Everything Flows – The Production Potter’s Practice
Get an insight into production pottery, including batch throwing off the hump and making tools for consistent results. - Sunday 10 October | Sarah Brown & Isabel Chen– Details to come
Another opportunity to learn from a Canberra Potters studio holder, with the topic to be announced.
Dates, presenters and session content may be refined as the series develops.
Important Information
Fees:
Include tuition, workshop access including afternoon members access session, and recycled clay- but if you have a preferred clay to work with feel free to bring your own, just make sure it is on the soft side of leather hard.
-Firing is not included.
What to Bring:
- Your usual pottery toolkit or use the tools provided in Workshop 1.
- Apron, and an old towel.
- Option to bring your own lunch then stay on to practise what you’ve learnt!
- Clay – if you have a preferred clay to work with feel free to bring your own, or purchase additional clay from the Canberra Potters shop
What to Wear:
- Wear sturdy, covered shoes, tie back long hair, and leave any precious jewellery at home for safety.
Studio Clean-Up:
To maintain a safe and healthy environment, it is a requirement of class attendance that participants clean their workspaces and assist with the general clean-up of the workshop at the end of each class.
Terms and Conditions
Refund Policy – Classes & Short Courses:
- Class fees will be refunded, less a 10% admin fee, if cancellation is notified more than 10 business days before the first class date.
- If less than 10 business days’ notice is given then a refund, less 10%, will only be given if the place can be taken by another student otherwise the full fee is forfeited.
- Please view your booking as a commitment to attend.
- Classes cannot be transferred from one term to another or one year to another.
- If a class is cancelled due to lack of enrolments, 100% of your class fee will be refunded.
- All changes to bookings and refunds incur a 10% administration fee.
- Canberra Potters will not issue refunds for missed classes or missed emails. Please ensure you have saved the following Canberra Potters emails to your contact list.
- Canberra Potters is a teaching facility and students attend our classes to learn about pottery. Imperfect, broken and cracked items are part of the learning process. We do not provide refunds for work that cracks or breaks while drying, during firing or in general class activities.
Booking Policy
- Canberra Potters does not offer make up classes.
- Payment in full is required as the time of booking to secure a place.
- CPS member discounts apply to course fees.
- All bookings are made by accessing our website
- All prices are subject to change.
- Classes are run subject to numbers.
- Once a class has commenced no refunds will be issued.
Member Discounts
- Member discounts must be applied at time of booking classes online. We are unable to apply member discounts retrospectively.
