Egyptian Faience

Wednesdays in November 4-18 (no class 11/25) and December 2 from 6:00PM-9:00PM with Matt Pekarek

Learn the art of Egyptian faience (self-glazing ceramics, also known as Egyptian Paste and Blue Terracotta), originating from ancient Egypt! We will create and use bisque ceramic molds to produce small objects to decorate your work, wear as jewelry, or display as sculpture. This course will cover the process beginning to end, starting with creating molds for use with faience, mixing the paste, press molding and sculpting, and firing. All materials are included

Wednesdays in November 4-18 (no class 11/25) and December 2 from 6:00PM-9:00PM with Matt Pekarek

Skill Level: Three (Intermediate)

Requirements: Intro to Handbuilding and at least one other handbuilding class or similar experience

Learn the art of Egyptian faience (self-glazing ceramics, also known as Egyptian Paste and Blue Terracotta), originating from ancient Egypt! We will create and use bisque ceramic molds to produce small objects to decorate your work, wear as jewelry, or display as sculpture. This course will cover the process beginning to end, starting with creating molds for use with faience, mixing the paste, press molding and sculpting, and firing. All materials are included. 

Week One:

Discussion of what faience is and how it works

Sculpting objects for mold making

Finding objects for mold making

Week Two:

Making molds of objects from sculpted and found objects

Recommended to make multiple molds for objects

Week Three:

Making faience paste

Press molding and sculpting with faience

Week Four:

Continue with creating objects

Discuss troubleshooting and care of objects

Student work will be fired and ready for pick-up the following week!

Included with class:

• 15lbs of cone six stoneware clay for moldmaking

• All necessary materials for making faience 

• Firings of all work made during the course

• Studio access outside of class time during the following hours:
  Monday-Thursday 9:00AM-9:00PM, Friday-Sunday 10:00AM-6:00PM

You will need to bring:

Needle/pin tool, metal rib, cutting tool (fettling or paring knife)

Recommended you bring:

Small (detail) loop tools and metal sculpting detail tools