2025 COLORED CLAY WORKSHOP
with CHRIS CAMPBELL
Monday August 25 to Friday August 29th, 2025
9 a.m to 5 p.m. with a break for lunch each day
at The Pullen Arts Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
The registration will open on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN THIS WORKSHOP?
My former students will tell you that you can expect to be very tired by Friday!
We start class every day at 9:00 and work through until 5-6 pm in the afternoon. We break for lunch for about an hour.
I provide each student with a Handbook for note taking, and a cutting wire to use.
During the day I present teaching demonstrations that are interactive. You are encouraged to ask questions or to ask me to repeat a point you don’t understand.
Afterwards you get time to practice what you just learned. I am available at all times for questions and general information.
You will find many of your fellow students have various levels of experience. I have always found the degree of sharing in my Workshops to be very high. You can always ask for help and assist others.
It takes a lot of time to make a Nerikomi piece, so attention to detail at all times is very important. It is a mindful step by step process that should not be rushed. I want you to have wonderful results.
I have NO SECRETS. If I know the answer to a question I will tell you. If I don’t know, I will try to look it up for you.
I think it would be pointless to hide knowledge. I love to see my students go beyond what I have taught and forge their own paths in color.
WHAT IS A REGULAR WORKSHOP SCHEDULE?
My basic goal for this Workshop is to make sure everyone creates a successful piece of Nerikomi pottery, even if it is their first time working with colored porcelain.
Each day we alternate demonstrations by me with work times for you. We will have a few low firings of the kiln and a final high firing of the glazed pieces.
The fun part is that these plans often get ‘edited’ by the students’ requests. We still get the basics done but sometimes we change gears a bit.
The Workshop officially starta at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m.,
BUT … the facility stays open late. You can grab dinner then come back and work. Most students choose to do this.
Most nights I will be there late, working on the next days’ demos. I am not teaching then, but we often have great conversations about pottery.
HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST?
This 5 day, hands on workshop with Chris Campbell will cost approximately $825 … plus there is a $50 colored clay fee and the cost of a bag of Laguna Frost Clay.
The dates are from Monday August 25 to Friday August 29th, 2025
The registration will open on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
You take home ALL of the colored clay you buy and your share of the demonstration work I make.
You keep it all.
You will also take home a Handbook, a cutting wire, a cup of black slip and a cup of each glaze I use if you want to.
Sometimes my students get together and rent a large, multi bedroom house and share the costs between them. The shared fridge can save a bit on meals. I will share the student list upon request.
The class takes place on the campus of North Carolina State University in the heart of downtown Raleigh. This means lots of restaurants of all kinds are within walking distance.
If you are driving to class you can park near the Arts building. More on this later.
NOT TO BE RUDE CHRIS, BUT … IS IT WORTH IT?
This is a valid question, but I cannot answer it for all of you.
Being in a live Workshop is a unique experience . You learn from me, the experienced teacher but you also learn from everyone else in the class. Everyone has techniques and experience to share and they do help others and share. Friendships are made … and we have a lot of fun.
Technically you have the experience of actually seeing and feeling … how soft is the clay, how hard am I pressing, what happens at each step of the process. You get to ask as many questions as you want at any time. Everyone in the class has something to add to the mix.
Often I start out with one plan for the day but get redirected by student questions into a whole different area. It is an exciting feeling to be part of a live Workshop where everyone wants to learn more about colored clay.
WHAT SKILL LEVEL DO I NEED FOR THIS CLASS?
In order to get the most benefit from this class you should have some experience hand building with clay.
You do not have to be experienced with colored clay BUT you should take the time to watch my FREE series of videos that teach the very basics. Please take time to watch them.
FREE - 6 STREAMING VIDEOS - use Code word ‘COLOR' at check out
How to choose your clay & stains How to mix them into clays and slips
How to create sheets of color using Skinner Blends
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/basicsofcoloredclay
WHO IS CHRIS CAMPBELL?
Chris Campbell has been working with clay since 1989. Her studio is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In 1993 she turned to colored porcelain as her main medium. She was fortunate to be introduced to colored clay by the late Jane Peiser, a world famous Nerikomi Artist.
Chris is known for her use of bright colors and patterns inspired by various cultures and countries. The contrast of brilliant colors on a bright white background is at the heart of her work. She loves researching the pattern sense of other nations as their ideas swing from wild freedom to strict symmetry.
“I love the challenge of placing complicated, vibrant free form patterns within a strictly defined space. The pattern often feels as though it has only been contained for the briefest moment before breaking free of the surface.”
In addition to working with Colored Porcelain, Chris has been teaching her techniques since 1999.
She is constantly trying new techniques in order to stretch the knowledge and possibilities of Nerikomi and colored clay in general.
She has also written articles on the subject of Nerikomi for many pottery magazines both in the USA and England.
She has been selected for several Porcelain Artwork shows as well as being asked to jury others.
Her work is included in many public and private collections.
WHERE IS THE WORKSHOP HELD?
This Workshop takes place at the Pullen Arts Center on the campus of North Carolina State University in the heart of downtown Raleigh.
https://raleighnc.gov/arts/places/pullen-arts-center
The Pullen Arts Center is a recently updated facility with excellent studio facilities.
They are well equipped and the staff are fun, helpful and kind.
Since it is on a campus, restaurants of all kinds are within easy walking distance.
There are also many Vrbo / AirB&B type rentals in the vicinity.
It is about 35 – 45 minutes from the Raleigh Durham Airport depending on the time of day.
*** A NOTE TO YOU ABOUT THE DATE***
This class ends at the beginning of the Labor Day Weekend. The best time to schedule your flight home is on Saturday when the airport has settled down.
Because of this I will be teaching on Friday afternoon … this is a time when a regular class starts to leave but I encourage you not to hit the airport Friday night … stay and play.
IS THERE A WORKSHOP SUPPLY LIST?
If you are flying in and have baggage limits, let me know so I can bring extras.
Favorite hand building tools Needle tool, scissors, ribs, sponges
Any 2 rulers/paint stir sticks etc. of the same thickness
Large & small rolling pin or pony roller
Exacto knife or similar cutting tool
A couple 1 inch wide, flat brushes – inexpensive/cheap, found in hardware stores.
Spray bottle
3-4” wide quilting ruler … available at craft stores and online
A SPLINER … this is a tool for fixing screens found in hardware stores.
Gallon & quart size plastic bags – approx. 6-8 of each
6 – 8 old cloths – old t shirts etc. … for wrapping work in progress
Small covered container to hold slip
approx 24” square non-stick/non-slip work surface
Note* lightweight canvas and fabrics slide too much to be useful
I use old heavy canvas. Some use slab mats or printers mats.
Several dry-cleaner bags or plastic bags for overnight storage
Optional items you might like:
Sherrill Cutting Tool … retails between $26-$30
Small handheld extruder & dies
Disposable latex type gloves
ARE THERE WORKSHOP RULES?
- DON’T put up with not knowing … ASK!
There are NO dumb questions.
- DON’T arrive late in the morning.
I start teaching at 9 am with or without you
- DON’T answer your cell phone in the room. Go out to the hallway.
In any case, please put your phone on silent.
- DON’T share loudly. If you are having an excellent conversation you might want to take it out of the class so as not to disturb those nearby who are trying to concentrate.
- DON’T lose sight of any tools I borrow.
I am notorious for walking away with them.
*** A REMINDER NOTE TO YOU ABOUT THE DATE***
This class ends at the beginning of the Labor Day Weekend. The best time to schedule your flight home is on Saturday when the airport has settled down.
Because of this I will be teaching on Friday afternoon … this is a time when a regular class starts to leave but I encourage you not to hit the airport Friday night … stay and play.