Expressing Nature's Depth & Perspective on Clay Surfaces
with Heesoo Lee
August 3-16, 2025
This workshop will explore hand-building, layering, sgraffito, and watercolor-style underglaze techniques to create personalized expressions of nature and memories through functional and sculptural porcelain vessels. Participants will have the opportunity to explore two distinctive areas of ceramics.
Firstly, they will learn the process of creating a canvas on hand-built and wheel-thrown bases using fresh porcelain clay. Secondly, students will use commercial watercolor-style underglazes to create perspective and depth on bisque-fired surfaces and imitate traditional China paint effects.
Projects are tailored to your interests with special emphasis on landscapes and perspective.
TUITION: USD $2200 inclusive of all studio materials, glazes and firings, catered lunches, welcome dinner, and excursions around the island. We will assist in making recommendations for bookings for nearby hotels, bungalows or home-stays in convenient proximity to Gaya studio (accommodation is not included in tuition).
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE - Expressing Nature's Depth & Perspective on Clay Surfaces
This workshop will explore hand-building, layering, sgraffito, and watercolor-style underglaze techniques to create personalized expressions of nature and memories through functional and sculptural porcelain vessels. Participants will have the opportunity to explore two distinctive areas of ceramics. Firstly, they will learn the process of creating a canvas on hand-built and wheel-thrown bases using fresh porcelain clay. Secondly, students will use commercial watercolor-style underglazes to create perspective and depth on bisque-fired surfaces and imitate traditional China paint effects. Projects are tailored to your interests with special emphasis on landscapes and perspective.
Sunday, 3 August
6:00pm Welcome dinner at Moksa Restaurant.
Getting to know each other over a delicious plant-based meal which is a work of art in itself, followed by a presentation by Heesoo Lee about his work and career.
Monday, 4 August
Introduction workshop and demonstrations;
12:30 Lunch family style.
Creating a test tile for a sample color underglazes.
Tuesday, 5 August
Demonstrate wheel throwing, altering, and decorating landscape on a flat vase.
12:30 Lunch family style.
Making a cup and decorating the forest.
Wednesday, 6 August
Expression of poppy; making a functional bowl, and wall piece.
12:30 Lunch family style.
Individual working time.
Thursday, 7 August
Make a basket/build the structure by layering.
12:30 Lunch family style.
Individual working time.
Friday, 8 August
Keep working on a basket/detailing in balance.
12:30 Lunch family style.
Individual working time.
Saturday, 9 August
All students finish their work for bisque firing. (all pieces are placed on the table for firing before lunch)
12:30 Lunch family style
We need to fill up this time after lunch.
Saturday, 10 August
Day off Studio is closed
Monday, 11 August
Opening the kiln Learning about all commercial color underglazes and coating glazes. Demonstration of all different painting techniques with color underglazes.
12:30 Lunch family style
Demonstrates painting a poppy bowl and sculpture wall piece.
Tuesday, 12 August
Painting cup and vase.
12:30 Lunch family style
Painting a basket.
Wednesday, 13 August
Continue painting and glazing.
12:30 Lunch family style
Finish glazing for firing.
Thursday, 14 August
Excursion day
Friday, 15 August
Unloading kiln, discussion.
12:30 Lunch family style
Saturday, 16 August
Departure day - Studio closed
**Details of schedule may be subject to change, but overall content will remain constant