Step into the World of Clay and Imagination
In this three-session, beginner-friendly workshop, acclaimed sculptor Marzi Alimo will guide you through the process of bringing your very own whimsical character to life.
Whether you dream of sculpting a curious garden gnome, a stylized forest bird, or a fantasy creature straight from your imagination, this workshop is designed to turn your ideas into a finished ceramic masterpiece. Using approachable hand-building techniques, you will gain confidence in shaping, hollowing, and adding the expressive details that give a sculpture its unique personality.
The Experience
This workshop is structured across three Saturday afternoons, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, to allow for the proper drying, refining, and firing of your work:
Session 1, The Foundation: Designing, Building, Shaping, and Assembling: Design and structural build. Learn foundational hand-building techniques, pinching, coiling, and slab-building, to establish the core of your character.
Session 2, The Art of Detail: Refining, Hollowing, and Detailing (One week later): Refine, hollow, and vent your piece for the kiln. Explore specialized texture-making tools to add life, personality, and expressive surface details to your work.
Session 3, The Final Touch: Glazing (Three weeks later): After your piece has been bisque-fired, return for an afternoon of glazing. Experiment with Queenston Pottery’s professional glazes and pigments to bring vibrant color and finish to your sculpture.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
Translate a simple character concept into a three-dimensional clay sculpture
Learn foundational hand-building techniques (pinching, coiling, slab-building)
Gain confidence in shaping, hollowing, and assembling forms
Explore texture-making tools for expressive surfaces
Understand structural principles for small figurative sculptures
Complete a fully sculpted piece ready for bisque firing
Learn introductory glazing techniques
What’s Included
Expert Instruction: Guided demonstrations and hands-on support from Marzi Alimo.
All Materials: Approximately 1.5 kg of clay, use of all sculpting tools, and visual reference materials.
Projects will be created at a small-to-medium scale (approximately 6–10 inches tall) to ensure proper drying, hollowing, and firing within the workshop timeline.
Kiln Firing: Professional bisque firing of your completed piece.
Glazing Session: Access to Queenston Pottery glazes, underglazes, and a final glaze firing.
Who Is It For?
This workshop is perfect for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced makers looking to deepen and expand their creative practice.
Ages: 8 and up (a wonderful activity for creative kids and adults alike!)
Experience Level: No prior clay experience required.
Booking Details
When: May 2, May 9, and May 30, Saturday Afternoons at 2:00 - 4:00 PM,
Where: Queenston Pottery Studio, 1648 York Rd. Niagara-on-the-Lake
Instructor: Marzi Alimo
Give your imagination a form. Join us for a creative journey from a lump of clay to a character with a soul.
Cancellation Policy: No refunds. If you need to cancel, you may use your credit in the gallery or apply it toward a future Queenston Pottery Experience.