Handbuilt coil and Sgraffito Vase.

Handbuilt Coil & Sgraffito Vase

A Three-Saturday Holiday Ceramics Workshop

Presented by JPita Art Studio

Discover the joy of creating something beautiful with your own hands this holiday season!

Join us for an exciting, hands-on ceramics workshop where you will transform simple clay into a unique, handcrafted decorative vase. Over three Saturdays, you will explore the ancient art of coil building and the expressive possibilities of sgraffito, combining sculptural techniques with intricate surface decoration.

Whether you're a beginner or have previous experience with clay, this workshop offers a welcoming, creative environment to experiment, learn, and express your artistic personality.

What Will You Learn?

Coil Building: One of the oldest pottery-making techniques, coil building involves rolling clay into long, rope-like strands and carefully stacking and joining them to create three-dimensional forms. This method allows artists to build beautiful, organic, and imaginative vessels without using a pottery wheel.

Sgraffito: An Italian term meaning "to scratch," sgraffito is a decorative technique in which artists apply a contrasting layer of colored slip or underglaze to a clay surface and then carefully scratch through it to reveal the clay beneath. The result is a striking combination of patterns, textures, lines, and artistic illustrations.

Workshop Schedule

Saturday, December 12, 2026

Session 1: Coil Building — Shape, Smooth & Polish

Your ceramic adventure begins!

During our first session, you'll learn how to construct a vase from the ground up using traditional handbuilding techniques.

• Explore the fundamentals of coil construction.

• Design and build the base and body of your vase.

• Learn how to attach, blend, and reinforce coils for structural strength.

• Experiment with shapes, proportions, and sculptural forms.

• Smooth, refine, and polish the clay surface in preparation for decoration.

By the end of the session, you'll have begun transforming individual clay coils into a beautiful, personalized vase.

Saturday, December 19, 2026

Session 2: Refining Your Vase & Preparing for Sgraffito

It's time to give your creation its unique artistic character!

During this session, you'll continue developing and refining your vase while preparing its surface for decorative carving.

• Continue building and completing your vase.

• Refine the shape, smooth transitions, and polish surface imperfections.

• Learn how to prepare clay for sgraffito decoration.

• Explore patterns, motifs, and decorative compositions.

• Sketch and plan your designs.

• Apply contrasting colored underglazes to prepare for carving.

By the end of this session, your vase will have its completed form and a carefully prepared surface ready for the next exciting stage.

Saturday, December 26, 2026

Session 3: Sgraffito Carving, Surface Decoration & Glazing

Bring your artistic vision to life!

Our final session focuses on transforming your vase into a one-of-a-kind ceramic artwork through expressive surface decoration.

• Learn how to use sgraffito carving tools.

• Scratch and carve intricate patterns through contrasting underglaze layers.

• Experiment with floral motifs, geometric patterns, organic forms, and personal imagery.

• Develop depth, contrast, rhythm, and texture in your designs.

• Explore glazing techniques and learn how glazes enhance ceramic surfaces.

• Prepare your finished creation for drying, firing, and final glazing as appropriate.

Important: Sgraffito is typically performed on leather-hard clay. Actual carving, glazing, and firing stages will depend on the readiness of each piece. Final glazing or kiln firing may be completed after the workshop.

Give the Gift of Creativity This Holiday Season!

🎁 Looking for a unique and meaningful holiday gift?

Instead of another ordinary present, give someone the opportunity to create something extraordinary!

This three-session ceramics experience makes a wonderful holiday gift for friends, family members, art lovers, or anyone who enjoys discovering new creative skills.

It's more than a pottery class. It's an opportunity to relax, explore your imagination, connect with others, and create a handcrafted ceramic keepsake.

Give an experience. Inspire creativity. Make something unforgettable!

Workshop Information

Dates: December 12, 19 & 26, 2026 (Saturdays)

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: JPita Art Studio at Studio 18 Art Complex, Pembroke Pines, Florida

Age Requirement: Adults 18 and older

Experience Level: Beginners and all skill levels welcome

Materials: All necessary clay, tools, underglazes, and ceramic materials are included.

Special Discount for Pembroke Pines Residents

City of Pembroke Pines residents receive a 20% discount!

Please contact Jose Pita to obtain your exclusive resident discount code before registering.

Reserve Your Spot!

Spaces are limited to ensure a personalized, hands-on learning experience.

Join us this December and turn clay into a work of art!

JPita Art Studio — Where Creativity Takes Shape.