Ceramics: Surface Decoration
Ceramics: Surface Decoration
Date and Time: Four consecutive Saturdays: August 22, August 29, September 5, and September 12, 2026
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Teaching Artist: Benjamin Provo
Cost: $175 for all four sessions
This four-week class introduces students to approachable methods for applying slip and underglaze decoration to a variety of ceramic forms, including cups, vessels, tiles, and simple sculptural objects. Students will explore techniques such as carving, inlay, and multi-colored slip layering to create unique surface designs. Teaching artist Benjamin Provo will provide step-by-step instruction and demonstrations, guiding students through a range of decorative processes using traditional sgraffito (clay-etching) tools, serrated metal ribs, and other specialized ceramic tools. Students are welcome to bring their own underglazes if they would like to incorporate additional colors into their work.
This class will meet on four consecutive Saturdays: August 22, August 29, September 5, and September 12, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This class is for ages 16 and over. The cost of class is $175 per person. All skill levels are welcome and all materials are provided. Preregistration is required and space is limited. The course will be held inside the Cole Creativity Center located at 123 N 10th St, Santa Paula, CA. Free parking is available directly behind the building and students may enter through the front or back door.
All 4-week courses include two hours of free practice time each week during the duration of your class. Practice times are held on Wednesdays & Fridays and must be scheduled and approved by Jynell our Kiln Technician. This resource is available to current students only and space is granted on a first come, first serve basis.
Email ceramics@santapaulaartmuseum.org to schedule your practice time each week.
Access to the studio without Kiln Technician Jynell or an instructor present, is prohibited.
Questions? Please call the Museum at (805) 525-5554 ext. 104 or email creativity@santapaulaartmuseum.org.
*Please note: Long nails can make working with clay frustrating. We recommend trimming your nails down before attending class. Clay is also very messy, so please dress in clothing you don’t mind getting stained and covered in clay. You are welcome to bring an apron and towel/rag for wiping your hands throughout the process. Long hair must be pulled back as a safety precaution.
About Our Teaching Artist:
Benjamin Provo is an Ojai native and self-taught artist working in ceramics, painting, and mixed media. He received his BA from Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in performance and poetry, and has spent his adult life working as a curator, art dealer, and manager for leading contemporary artists and galleries in the US and abroad. More recently, he has been offering workshops and long form courses in wheel throwing on the East and West coasts. His work in clay employs historical vessel forms as an aesthetic armature for exploring mark-making, poetry, art history, and geological texture. Since 2018, Benjamin has been exhibiting and sharing his work in fine art galleries, design studios, and art events around the US. He currently lives and keeps a studio in Ventura CA.