Lush & Layered: Stencils and Underglaze Painting with Taylor Sijan

If you want to create enticing, complex, and colorful surfaces, this workshop is for you! In this one-day workshop at the studio, Taylor Sijan will demonstrate her unique approach to layering underglaze on bone dry porcelain using paper resists!

Taylor creates beautiful, tactile pottery with multiple layers of underglaze and glaze. She builds up layers strategically, carefully planning out application and color usage.

During this workshop, Taylor will show students how she forms a handbuilt plate and then plans her color process and patterning with paper stencils. From there, she will walk students through how she builds layer upon layer of color. During this process, Taylor will explain how she chooses composition and color palettes. She will also talk about how she anticipates and addresses common accidents that occur during this technique when she cleans up and refines the painted surface.

Students will be provided bone dry porcelain tiles as well as underglaze and a small packet of laser-cut newsprint stencils to practice with. Students can also bring their own bone dry work and some simple newsprint stencils. Tiles will be bisqued for students to finish up after the class at a later date. Glazing services can be provided through the studio separately.

Please note: Taylor’s decorative process entails creating paper stencils with a laser cutter for patterning on her work, but this workshop will not feature the actual stencil making/design process. Some information will be given in regards to the materials and equipment, and any and all questions are welcome!

This workshop is suitable for artists of all levels! These techniques are applicable to any clay body or firing temperature, but some underglaze colors provided can burn out if fired above cone 7.

The event will include breakfast refreshments and a 45-minute lunch break. Feel free to bring your own lunch, snacks, and beverages! We seek to foster community, so if you want to bring enough to share, we always encourage pot-luck style gatherings.