August 2025 Immersive Workshop

Instructor: Jen Allen

Workshop Title: Sculpting with Slabs: Create, Play, Inspire!

Workshop dates: August Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th
Full days of working with clay. 9:30am-4:30pm

1/2 Hour Lunches - please pack a lunch
(consider a cooler bag, as our small staff frig cannot fit everyone’s lunches).

Workshop Fee: $245
Refund Policy: Please read this before registering.

Workshop Description:
Ready to turn flat slabs of clay into something amazing? Join me for a fun, hands-on, 2-day workshop where we’ll dive into slab-building techniques that make creating pottery exciting and approachable for all skill levels.

Using my easy-to-follow templates, we’ll craft unique, functional pieces while exploring textures, creative assembly tricks, and design ideas that’ll spark your imagination.

By the end, you’ll take home greenware creations, custom templates, handmade texture tools, and a big dose of confidence to keep experimenting in your studio. Let’s make something awesome together!

Learn more about Jen Allen by visiting her website. www.jenniferallenceramics.com

Below are more examples of her handbuilt ceramics.

Jen Allen is a full-time ceramic artist and small business owner, with a lifelong passion for creating and teaching. She says, “Clay is a medium that connects us all while allowing for infinite expression, and I am endlessly inspired by its ability to bridge cultures and traditions.”

During the pandemic, Jen returned to her sewing roots, making over a thousand masks from an altered pattern. This experience reignited my passion for combining my love of fabric with my work in clay. she began constructing pottery from clay slabs, much like a dressmaker would create a garment. The process involves "sketching" new forms with soft clay, then cutting, tracing, and rebuilding until she achieves the desired shape. Jen finds joy in both the playful experimentation and a disciplined production process, each satisfying a different part of her creative mind.

Beyond creating, her greatest joy lies in teaching. Whether through online workshops, in-person classes, or university courses, Jen is dedicated to sharing the knowledge that others have so generously shared with her. Her goal is to inspire curiosity, encourage risk-taking, and spark a lifelong love of learning in her students. Teaching allows Jen to connect with my community and help others embark on their own creative paths.