Ceramic Character Design: Explore Color and Texture

Begin by learning how Nastia fell in love with ceramics in the most unexpected way. Then discover some of Nastia’s influences, from the things she sees on her travels to the colorful sets of Wes Anderson movies.

Familiarize yourself with Nastia’s preferred tools and learn how to work with them. Then start looking for inspiration, sketch your initial ideas on paper, and create a simple clay miniature to visualize your character. Nastia then shows you how to work with clay and experiment by creating different body parts. Develop a color palette and practice decorative techniques to breathe some life into your budding creature.

Time to bring your character (and your imagination) to life! Nastia teaches you how to transform a simple shape into your character’s body. Create the eyes and basic shape of the piece then add detail to the design using the slip trailing technique. Paint the creature with underglazes from your color palette and fire it in the kiln.

Nastia shares one of her most valuable tips: how to present and package your finished ceramic work. To finish the course, discover the different uses and applications for your sketches, designs, and ceramic pieces.