For information on hosting or to attend a Korean Ceramic Workshop in your area, please e-mail us.

     I begin my ceramic studies under Kenneth Beittel a skilled and spiritual mentor whose depth of understanding and ability to help one gain nourishment from the natural heart of ceramics still seems unparalleled.  Later, in 1963 I studied with the Japanese master Hamada Shoji and in 1965 with the Japanese master Inouie Manji.  I also worked in the studio of Lee Jun Hee in Korea during my 1978-1979 sabbatical.  

     Beittel wrote the book Zen and the Art of Pottery.  (A version three time the length of the published one was written.)  Hamada was at the time of my work under him a Human Cultural Treasure and the porcelain master Inouie Manji later became one.  At the Lee studio, I learned Korean studio practices. 

     We call these “Korean Ceramic Workshops”, even though I learned much from Japanese masters, because both Hamada and Inouie owe much to Korean ceramic artists.

In any case those experiences, and many ceramic research trips to Korea with Mary my wife since, have taught us a great deal about the ceramic forming and decorating processes used in Korea.

     Often these processes are simpler and more direct than the ceramic processes most often taught in the West.    

     Mary, my wife, was an elementary art teacher.  I taught ceramics at a university.  When we taught the Asian forming processes to our students we discovered remarkable improvement in our student’s work.  Third graders were making handles, spouts and pouring lips as well as college students.  High school students taught by our former students were learning to throw quicker and with more precision.  They often amazed their ceramic instructors when they went to college.

     In 1996 we received a grant to teach these ceramic processes to art teachers.  Those teachers made the same discovery.  Soon ceramic artists were joining our workshops, some had international reputations.  We have presented Korean Ceramic Workshops to more than 3500 ceramic artists and arts teachers from 35 states.

     The workshops we now present grew from the workshops we presented under our grant.  As more information is gained, it is added to our workshops. 

     Typically a hand building / decorating workshop lasts for two days often with an evening of slides and video prior to the workshop.  The slides-video evening is often open to the public.

   Wheel forming workshops are available only to those with some prior “throwing” experience and who have attended one of our hand building / decorating workshops .   Week long or longer workshops that include hand forming, decorating and throwing using the Korean “Eye of the Clay” processes are possible.

   We provide a considerable amount of educational materials at our workshops.   Workshop participants also receive a discount on any of our tours to Korea.

   To discuss a workshop proposal, please contact us by e-mail, leave your phone number and recommend at time for us to call you.  Alternatively, we’ll correspond by e-mail.