The Clay Studio Blog

Lynne Hobaica Vase July 16th: Slide lecture with visiting artist: Lynne Hobaica. 5:30-7:30pm. Just $10. Come enjoy an inspiring Summer evening with our warm community on a glorious Bucks County property in an open-air, converted barn. Get all the details HERE! July 17th: Spend a day at the studio enjoying a Demonstration and Conversation with the celebrated potter: Lynne Hobaica. She'll make a few pots and then using techniques that include: painted slip, paper resists, using

Bill & Coral Short Bill This is your last chance to register for our artist talk this coming Thursday, May 28th from 5:30-7:30. Join us to learn about the life of our visiting Australian artist. Admission is just $10. Learn more and register HERE. The images in this post are a few examples of her work which focus on endangered and vanishing species in Australia. Bandits: Long Bill Corellas

Lynne Hobaica Vase The talents of North Carolina Potter: Lynne Hobaica are many. She has cultivated both a unique hand-building approach AND personalized narrative surfaces. When we first listed her 2-day cup workshop, it filled immediately. So I asked if she'd be willing to add a 1-Day, demo-style workshop for anyone wanting to learn from her who couldn't grab a seat in the weekend event. In this single day event, Lynne will be hand-building plates, cups and more forms (as t

Tyree Dworak's Gnome Example Join Tyree Dworak the weekend of June 6th and 7th for: "The Gnome Workshop" Inspired by folklore and figurative sculpture, this intensive invites you to explore the enduring symbolism of gnomes. Learn hand building techniques to design and sculpt a personalized clay gnome, focusing on character, expression, and form during this immersive, weekend studio experience. Enjoy our warm, supportive community and the light heart of a weekend visit in Fren

Bill & Coral Short Bill As our studio matures here in Frenchtown, we've begun bringing artists in from a distance to teach and give artist talks. Next up: a lifelong ceramic sculptor from Australia. When Lisa had the honor of receiving a residency through NCECA back in 2005, she traveled to the Australian National University in Canberra, Aus to work as a visiting artist in their clay studio for a few months. It was there she met this artist and they became friends. We're thri

Example by workshop instructor: Tyree Dworak Some workshops take themselves very seriously. This is not one of them. Dogs in Chairs will take place April 25 and 26 in the river-loving charm of Frenchtown, NJ where we’ll be doing exactly what it sounds like: sculpting dogs… sitting in chairs. Regal dogs. Awkward dogs. Dogs who look like they pay taxes. Dogs who absolutely do not. Underneath the silliness is the stillness of learning—structure, balance, gesture, and how the sl

We've had 2 last minute cancelations for Lisa Orr's workshop this weekend (April 11-12). Read more and register HERE . Join us for Lisa's slide lecture this coming Friday evening (April 10) by clicking HERE . Tickets just $10! Our Spring, 7-week class session begins next week and there are a few seats still available. Joining one this session will give you access to 24/7 Open Studio as well as the option to continue doing Open Studio all Summer long! Register HERE . Tyree Dwo

Lisa Orr has been a studio potter for 40+ years. After completing an MFA at the NYSCC Alfred in 1992, she received a Fulbright, an MAAA/NEA and other grants to research ceramics and create films. Her work has been placed in numerous public and private collections. Currently refining an accessible smokeless wood kiln, she also teaches, lectures, and shows nationally and internationally. Join us on Friday, April 10th as Lisa presents a slide talk focused on the development of h

Our final, 7-week class session begins the week of April 12th. Then we break for the Summer with Open Studio and our Workshops Series. Join us for one of the classes and gain skills enough to join our Summer Open Studio program. During your class or the Open Studio period, you'll have 24/7 access to our warm, supportive studio (except during workshop/class periods). Now in our 5th year, our studio vibe is tremendous. It takes a few years to work out the bugs and get everythin

Clay Home by Micah Sweezie Build a miniature home—real or imagined—while learning stiff-slab-building techniques. Whether it's based on your home, a fairy cottage, a bird house or a dream house, bring your small-scale sanctuary to life. Micah Sweezie joins us from The Clay Studio in Philadelphia each Tuesday from 10:30-1:30. This new class offering will begin April 14th. You can read more and register HERE .

Taking one of Jeanine Pennell's "Head Stories" workshops is a fantastic and wild ride. She sets each and every student up for success and abides with them every step of the way. If you ever wanted to take a workshop with Jeanine or explore the human figure, this chance is coming on March 27-28 and April 3 during this 3-day workshop. Learn more and register here .

A fresh session of classes begins next week on February 23rd. There's never been a better time to join our supportive, warm community. Beginners are welcome in 4 out of our 5 offerings! Learn how to hand build both functional and sculptural vessels and/or work with animal/human figures. You can read more and register HERE !

Work by Lynne Hobaica Upcoming Classes are now open for Registration!! There are 2 sessions remaining before Summer break: the next one begins the week of February 23rd and the Spring session begins the week of April 13th. Learn how to hand build both functional and sculptural vessels and/or work with animal/human figures. Also, we've added 2 more workshops and another artists talk. Aussie, Bev Hogg will join us while visiting the US to teach a 3-day "Birds with Attitudes"

Cup by Lynne Hobaica We're thrilled to announce Spring and Summer Workshops for 2026 ! Registration will go live this Thursday at 10:00am Eastern Time. This year's line-up includes hands-on making with: Lynne Hobaica from North Carolina, Lisa Orr from Massachusettes, Micah Sweezie from The Clay Studio in Philadelphia (by way of Vietnam and Michigan) and regional artists: Jeanine Pennell and Tyree Dworak. There will also be 2, stand-alone slide lectures (pot-luck dinners) with

Our Fall Classes generated a lot of wonderful creating by the student community. Seeing it all coming through the kilns, I marveled at the array of diversity. Here, members are encouraged to express their own unique voice after first being supported to build some basic skills. Most people start as beginners. A lot of what I'm sharing in this post was made by people in their first year of engagement. All of our classes now include unlimited Open Studio access (outside of sched

Beginning on Tuesday, January 6th , Micah will teach a 7-week course that will cover hand building fundamentals, useful in both functional, sculptural, and hybrid forms. This class is open to all skill levels and will encourage students to construct and realize forms beyond the assumed utility of ceramic wares. Micah is a resident artist at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia. You can read about Micah HERE . Register for the 7-week class HERE .

Since putting some of our Mystery Artist's work in our display windows, the BUZZ has been gigantic. I told the artist this and his response was to send over some additional tea sets, hot out of the kiln. Sale starts at 10am sharp this coming Saturday and 11am on Sunday! We're at 34 Bridge St. in Frenchtown, NJ. Come early for best selection!

In addition to showing the work of artists I mentioned in a previous post, this year's studio sale will include the pottery of an internationally known artist who has requested to go un-named. What I can tell you is that the work they're best known for was made from both steel and glass. Personally, I'm gobsmacked by the prolific nature of this artist's studio life. They exceed all ordinary boundaries which invites the viewer to question their own assumptions regarding limita

Last night I took these pics during Tyree Dworak's evening sculpture class. I'm certain that community and creativity are antidotes to the crazy times we're living in. Join our Winter Session or give the gift of creativity to someone you love by purchasing a gift certificate . These classes now include open studio time for practicing. That means you can come ANYTIME (outside of scheduled classes) to practice and hang out with others exploring creativity. Join our supportive,

Bring joy and creativity to the darkest days of Winter starting in January! There's a class for you here whether you're a beginner or have been working in clay for a while. Classes now include open studio time for practicing. That means you can come ANYTIME (outside of scheduled classes) to practice and hang out with others exploring creativity. Join our supportive, warm community! Come play! Brian Chen will teach intro to handbuilding on Tuesday mornings and Tuesday afterno

Once a year we transform the clay studio into a gallery and welcome the public to join us here. This year's sale will highlight the 3 ceramic artists who teach at the studio (Tyree Dworak, Brian Chen and me) plus Jean Kuhn (Lisa's sister) who makes all manner of bags for carrying things (totes, duffels, etc.) from recycled demin. I hope that you can stop in on that first December weekend!

Bowls made for the 2024 event. Hi Everyone, Tickets for the upcoming Empty Bowl fundraising event are now on sale. Here’s the link with...

Tyree Dworak's Black Cap Chickadee in Motion Join us in September to make some things with your hands while making some new friends!...

Tyree Dworak's Resourceful Raccoon What if you could make your own animal avatar out of clay? You could process something you're working...

Brian Chen's "Mobius Trays" In a world that often seems to make little sense, we offer an opportunity to ground yourself through clay,...

Brian Chen's "Mobius Trays" Join us this Fall to make some things with your hands while making some new friends! Whether you're...

Karlene Kanter's Flower Frog Vase Join us for one of the 3 workshops left with a seat for YOU! Beginners through advanced makers are...

July 11th, 12th and 13th, I'll be teaching a workshop titled: Wild Vessels: Animal Flower Holders . Over the years, I've made a LOT of...

Andrea Finishing her Bear We have some seats for you in a few choice Summer workshops. On June 4-6th, Tyree Dworak will faciliate a...

Join Tyree Dworak for an intensive 3-day workshop and create your own animal figure this Summer: June 4th-6th. Perfect for those who...