Creating Ceramics with Character
A course by Sandra ApperlooCeramic Artist
A course by Sandra Apperloo, Ceramic Artist
Sculpt and decorate a vase with personality using original techniques
Working with clay is a craft that is filled with surprises. From the initial mold to the final glaze, there are endless possibilities to explore. Sandra Apperloo is a ceramist who has not only found great joy in the craft, but also made it her full-time profession. Her brand, known as The Pottery Parade, is filled with quirky faces and pastel hues, has over 100K followers on Instagram, and has been featured in magazines like This is Colossal, ArtPeople, and more.
In this course, Sandra shares each step of her creative process so you too can create your own universe of ceramic characters. Using your intuition and curiosity, learn to mold, sculpt, glaze, fire, and decorate your own unique bud vases to bring character to your home or give as an unforgettable gift.
What will you learn in this online course?
20 lessons & 28 downloads
Materials
13 minutes, 7 seconds
Preparing the Decoration Materials
11 minutes, 4 seconds
My Favorite Pattern Techniques 1
15 minutes, 20 seconds
My Favorite Pattern Techniques 2
10 minutes, 24 seconds
Creating Characters 1
13 minutes, 13 seconds
Rolling the Vase
19 minutes, 54 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know Sandra, learn about her experience as a ceramic artist, and see some of her biggest inspirations in the art world.
Get familiar with your materials in the second unit, learning how to work with clay in its different states. See how to decorate ceramics and learn about the pattern techniques Sandra likes to use.
Next, have fun experimenting with clay by learning how to create characters, from their face to the hair. Define the overall shape of your vase and let your character develop intuitively.
Get started on your bud vase in the next unit by creating the clay slab and building your design. Sculpt your piece until it is ready to be fired, and get Sandra’s expert advice on how to transport it safely to your firing location.
Once your vase is fired and dry, it’s time to decorate! Follow Sandra’s tips and tricks for bringing your characters to life through color and add a transparent glaze to your artwork.
In the final unit, learn how to waterproof your vase and get Sandra’s advice on how to take pictures of your work to share on Instagram. Finally, see the best way to care for your bud vase and find the perfect place to display it!
What is this course's project?
Create a clay bud vase with quirky characters using Sandra’s techniques to mold, sculpt, and decorate it.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in creating ceramics, with or without previous experience.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is necessary, although some experience in illustration or pottery will be helpful.
As for materials, to mold and sculpt you will need clay, a textile cloth (preferably canvas or linen), a medium-sized bowl, a rolling pin, two wooden paint-stirring sticks (with a 3-5mm width), a piece of cardboard, scissors, a ruler, measuring tape, a long paintbrush (30-35 cm) with a wide brush (3-4 cm), a pin tool, wire cutter, an iron scraper, a toothbrush, sticky tape, a small potato knife, a sponge, a box with a lid, newspaper, a water sprayer, and a tea towel.
To decorate the vase, you will need pencils or regular paint, a set of paintbrushes, underglaze, and mixing bowls.
To glaze and fire the vase, you will need a large paintbrush, transparent glaze, access to a kiln, a set of small bowls, and some additional materials for mixing the glaze.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
Muy practico para personas que no tienen mucha practica en cerámica, buenas ideas para decorar
- 4 months ago
Un cours bien découpé en étapes simples à suivre et avec des instructions très claires pour un résultat très satisfaisant. Je ne pensais pas être capable de réaliser des décorations florales aussi jolies. Merci beaucoup :-)
- bilorodriguesPLUS10 months ago
Este curso foi muito interessante. A formadora é excelente, explica muito bem todo o processo. Obrigada
- 10 months ago
excelente curso para los que les gusta la ceramica y aprender nuevas tecnicas
- 1 year ago
Este curso resulto muy completo. Lo recomiendo para toda persona que quiera iniciarse en el fabuloso mundo de la cerámica. Gracias.
Sandra is now a full-time ceramic artist, putting love, thought, and effort into every piece she creates. Her brand, The Pottery Parade, includes a wide variety of decorative objects in pastel hues, with each piece carefully adorned with fun little faces.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- What We Will Do in the Course?
- U2
Clay and Decoration
- Materials
- Preparing the Decoration Materials
- My Favorite Pattern Techniques 1
- My Favorite Pattern Techniques 2
- Creating Characters 1
- Creating Characters 2
- U3
Making the Vases
- Creating the Clay Slab
- Rolling the Vase
- Building the Vase
- Shaping the Vase 1
- Shaping the Vase 2
- First Firing Session and Transportation
- U4
Making the Vases - After the First Firing
- Painting the Vases
- Glazing the Vase
- U5
Sharing and Enjoying Your Cuddling Vase
- Making Sure Your Vase is Water-resistant
- Capturing and Sharing Your Cuddling Vase
- Enjoying Your Cuddling Vase!
- FP
Final project
- Creating Ceramics with Character
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for absolute beginners and guides you step-by-step through basic handbuilding and painting techniques in ceramics.
You will need clay (earthenware or stoneware), a rolling pin, wire cutter, sponges, brushes, underglaze colors, slip, and access to a kiln for firing your pieces.
You’ll learn to handbuild ceramic vases, sculpt faces, paint detailed patterns and botanicals, mix underglaze colors, and create unique, expressive ceramic pieces from start to finish.
Yes, firing your ceramics in a kiln is necessary to harden your pieces and finish the decorated surfaces.
Yes, the course covers strategies for promoting and selling your ceramics online, including tips for photography, packaging, and social media marketing.
You’ll learn to sculpt facial features and experiment with expressions using additive clay techniques, underglaze painting, and pattern decoration methods.
Both earthenware and stoneware are suitable; the course explains the differences and helps you choose the right clay for your projects.