Carys Martin Ceramics
26th Feb - 2nd April- Thursday Evening Hand building and sculpting with Diane
26th Feb - 2nd April- Thursday Evening Hand building and sculpting with Diane
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Hand-Building & Sculpting with Diane (Mud of Moon)
Thursday evenings | 6:30 – 8:30pm
6-week term: Thursday 26 February – Thursday 2nd April
📍 The Studio, Cleveland
If you’re looking to hone your sculpting skills or build a strong foundation in hand-building, this 6-week course offers the perfect balance of technical instruction, creative exploration, and supportive guidance.
Held at The Studio in Cleveland, this course is ideal for both beginners and those with some experience who wish to extend their skills and develop confidence in clay. You’ll be guided by ceramic artist Diane Rendle of Mud of Moon, whose work is deeply rooted in figurative sculpture, expressive surface detail, and narrative form. Di is known for her intuitive approach to clay, strong understanding of structure and proportion, and her ability to bring character, spirit, and emotion into sculptural work.
Throughout the term, Di will share her extensive knowledge of hand-building and sculpting techniques, including slab building, coiling, and pinch pots, with a strong emphasis on form, balance, and construction. She will demonstrate how to build strong internal structures, refine details, and work thoughtfully with clay at each stage - from the initial idea through to finishing and glazing.
Students are encouraged to follow their own creative interests, whether that’s functional forms, sculptural pieces, or more figurative work. Inspiration can be drawn from Di’s own artworks as well as pieces within the studio, and she offers individual feedback to help each student develop their own style and confidence.
Once pieces are complete, Di will guide you through a range of surface decoration techniques, including underglazes, tissue transfers, and stoneware glazes, sharing tips on layering, texture, and finishing to enhance form and surface.
This course is suitable for:
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Beginners wanting to learn solid clay foundation skills
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Continuing students wishing to refine sculptural techniques and personal style
What’s included:
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6kg of clay per student
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Glazing and firing (bisque and glaze) for work made from the included 6kg of clay
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Use of studio tools and basic materials
Once the included 6kg of clay has been used, any additional clay, glazing, and firings are available at an additional cost.
A thoughtful, skills-focused course for anyone wanting to deepen their relationship with clay and develop sculptural confidence in a supportive studio environment.
Join my Makers Meet Community - The Makers Meet to see work made in previous evening class -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/makersmeetwithcarys/
Instagram @themakersmeetwithcarys
Testimonials:
So happy to have been a student of Dianes. I did not think I had it in me to create such a piece of pottery. Proud of myself. She is such a good and talented teacher plus patient. Thank you Di for encouraging me all the way. 😊
Meet your teacher Diane -
From an early age, Diane’s world was steeped in creativity. Encouraged by her parents to explore the natural world through art, Diane developed a lifelong connection to the organic beauty of nature—a theme that continues to inspire her ceramic work today. Her mother, a self-taught printing in the traditional English style, and her father, a painter and restorer who worked on the vintage circus collection of Barnum & Bailey, instilled in her a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and storytelling through art.
Professionally, Diane has spent over 21 years as a pastry chef, currently working at the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast, with part of her role to create show stopper displays modelled out of chocolate. Alongside her culinary career, she has spent the last eight years developing her skills in ceramics, with a particular passion for sculpture and hand-building techniques. Her daily work teaching pastry chefs sculptural techniques in chocolate has naturally deepened her understanding of form, texture, and creative teaching—skills she now brings into her clay practice.
Diane’s ceramic art is heavily influenced by her Celtic heritage and a deep respect for the natural world. Themes of ancient stone circles, the Green Man, and the cycle of life and nature are woven throughout her work, reflecting her belief that we come from the earth and will one day return to it.
As she continues to work as a pastry chef, Diane is also expanding her artistic practice, blending her discipline, creativity, and love for teaching into a growing career in ceramics. I am so excited to have her join The Studio team!
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