Workshops & Events
Studio Mentor
Join Award-Winning Ceramic Sculptor
Kirstin OMalley at Fat Cat Pottery on
Saturdays for ongoing sessions of
mentoring in hand building technique.
Bring your project and let’s get it done
together!
Pottery Festival 2024
Fat Cat Pottery is thrilled to announce its upcoming Pottery Festival, taking place on October 5th, 2024, at the picturesque Trask Family Farm. This one-day event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of all things pottery, bringing together local and regional potters, artists and enthusiasts for a fun-filled day of demonstrations, workshops and shopping.
The Pottery Festival will kick off at 10:00am and run until 4:00pm, offering attendees a unique opportunity to connect with the makers and creators behind the beautiful handmade pottery on display. Visitors can expect to find an array of functional and decorative pieces, including ceramics, sculptures and jewelry, all crafted with love and care by local potters.
Highlights of the festival include:
Live pottery demonstrations by talented local artists
Hands-on workshops
A marketplace featuring over 40 local potters and artisans selling their wares
Food and drink vendors offering a variety of delicious options
Live music and entertainment throughout the day
Admission to the Pottery Festival is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person to support the event. All proceeds will benefit the local arts community including Dreams of Wilmington.
Trask Family Farm is located at 3650 Blue Clay Road.
Stay tuned into Fat Cat Pottery’s social media and this page for a full list of participating potters and vendors.
Mark your calendars for October 5th, 2024, and get ready to indulge your senses in the world of pottery!
Fountains
Explore the art of creating beautiful fountains with Helen Doemland September 3rd through 5th at Fat Cat Pottery. In a small group format that allows space and time for collaboration, the class will discuss design and engineering concepts that will help you to build a functioning hand-built ceramic water fountain.
Seating is limited.
$150 tuition, 50% non-refundable deposit, clay/supplies sold separately.
Commercial Glazes Workshop
Get ready to get glaze-y in this half day workshop designed to introduce potters to the world of commercial glazes. In this workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of glaze applications and techniques using celadons, fluxes, underglazes and more. To get the most out of this class, please bring at least 10 bisque test tiles or small pieces of pottery to practice on. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have the knowledge to take home to your own handcrafted pottery. Sign up now and get ready to unleash your creativity!
Tuition $50, 50% non refundable deposit, 48hr cancel notice.
Beginner Class
Glazes included. Please be prepared by bringing about 10 bisque test tiles.
Seating Limited. Register by phone 910-395-2529
Sea Life Workshop
Join us at Fat Cat Pottery on Saturday, July 20th for a fin-tastic workshop! Ryan McKechnie will be leading a session where you can build your own sea creatures using clay! This workshop is perfect for potters with some experience working with clay. Sign up now and get ready to unleash your inner oceanographer… or should we say, ceramist?
Tuition $75
Register by phone 910-395-2529
Clay, firing, tools and other supplies sold separately.
Pot Swap with CCCG
Pot Swap
Coastal Carolina Clay Guild is joining us at Fat Cat for a pottery swap! This is a free event. All you need to do is bring a finished piece of pottery to present for the swap. Enjoy a local food truck and the company of fellow artists at this lunchtime event.
Ben Owen III 3 Day Workshop
Ben Owen III - 3 Day Workshop
In this 3 day workshop, visiting artist, Ben Owen III, will demonstrate and teach techniques that he has acquired from generations of family potters in Seagrove, NC. Learning outcomes include throwing in multi-part pieces, decoration, glazing and firing methods. Presentation & open discussion.
May 3rd - 5th, 2024
Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sgraffito
Intermediate and advanced students welcome! This workshop requires students to bring their own leather-hard pieces to learn and practice with. This classic Italian carving technique uses a variety of tools and underglazes to allow the artist to reveal beautiful and intricate designs. $50 per person. Seating is limited, please clal or email to sign up.
Instructor: Stephanie Bennett
Throwing Big
Throwing Big
Instructor: Luke Lamont
Intermediate to advanced students will have the opportunity to learn and practice throwing with large amounts of clay - 12-25lbs on the wheelhead at one time. Luke will share his knowledge on centering and tricks for controlling large amounts of clay. Students can expect to learn and practice. A pre-requisite is to be able to center 4lbs and pull an 8” cylinder.
This is a 3 day hands on workshop. 9:30am-12:30pm
$200 per person.
$20 non-refundable Deposit due at sign up.
Limited seating, please call to register.
Saggar Firing
In this two part workshop students will have the opportunity to create one of a kind Saggar fired wares using feathers, horse hair, sugar and other combustibles. Intermediate students should have a bisqued piece ready to go for this workshop the day before (March 14th). We will begin by preparing the pieces with terra sig and mica powder. The following day (March 15th) we will beging the firing process. Dress for the weather as this process requires open air ventilation. $85 per person. Seating is limited, please call or email to sign up.
Instructor: Mary Holden-Hall
GR Forms
Explore the many methods and techniques utilizing GR Forms in making wares from slabs. This is an intermediate class, students should already understand the basics of handbuilding with clay. Some forms are provided for practice, but you are welcome to bring your own if you have them! $50 per person. Seating is limited, please call or email to sign up.
Instructor: Stephanie Bennett
Tools for Throwing Sets
Intermediate students welcome! This workshop aims to help artists throw multiples and sets of the same shape with ease. Students should be able to throw a cylinder on their own before coming to this workshop. Here we will explore “profile ribs” and calipers to hit target shapes and sizes. Not only will you be able to practice using the ribs, you will also learn how to make your own unique profile shapes. $50 per person. Seating is limited, please call or email to sign up.
Instructor: Jerry Hansen
Human Face Sculpting Series
This advanced sculpture series is designed to enhance your skills in figure representation. Instructor Kirstin O’Malley will guide you in capturing the many complex details of the human face. This class pairs well with the Artist Lecture from January 20th. If you have other previous experience in face sculpting you may register as well.
Class price covers instruction only, clay and tools must be purchased separately or brought from home.
$200 rate includes three class sessions of 3 hours in length.
Saturday February 10th 9:30am-12:30pm
Saturday February 17th 9:30am-12:30pm
Friday February 23rd 12:30pm-3:00pm
Glaze Techniques
This small group intermediates class focuses on glazing. Bring your own bisqued pieces to learn a range of techniques, including dipping, painting, silk screen, bubble glazing, fluxes, and line work. $50 per person. Seating is limited, please call or email to sign up.
Instructor: Stephanie Bennett
Empty Bowls ILM
Fat Cat Pottery is an official DROP OFF location for Empty Bowls ILM 2024. Now through March 15th. All bowls for donation should be signed on the bottom, “empty bowls” - with all other creative details up to you!
For more information including tickets and volunteer information, visit their site Empty Bowls ILM
Small Business Management
Join us for a seminar from The Small Business Association. Learn the basics and helpful tips & tricks on running and managing your own small business, in art or other passions. This is a free seminar! Seating is limited, please call or email to sign up.
25 Year Anniversary Pottery Festival
Join us to celebrate 25 years of Fat Cat Pottery!
We are very excited to host artists and vendors on site at the studio. There will be a collaborative piece created during the event, pottery demonstrations by our instructors, food, music, studio tours, and more!
Make sure to get a raffle ticket during the event for beautiful pottery pieces made by talented local artists! All proceeds will be donated to our friends, DREAMS of Wilmington.
Enjoy 10% off your total purchase in the shop during the festival!
Free entry and parking at 2500 Blue Clay Rd. Wilmington, NC.
Member Showcase
Grand Opening with our 25th Anniversary Celebration! Fat Cat is now featuring it’s members work in a Member Showcase! The wide variety of work can be seen and shopped during our normal business hours starting November 18th. Details below.
