Clay Couples Portraits

If you’re looking for a fun, creative, and slightly hilarious date night, this one is for you. Come join us for a relaxed workshop where you and your partner will hand-build ceramic self-portraits (or rather, portraits of each other) – creating a quirky, one-of-a-kind keepsake to laugh over forever.

No pottery experience? None needed at all. We’re going to play around with a few simple sculpting and plaque-building methods to help you capture your partner’s best features (or funniest quirks!). It’s a completely judgment-free space to try something new, share some laughs, and unwind together.

What to expect:

• The playbook: We’ll demonstrate each stage of the process before you dive in. You’ll learn how to form a base slab or bust and shape basic facial features like eyes, noses, lips, and hair.
• Make it yours: Once the main face is mapped out, the fun begins. Go for a flattering realistic likeness, a dramatic artistic interpretation, or a hilarious caricature. We’re right there to help you figure out how to capture that signature hairstyle or smile.
• The final bake: After you’ve finished sculpting each other, leave them with us. We will dry, glaze, and kiln-fire your pieces. It takes about 6 weeks to do our part, and we’ll shout the second your romantic masterpieces are ready to display.

Come on in, learn a new skill, and leave with a memorable portrait and a fantastic memory.

The Game Plan

1. The Welcome & Intro

We’ll kick things off by settling in with some refreshments. We’ll show you a few finished ceramic salt pigs to to help you picture what you want, and quickly run through the boring-but-important logistics of how the glazing and firing process works.

2. The Demo

Before you touch a piece of clay, we’ll show you exactly how it’s done. We’ll demonstrate a few different hand-building methods; like rolling clay coils to build up the walls, using wooden paddles to shape and smooth the curves, and the secret to joining clay seamlessly.

3. The Making Part

This is where you take over. You’ll get straight to building your salt pig using whichever technique feels best in your hands, while we wander around to help, offer tips, or rescue any collapsing structures. Once you’ve added your personal textures and finishing touches, you’ll stamp your name on your masterpiece, we’ll snap a photo for our records, and grab your details so we can text you when it’s ready.

The Nitty-Gritty

• Time: 1.5 hours of relaxed making and chatting.

• Group Size: Small groups of up to 8. A bit of focus goes a long way with these techniques, making it perfect for grown-ups and older teens looking to build their clay skills.

• Cost: £35 per person (refreshments and postage of fired item extra if wanted).

• Got questions? Drop us a line at workshop@kiln.cafe, we’re happy to chat.