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Intro to Handbuilding: Create Your Own Tableware

Intro to Handbuilding with Sonja Hinrichsen

Come and play with clay – the earth itself! We will cover basic clay handling and building techniques and explore a wide range of surface decoration methods. This class will primarily focus on building handmade vessels from clay slabs – cups, mugs, bowls, plates, trays, soap dishes, ornaments and much more. We will adorn our pieces with textures and patterns. We will work with templates, stamping, carving, and with colorful stains and underglazes to create unique and beautifully designed ceramic surfaces. Finally, we’ll glaze our pieces. Your ware will be food safe and will add a unique touch to your home and kitchen. This class is suited for all levels – no prior clay experience is required.

General Tuition: $465
Pay It Forward: $490
Scholarship Tier I (Limited): $415
Scholarship Tier II (Limited): $440

Accessibility Notice –
This class takes place in the Sculpture Lab which is located on the first floor.  This class may require materials or processes that are hazardous for animals. Please email classes@kala.org prior to enrolling so we can assess if we are able to accommodate you and your service animal safely and efficiently.

  • Tuition: $465
  • Location: Sculpture Lab
  • Instructor: Sonja Hinrichsen
  • 3 Classes
  • Sunday, October 5, 2025 — October 19, 2025
  • 10:00AM — 4:00PM
  • TBD Materials Fee - Payable to the instructor on the first day

Register

About the Instructor:

Sonja studied Art Education in Stuttgart Germany. She also has an MFA in New Genres from the San Francisco Art Institute (2001). She has participated in group/solo-
exhibitions and artist residencies worldwide. Sonja creates immersive installations and conducts participatory art events with communities all over the US and Europe. In her large-scale project “Snow Drawings” she merges collaborative art-making with sublime nature experience. A core interest are environmental concerns and human relationships with. A project about wild-growing plants as a food source led to the need for custom ceramics ware. She began taking ceramics classes at an Oakland community college in 2014. She has
since taken many workshops and classes to hone her skills in throwing, hand-building, glazing and firing techniques. She spent the fall 2024 semester at the University of Nebraska to study with acclaimed ceramicists Pete Pinnell and Margaret Bohls. Sonja has been teaching ceramics for several years. In 2021/22 she ran the Ceramics Program at the Randall Museum in San Francisco. She currently teaches at Studio One and at Clayroom, both in Oakland.