From Surface to Story

A One-Day Workshop in Decorating Greenware

May 2, 2026

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (1-Hour Lunch Break)

Pottery doesn’t end when the form is finished.
That’s where the story begins.

This one-day, hands-on workshop teaches participants how to decorate greenware with intention, so that when pieces reach the bisque stage, glaze becomes a frame for the artwork rather than a last-minute fix. Instead of relying on glaze to rescue a surface, participants learn to build meaning, imagery, and design directly into the clay.

The day blends clear instruction, creative exploration, relaxed studio time, and personal application, allowing participants to move from learning techniques to completing decorated greenware in a single focused session.

Your Instructor

Mack Munro. Co-owner of Fair Winds Pottery

What to Expect

• Step-by-step demonstrations

• Guided hands-on practice

• Time to experiment without pressure

• Individual feedback and troubleshooting

• A relaxed studio atmosphere centered on making, conversation, and creative flow

• Decorated greenware pieces ready for firing

Participants will explore how surface decoration and glaze work together, gaining confidence in planning surfaces before bisque rather than reacting afterward.

Techniques Covered

Participants will learn and use:

• Underglaze

• Scribing

• Sgraffito

• Underglaze Transfers

• Airbrushing

No prior experience with these techniques is required.

What to Bring

• At least two green pieces of pottery. They can be mugs, bowls, platters, sculptures or anything similar.

• Your favorite brushes and tools for finishing

• Your favorite underglazes

• Any underglaze transfers or images you want to use (these will be provided if you don’t have any)

Schedule

**9:00 – 10:15

Foundations: Underglaze & Surface Awareness**

• Welcome and overview of greenware timing and preparation

• Understanding surface as storytelling, not decoration

• Demonstration of underglaze application: layering, opacity, line quality, and color control

• Hands-on practice decorating tiles to explore brushwork, gradients, and imagery

Focus: Confidence with color and mark-making on green clay.

**10:15 – 11:30

Line & Contrast: Scribing and Sgraffito**

• Demonstration of scribing for clean linear drawing in clay

• Demonstration of sgraffito for carving through slip or underglaze to create contrast

• Guidance on timing, pressure, and avoiding chip-out

• Hands-on tile work exploring line, pattern, and carved imagery

Focus: Turning drawing into surface structure.

**11:30 – 12:00

Layering Techniques: Transfers & Airbrush Basics**

• Applying underglaze transfers: moisture, placement, and burnishing

• Introduction to airbrushing: thinning underglaze, soft gradients, and background atmosphere

• Quick practice combining layered surface approaches on tiles

Focus: Building depth and visual atmosphere.

**12:00 – 1:00

Lunch Break**

Step away from the table.
Let ideas settle.
Talk clay, life, or nothing at all.

**1:00 – 3:30

Design Planning on Personal Greenware**

• Inspecting and preparing participant pieces

• Sketching directly on mugs, bowls, platters, or tiles

• Choosing technique combinations that support the form

• Individual coaching before decoration begins

Focus: Moving from experimentation to intention.

Open Studio: Decorating Personal Work

Participants apply one or more techniques:

• Underglaze

• Scribing

• Sgraffito

• Transfers

• Airbrushing

Instructor circulates to:

• Demonstrate refinements

• Offer design suggestions

• Troubleshoot challenges

• Help participants avoid overworking

Focus: Technique becoming personal voice.

**3:30 – 4:00

Final Touches & Reflection**

• Cleaning edges and sharpening details

• Group sharing of finished work

• Discussion of firing, glazing, and next steps

• Closing reflections on process, relaxation, and creative practice

Participants leave with:

• Decorated greenware ready for firing

• Practical experience with five surface techniques

• A clearer plan for future surface design

• The quiet satisfaction of a full day spent making

Why This Workshop Matters

This isn’t only about technique.

It’s about slowing down, working with your hands, sharing stories across the table, and creating something that feels unmistakably yours. A single day in the studio can reset the noise, steady the breath, and remind you why clay keeps calling people back.

Come for the skills.
Stay for the conversation.
Leave with a story you made yourself.

Location

Mud Puddle Pottery

462 US-70, Pegram, TN 37143

To register, click HERE.