Handbuilding Majolica: Form & Color (Nov 3 - Dec 8) - Fall 2025 Session 2

A contemporary exploration of form, color, and surface design.

In this 6-week class, you’ll learn to create functional ceramic pieces by hand—no wheel required—while diving into the expressive world of modern majolica-style decoration.

We’ll focus on building forms like mugs, plates, platters, and tiles using slab and coil techniques. After bisque firing, you’ll decorate your pieces using a white glaze base and layer on color with underglazes and other paintable colored glazes. Explore techniques like brushwork, layering, line work, and pattern to bring your surfaces to life.

Perfect for anyone curious about combining handbuilding with bold, painterly surface design—no prior experience necessary!

What you’ll learn:

Handbuilding fundamentals

How to design and build functional forms

Surface decoration using underglazes and paintable colored glazes

Tips for working with color, pattern, and brush techniques

Includes:

All materials and firings

Weekly demos and hands-on instruction

Studio access during class

Date(s): Monday, Nov 3, 10, 17, 24, Dec 1, 8

Time: 5:30PM - 8:30PM

Teaching Artist
Suzanne Lussier

Instructor Bio
Suzanne Lussier was born and raised in California. She began teaching as a Teach for America corps member in 2002, developing an art program at a charter school in Washington DC while earning a Master of Arts in Teaching. With a great interest in global perspectives Suzanne moved to Chile for two years where she taught and was immersed in the diverse cultures of South America. In 2006 Suzanne returned to the United States and spent five years studying ceramics at the Oregon College of Art and Craft and the University of Montana, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts. Suzanne served on the Board of Directors for the National Council on Education in Ceramic Arts (NCECA) and has shown her work both nationally and abroad. Suzanne’s work has been featured in publications such as Ceramics Art and Perception. She has been an artist in residence at Red Lodge Clay Center; the Medalta Studio in Alberta, Canada; Mendocino Art Center, and was a visiting artist through a Chilean government grant in Cohaique, Chile.

Price
Non-member $365
General membership and above $328.50 (Please use discount code: ICAMEMBERSAVE at checkout)

Cancelation/Refund Policy: Cancel up to 7 days before the start of class for a full refund. Cancellations less than 7 days before the start of class are ineligible for refund.

All students receive one month of FREE MEMBERSHIP at the ICA ceramics studio following the conclusion of the course.

Interested in deepening your ceramics knowledge? This class forms part of the ICA Ceramics Certificate Program course sequence. To learn more and save on ICA courses, click here.