Ceramic Birch Bark Baskets with Eric Serritella
Two Day Hands-On Workshop January 16-17, 2027
Learn surface detailing and thin slab construction techniques to create your own lifelike birch bark basket in clay. Participants will explore the use of slip, stains, washes, and texture to achieve movement and realism in the trompe l’oeil tradition.
This workshop is suitable for both beginners and experienced potters. Eric Serritella is a talented artist and a wonderful instructor who creates an encouraging and inspiring learning environment for all skill levels.
This two-day weekend workshop will combine instructor demonstration and student hands-on participation to create birch bark from clay. Eric will share a wealth of clay techniques to make realistic bark baskets and vessels. Students will try the techniques on a small piece to keep. In addition to birch bark creation, Eric will emphasize sculptural elements, ways of seeing as an artist, and anecdotally share his experiences making, marketing and selling wheel thrown and hand-built works in clay.
Students will leave with knowledge of how to:
• manually create large slabs without the use of a slab roller.
• handle and assemble slabs of clay.
• use templates for making projects from slabs.
• mix and use slips of different consistencies and viscosities.
• recreate the look of birch bark in clay.
• recreate the look of leather straps in clay for incorporation into birch projects.
• mix and use ceramic stains in layers and for visual accent.
Eric Serritella is recognized internationally as one of the top ceramic trompe l’oeil artists in the world. He specializes in hand-carved sculptures transforming clay into birch, charred and weathered logs. His one-of-a-kind pieces are known for their hyper-realism, and have been shown, awarded and collected on five continents for their exquisite organic design and incredibly lifelike textures. Works have been contributed to nearly 160 exhibitions with over two dozen pieces in museum collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Everson Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Eric was honored by the James Renwick Alliance as the 2016 Distinguished Artist in Ceramics at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His 2018 solo show at Jason Jacques Gallery was recommended in the NY Times and he has received positive acclaim by Architectural Digest and renowned art critic/historian Daniella Ohad. Serritella is also an accomplished potter, having studied with production potters in the USA and with four clay masters in Taiwan.
Throughout all his workshops, Eric emphasizes visual elements, ways of seeing as an artist, and anecdotally shares his experiences making, marketing and selling wheel-thrown and hand-built works in clay. He is a fun, engaging and mindful presenter who is sure to help bring new techniques, ideas and life to your creations. www.ericserritella.com
Refunds less credit card fees are available up to 14 days before the workshop begins. After that period, the fee is non-refundable. However, you may transfer your ticket to a friend.
