Sculptural Bonsai Container Workshop: 2-Part Series
Create a sculptural bonsai container by hand in this two-part ceramic workshop at
Bentwood Nursery in Laura Dufala’s studio. Using slab-building techniques and rich brown clay,
participants will design and build a shallow, one-of-a-kind bonsai vessel that balances
function with artistic expression.
Inspired by traditional bonsai aesthetics as well as contemporary ceramic form, this workshop
encourages organic shapes, subtle asymmetry, texture, and landscape-inspired surfaces rather
than rigid symmetry or conventional pottery forms. Participants will be invited to think about
the character and feeling of a future bonsai while shaping their container—whether windswept,
quiet and balanced, rugged, or terrain-like in form. A selection of authentic bonsai container
books and references will be available during the workshop for inspiration and design exploration.
Part One: Build
Participants will design and hand-build a custom bonsai container no larger than 6” x 4” using
slab-building techniques with rich brown clay.
- How to roll and compress slabs evenly
- Cutting and assembling walls for clean joints
- Creating drainage holes (essential for bonsai health)
- Adding feet and structural support
- Surface texture or simple decorative elements
Skills level: Beginner–Intermediate
Duration: ~2–3 hours
Part Two: Glaze: After drying, participants return to glaze and finish container.
- Choose glaze
- Techniques: brushing, dipping, or layering
- How glaze affects texture and final color
- Functional glazing considerations (interior vs exterior)
Duration: ~1.5–2 hours
Materials & Tools Included
- Brown clay
- Rolling slabs/tools (rollers, ribs, knives)
- Slip & scoring tools
- Glazes
- Brushes and glazing tools
Cost: $150, includes two sessions, all materials and firing.
Pickup: First week in October at the Gresham Japanese Garden Kyoudou Center.