Building Large: Strategies for Scaling Up in Clay
with Antra Sinha
Course Schedule:
2nd Wednesday 3–5pm Eastern Time
Course Description:
(Intermediate level skills required)
Creating large-scale clay sculpture and pots becomes much more approachable with thoughtful planning and technique. The students must be proficient with skills of making small scale functional or sculptural objects before applying for this class. In other words students who have an intermediate level of experience with working with clay may apply. This class will cover essential considerations to make scaling up a successful and rewarding process, including:
1. Clay Body Selection – Understanding the importance of shrinkage rates and strength in choosing a clay body appropriate for large forms.
2. Sectioning and Connections – How to design your sculpture/pots in manageable parts for construction, transport, and firing, with attention to structural integrity and visual cohesion.
3. Surface Treatments – Exploring options for finishing large work, including raw glazing, brush techniques, and material testing for surface development.
4. Working Within Your Space and Kiln Limits – Adapting your creative process to the physical and technical realities of your studio and equipment. Students will begin by developing a personal concept for a large-scale piece. Through group discussion and individual guidance, and drawings we’ll work toward creating small models and a detailed plan for constructing the final form.
Drawing from my own journey of scaling a half-inch maquette into a five-foot sculpture—over multiple years and attempts—I’ll share practical insights into the challenges and rewards of making big. My time apprenticing with Ray Meeker, known for his architectural ceramics, and Robert Barron, a master of large pots, continues to inform my approach to construction and creative problem-solving. Their methods, combined with my own experience, will shape our conversations and strategies as we tackle the process of building large.
Instagram: @antrasinhausu
Facebook: Antra Sinha
Registration opens October 19th at 10am Central Time
About Antra
Antra Sinha is a ceramic artist, educator, and community builder with the arts. She received her BFA & MFA from MS University of Baroda, India. She was then an apprentice to Ray Meeker and Deborah Smith at Golden Bridge Pottery, India starting in 2002, where she worked for a decade. An award from Japan Foundation took her to the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Japan for artist residency. In 2015, as a STEM fellow completed her second MFA in ceramics at Utah State University. She is a member of International Academy of Ceramics and currently lives and works in Logan, Utah.
