Lessons in Clay: Fire up Your Creativity with Beginner-Friendly Ceramics Projects

Through easy-to-follow projects, ceramicist and artist Viviana Matsuda teaches you how to open yourself up to the joy of working with clay and how to build your self-confidence in your creative abilities.

Viviana Matsuda (aka @mud.witch) is known for their colorful, playful ceramics, which have won fans all over the world. In Lessons in Clay, they walk you through 10 projects that embody that same colorful, playful spirit, while teaching you how to nurture your creativity.  

Every pottery project has a thoughtful introduction to the intentions behind the lesson, detailed step-by-step instructions and photographs, and a guided journal entry so you can reflect after finishing your piece. Lessons range from hand-building to wheel-throwing, and also cover techniques like kintsugi, a Japanese mending technique, and kerikomi, the Japanese method of combining different colors of clay to create a fun marbled design. Learn to make Pinch Pot Matcha Bowls, Slab-built Mosaic Wall Mirrors, Stacking Mug Sets, Party Platters, and more.  

• Learn the basics: Viviana provides an overview of hand-building and wheel throwing, as well as the key tools you’ll need and the techniques you’ll learn.
• Creative inspiration: Create unique, handmade ceramics that express your own individual creativity, then reflect on the artistic process with guided journal entries.
• Accessible and approachable: Learn how to set up your workspace to maximize efficiency and creativity – no matter how much space you have – and find tool options for a range of budgets, as well as alternatives that can be found around the house.