Ceramic Surfaces Workshop (31 January 2026)

Ceramic Surfaces Workshop with Jane du Rand
10–4:30pm Saturday 31 January 2026

Explore ceramic surface decoration techniques with an internationally renowned ceramic mosaic artist to help you create complex 3-dimensional designs that bring the natural world to life through clay.

This Ceramic Surfaces Workshop is part one in Jane du Rand's deep exploration of ceramic decoration techniques at Plant Empire in 2026. Part two is Jane's Raw Colour Workshop held on Saturday 14 February: you are welcome to attend either workshop separately, or you can register for both workshops at the same time and receive a 10% discount on both registrations.

As a master of her art, Jane du Rand has spent many thousands of hours practising and perfecting her surface decoration techniques to create hand-built sculptures in exquisite detail. Her artwork explores natural world, with a particular focus on birds and botanically inspired design elements, such as the art vases that were showcased at Salt Contemporary Art (Victoria) and Frances Keevil Gallery at Studio W (Sydney) in 2025.

In this workshop, you'll learn how to employ a broad range of techniques that elevate clay surfaces into 3-dimensional forms using carving and relief work, textures and patterns. In the first half of the workshop, Jane will share the tools and materials that she uses in her surface decorations, including many tools that will be familiar to most potters as well as some that she's developed for specific application unique to her art (be sure to ask her about barbecue skewers!). Jane will also demonstrate how to create many of the design elements that feature in her artworks, such as feathers, leaves, petals, stamens out of clay in order to execute technically challenging designs that bring birds and botany to life. 

In the second half of the workshop, you will get hands-on practice to apply these tools and techniques to decorating your own vessel. You are encouraged to bring your own vision for a technically challenging surface design to this workshop that you'd like to execute on your vessel, and we challenge you to incorporate design elements that lend themselves to carving, reliefs, textures and patterns. You are also welcome to review Jane's portfolio of work online to identify challenging design elements that you would like to tackle in the workshop with Jane's guidance: visit Jane's artist website or Jane's Instagram account).

Materials and Collection

You will receive an unfired (greenware) vessel that has been wheel thrown and dried to "leather hard" stage in preparation for the workshop. All other materials and equipment for the workshop, including clay and tools (and barbecue skewers!) to decorate your vessels, will be provided. Please wear closed shoes and an apron if you are worried about staining your clothes. 

Collection times for finished work will depend on whether you are also attending Jane's Raw Colour workshop, as outlined below.

• If you are also attending Jane's Raw Colour workshop, you will work on the same vessel across both workshops. Your work will be fired after each workshop (bisque fired after the first workshop, then glaze fired after the second workshop) and will be available for collection two weeks after the second workshop.
• If you are not attending the Raw Colour workshop, your work will be bisque fired and will be available for collection from Plant Empire two weeks after the first workshop.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is targeted to students who have experience working with ceramics, but all levels of experience are welcome.

About Jane du Rand

South-African born, Ipswich-based Jane du Rand creates three-dimensional ceramic mosaic landscapes inspired by the native flora and fauna she encounters while bushwalking west of Brisbane. Originally trained as an architect, Jane’s intricate designs have been incorporated into the architecture of civic buildings, public spaces and private homes in Europe, the UK, the USA, South Africa and Australia.

Jane's accomplishments include being a finalist in the 2023 Siliceous award for ceramic excellence and she was one of 6 artists showcased in the 2023 Museum of Brisbane exhibition "Clay: Collected Ceramics" with her piece "Brisbane Bush Turkey" now held in the museum's collection. She was awarded "Best of Show" at the 2017 Ipswich Art Award, she was a finalist in the 2020 and 2022 Queensland Regional Art Awards, the 2018 Ipswich Art Award, and the Mercedes Benz Award for South African Art Projects in Public Spaces in 2009. Her solo exhibition "Living in Ipswich" was presented at Ipswich Art Gallery in 2020 followed by a second solo exhibition "Green Red and Black" in 2023. Jane's work features in many public spaces in south-east Queensland, with her most recent large-scale public art installation "All the Birds Singing" being commissioned for the Mental Health Unit at Ipswich Hospital which opened in 2024.

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Cost

$500 / $450 (Frequent workshoppers)

Frequent workshopper discount: Sign up for 2 or more Plant Empire workshops, or register 2 or more people for the same workshop, to receive 10% off the total registration price (discount will appear at checkout).

Location

Plant Empire has moved! This workshop will be held at our new premises in Tennyson, Brisbane: 15/55 Lofter St, Tennyson Q 4105.

Reminders

You have full control over how (and how often) you receive reminders for our events. You will receive one email confirmation from us when you purchase your workshop registration; but we won't send any further email reminders, so please ensure that you have the workshop details in your diary. You can also use the "add to calendar" function in our events calendar to add workshops to your digital calendar and customise your reminder preferences.

Cancellation Policy

Please choose carefully before registering for this workshop as we do not offer refunds on event bookings. If you need to cancel your place up to 24 hours before the workshop, we will provide you with a voucher that you can use to attend a future workshop or any other purchase at Plant Empire. We regret that we are unable to provide vouchers for cancellations made within 24 hours of the workshop.

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