WORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSES
POKIDAEFF 5 days masterclass throwing
We have amazing news!
Het Amsterdams Kleibedrijf is hosting a unique masterclass with the talented ceramicist
Eugene Pokidaev. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss! He’s an incredible
artist—nothing is too crazy for him. So grab your chance: he’s eager to share his
knowledge and skills with you. Check out his Instagram page @pokidaeff for some
inspiring content.
Information:
Eugene Pokidaev is a master potter who has been passionate about ceramics since 2010. For the past 7 years, he has focused on refining his wheel-throwing techniques and developing effective methods for teaching pottery to both beginners and advanced students.
In his teaching, Eugene takes an individual approach to each student. His goal is to help each person reach their own next level. If a student is still struggling with centering, Eugene helps them master it and start creating their first stable cylinders. For more experienced potters, he guides them in increasing the amount of clay they can work with, improving the height of their pieces, and exploring more complex and challenging forms.
Do you have a passion for ceramics and want to take your skills to the next level? Whether
you’re a beginner or more advanced, everyone with a bit of experience is welcome. For
five full days, you’ll dive into the world of wheel-throwing and creativity! The masterclass
will be held in our brand-new studio in Amsterdam Noord!
Masterclass
In this inspiring setting, Pokidaeff will not only teach you the fundamentals, but will also
challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. Here’s what to expect:
• Skill-focused learning: The masterclass won’t focus on producing finished, fired
pieces. Instead, you'll build a solid foundation to improve your throwing technique.
With over 30 hours at the wheel, the skills you gain will become second
nature—leading to amazing results!
• Hands-on guidance: Get plenty of personal tips and techniques that you can apply
right away.
• All materials included: No need to bring anything but your own favorite throwing
tools—it’s more comfortable working with your own set. We’ll provide the rest!
• Creative connections: Collaborate with like-minded clay enthusiasts. In a fun and
relaxed environment, we’ll challenge and inspire each other to improve.
• Vegetarian lunch served daily. The masterclass ends with a fun farewell drink,
including snacks and drinks.
Practical information:
Dates: October 13–17, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Price: €875 total
Includes all materials, firing, coffee/tea, a tasty vegetarian lunch, and of course a celebratory farewell gathering.
Location: AKB Studio Noord Schaafstraat 28a, 1021 KE Amsterdam
Our studio is located in the heart of the vibrant Hamerstraat area. You’ll find hotels, restaurants, and charming little eateries nearby.
Spots are limited and filling up fast, so sign up soon!
Intensive Throwing Day
- A full day (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) of focused throwing practice.
- Individualized guidance at your own skill level.
- Techniques tailored to refine forms and explore new challenges.
- Coffee and tea are provided, and we’ll share a lunch (everyone brings a dish to share).
Who Can Join?
This workshop is for those with prior throwing experience (at least one course completed at Het Amsterdams Kleibedrijf or equivalent). It is not suitable for absolute beginners—if you’re new, we recommend starting with a beginners’ course.
Practical Details:
- Duration: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (including a 30-minute lunch break).
- Participants: Maximum 7 per day to ensure personalized instruction.
- Instructor: Rotating schedule of experienced instructors.
- Price: € 147,50
Craig Underhill bij Het Amsterdams Kleibedrijf
Workshop: Expressive Techniques
The Expressive Techniques workshop begins by introducing and practicing techniques that can be used to create various marks and textures on a clay surface. This includes the use of engobe, slip, impressing, grog and sand, monoprinting, and stenciling to create textures. These marking techniques will then be applied to the creation of slab-built forms. Students will be encouraged to cut, rejoin, and reconnect to create more complex finished pieces. There will be the opportunity to work on a larger scale if students wish, although consideration will be given to the available kiln space.
The techniques will be carefully demonstrated before the students practice them themselves, with an emphasis on experimentation and being open to new discoveries. Craig will demonstrate how he uses sketchbooks as part of his practice and give a presentation on his background, ideas, and sources of inspiration.
The Artist
Craig Underhill has been making hand-built ceramics for 30 years, combining marking techniques with three-dimensional forms to create pieces that are best described as ceramic paintings. He has extensive teaching experience in higher education and now teaches workshops in the UK and beyond. www.craigunderhill.co.uk
This is what he says about his work:
“I use a mixed media approach to ceramic materials to make hand built pieces that can be appreciated as 3-dimensial paintings.
A recurring and principal foundation in my work that remains as strong as ever, is the need to express something about my immediate surroundings and the landscape that I live in. I want my work to evoke a feeling of place and landscape without being over representational.
My creative journey with ceramics started at university and has continued since graduating in 1990.
I now live and work in Cornwall and the diverse natural and human made landscape that tells stories of the passing of geological time and human history is all around me and inevitably feeds the development and direction of my work.”
We gaan werken met platen klei, engobes, en diverse andere materialen.
Je werk wordt door ons gestookt.
Data: 25 t/m 28 september 2025 van 10:00-16:00u
Prijs: 770,— euro totaal, inclusief materiaal, stook, koffie thee en natuurlijk een lekkere vegetarische lunch. Including materials, firing, coffee/tea and a nice vegetarian lunch.
Wil je zelf iets lekkers meenemen, dan mag dat natuurlijk altijd.
Hotel suggestion: West Court Art Hotel (a 10 min walk to the studio)
Portret sculpting with Carien van Dongen
Five-Day Portrait Sculpting Workshop
In this five-day workshop, I’ll guide you step by step through the entire process of sculpting a realistic portrait. You’ll work from photos you bring yourself. I’ll teach you how to observe aspects and features of the face you may have never truly noticed before — but that are crucial for recognizability.
On Day 1, for example, we’ll begin by studying and shaping the side profile. You can learn a lot about facial proportions from it: What features project forward? What recedes? How does the distance from the nose to the mouth compare to the distance from the mouth to the chin? Step by step, we’ll work through all the essential elements over the five days.
This workshop doesn’t promise a perfectly lifelike result — just as you wouldn’t expect to play flawless piano after five lessons. But what it will offer is a deep insight into the full process of portrait sculpting. And I promise: standing in line at the checkout will never be boring again.
After registration, you’ll receive more information about the kinds of photos to bring.
No prior experience is required — everyone sets their own pace and level.
Dates: November 5–9, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Price: €770 total – includes materials, firing, coffee, tea, and a delicious vegetarian lunch each day
Location: AKB Studio Noord, Schaafstraat 28a, 1021 KE Amsterdam