When: Saturday, August 2nd - Sunday, August 3rd
Time: Saturday: 10:00am - 4:00pm, Sunday: 2:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Art Center of Corpus Christi Clay Studio
Registration Deadline: 7/31/2025
Description
This workshop as a whole will look at creating functional forms with purpose and intention, with a focus on surface decoration.
Day One – Form with Intention
The first day will be focused on wheel throwing and altering forms. Chris will demonstrate his approach to throwing with intention, including trimming considerations and how to plan forms with surface in mind from the beginning. There will be time throughout the day for students to throw, ask questions, and receive individual guidance. The entire day will be spent on forming — we won’t be decorating yet, but will be working with an eye toward surfaces to come.
Day Two – Surface with Personality
The second day will dive into surface decoration using layered slip application, which is Chris’s primary surface technique. He’ll demonstrate how he uses slip in different consistencies and layers them with different tools to create contrast and variation. The process plays with opacity, depth, and surface tension — allowing texture and form to come forward or fall back depending on the treatment. The day will include demos, open work time, and hands-on experimentation.
About the Artist
Christopher Melia has worked with clay for over 20 years. He earned his BFA in Ceramics from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and his MFA from the University of North Texas. After teaching high school art and sculpture for over a decade, he stepped away from public education in 2026 to pursue MeliaPottery full time with his family. Chris now teaches workshops and classes from his home studio in Whitesboro, Texas, and regularly leads workshops at art centers and universities. His work centers on functional forms with layered slip surfaces, and he’s known for his approachable, process-focused teaching style.
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