14 - 24 July
2026
CeramicS Sculpture Course
with Renato Costa e Silva and Kerstin Thomas
From Clay to Woodfiring
"(...) we often choose ceramics for sculpture because clay is a more receptive, immediate material... it easily captures an idea or an emotion (...)".
In the Ceramic Sculpture and Woodfiring Course, guidance will be provided by Kerstin Thomas and Renato Costa e Silva - sculptors, ceramicists, researchers, and storytellers. Kerstin and Renato will share their ways of working, with processes that can be conceptual and methodical, yet also embrace the spontaneity of direct modeling. However diverse the projects may be, they never overlook the importance of preparing the right clay body for each type of creation.
The work culminates in surrendering the pieces to the action of fire, through a prolonged 36-hour wood firing that reaches up to 1300ºC.
The course begins with an introduction to clay formation and the ceramic process - essential knowledge for making informed decisions about clay preparation and firing options, ensuring the success of each project.
Participants will explore different approaches to ceramic sculpture, from figurative to abstract. Modeling techniques will serve to study proportions and the expressiveness of the human face. The slab-building technique will guide us into drawing, planning, and construction. Through pieces thrown on the potter’s wheel, we will discover new possibilities of composition.
There will be time and space for the development of individual projects, with guidance and support from the tutors.
Renato Costa e Silva
A ceramist and sculptor, he has 45 years of professional experience and an extensive portfolio, not only in ceramics but also in large-scale sculpture for public spaces in various materials. However, he has made ceramics his medium of choice, always using wood-fired kilns. Over the years, he has designed and built several kilns and conducted hundreds of wood-fired firings. Born in Angra do Heroísmo, he lives and works in his studio in Angra do Heroísmo and Cerdeira.
You can find out more here.
Kerstin Thomas
A sculptor and ceramist, she studied Fine Arts and Wood Carving/Sculpture in Germany, her country of origin. She opened her studio in Cerdeira in 1990. The construction of the Sasukenei - Smokeless Kiln in 2015 awakened her passion for wood-fired ceramics. This was followed by ten years of intense learning, producing small and medium-sized sculptures and dozens of wood-firings.
Co-founder of the Cerdeira - Home for Creativity project, Kerstin lives and works in Cerdeira and Angra do Heroísmo, currently combining her artistic work with that of Artistic Director of the project.
course details
SCHEDULE:
July 14:
From 3:00 p.m: Reception and check-in for participants
5:00 p.m: Reception and presentation of the group at the studio
7:30 p.m: Welcome dinner
July 15 to 24: Course from 10:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m*, with a two-hour lunch break (1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m)
Free access to the studio daily from 6:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m.
*The schedule is flexible on the days when the pieces are loaded and fired. During firing in the Sasukenei - Smokeless Kiln, students will be divided into 4-hour shifts.
July 25: Until 11:00 a.m: check-out from accommodation
Want to know more? Ask us for the full program at artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com
CONDITIONS
Deadline for enrollment: June 14th, 2026.
Special discount for newsletter subscribers available for early bird registrations by February 21st 2026
THE COURSE FEE INCLUDES:
Training 6 hours a day, speaking in English and Portuguese;
Lunch during the course, from 15 to 24 July;
Free accommodation at the hostel during the course (11 nights)*;
All the materials needed for the course;
Access to the studio from 6pm to 10pm;
Firing in Sasukenei, our smokeless kiln;
Welcome dinner on the first day of the course;
*The hostel is equipped with two dormitories (female/masculine), a kitchen, and two shared bathrooms. The booking includes towels and linen.
IMPORTANT!
Safety during the wood-firing: For safety reasons, please bring footwear that protects the toes, such as sneakers/shoes/boots. We also ask to avoid clothing with synthetic fibers, opting for natural fibers such as 100% cotton.
Leave extra space in your luggage! We also recommend bringing extra space in your luggage to take your pieces home at the end of the course.
Shipping options available are not ideal or cost-effective for ceramics – personal transport is strongly recommended.
ACCOMMODATION UPGRADES AVAILABLE:
Upgrade to 11 nights in a standard schist house shared by 2 participants and breakfast at an additional cost of 770€/per participant. Includes shared room, equipped kitchen, towels, and bed linen.
Upgrade to 11 nights in a standard schist house for single occupancy by 1 participant and breakfast, with an additional cost of 1100€/per participant. Includes single room, equipped kitchen, towels, and bed linen.
Please note that all accommodation options have limited availability and will be booked according to the order of registration and payment. This rate is not cumulative with other discounts or promotions. For more information, contact artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com.
ENROLLMENTS AND MORE INFO:
artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com
+351 913 989 281*
*(call to national mobile network)
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
You may withdraw within 14 days of registration, paying the correspondent transfer fees. Following the EU consumer protection legislation, payments are not refunded past 14 days of registration. The payment will be fully reimbursed if the training cannot be held because of insufficient students.
Suppose the training is canceled by Cerdeira - Home For Creativity for reasons of significant force such as a pandemic, civil disorder, a natural catastrophe, medical or family issues of the teacher, and others beyond our control. In that case, Cerdeira will offer a voucher for a different workshop of your choice. The voucher is valid for two years.
PAYMENT INSTALLMENT OPTIONS
You can pay for the course in up to 5 monthly installments, depending on the course. Payments are automatically deducted from your chosen payment method starting from the date you submit your registration form. Please be aware that additional costs for this service apply, depending on the selected installment plan. At checkout, after selecting your preferred option, make sure to review the total amount to be paid before completing your registration. Please note that if installment payments are not fulfilled within the established timeframe, your registration will be canceled without a refund of the amounts already paid.
If you have any questions, contact us at artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com.
PHOTO GALLERY
