When you host a kintsugi workshop, I am usually able to offer customizations. Most options affect the cost. Some options may vary based on availability.
Vessel types
I usually recommend sticking with glazed ceramics, as these finished pieces typically break well and are less brittle when rejoining. However, some may appreciate the raw, unfinished aesthetic of plain bisqueware.
Terracotta pots, although inexpensive, are not ideal for kintsugi.
This page will be updated with more information soon; in the meantime, feel free to ask about this in an email.
Methods
I teach two variants on traditional Japanese kintsugi:
Simplified Gold Flush
This version of the course requires only one class session, about 2 or 3 hours. We will discuss some of the symbolism of kintsugi. Each participant will be provided a vessel to break, mend with an epoxy, paint with metallic gold, and then apply a finishing coat. There is no plastering with this class option due to time constraints, so chips and missing pieces will not be reconstructed; instead, you can choose to illuminate the missing portion with gold paint.
Complete Gold Flush
This is a two-part class, as we will be rebuilding part of the vessel and the plaster needs to dry overnight. Each class will run for approximately 2 hours. In the first class we will be introduced to the art and symbolism of kintsugi, then proceed to break the vessels, repair with an epoxy, and recreate part of the vessel using a plaster mixture. During the second class we will sand the plastered areas, paint all breakage areas with gold, and then apply a finishing coat.
Planting
With the planting option, participants may plant a succulent in their vessel after completing it. This symbolizes growth and blooming in their mended, beautified vessel. This page will be updated with more information soon; in the meantime, feel free to reach out via email.
Amenities
This page will be updated with more information soon; in the meantime, feel free to reach out via email.
Photography opt-out
I typically document workshops with photography to support quality improvement and to help future clients understand what to expect from a kintsugi event. I recognize that photography may not be appropriate in certain environments—particularly clinical, therapeutic, and privacy-sensitive settings—so hosts may opt out of photography when signing the event waiver.
Because workshop documentation contributes to my portfolio and future bookings, selecting a photography opt-out includes an additional fee to offset the loss of portfolio and promotional use.
This fee can be avoided with a less restrictive opt-out that permits photography but still preserves privacy by asking that any participant faces be obscured in published media.