Hello!

Join an immersive mentorship experience and develop your skills alongside Kazu in a working ceramic studio. This program is designed for those who want more than a class. You'll become part of the daily rhythm of the studio while receiving individualized guidance to help you grow as a potter.

Commitment

We ask for a commitment of one full day each week.

Life happens, and if you need to miss your scheduled day, that's completely understandable. Simply let us know in advance and make up the time either by contributing remotely to an appropriate project or by joining us on another day.

Sharing meals is an important part of our studio culture. We enjoy eating together and take turns preparing meals for one another. Some of the most informative conversations and learning happen around the table.

Studio Responsibilities

From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., we focus on the work that keeps a professional pottery studio running. This includes tasks such as reclaiming clay, mixing glazes, surface treatments, loading and unloading kilns, packing work, and other day-to-day studio work.

These shared responsibilities are an essential part of the learning experience. They provide a deeper understanding of the complete ceramic process while helping support our studio community.

Personal Instruction & Practice

After the studio work is complete, you'll receive one on one instruction through a structured curriculum tailored to your goals and current level.

Kazu is typically in the studio well into the evening, and mentees are encouraged to stay and practice for as long as they wish. Much of the real growth comes through consistent practice, and we strive to create an environment where that is possible.

Our instruction emphasizes wheel throwing off the hump and developing strong forms from the inside out, with the dominant hand working inside the vessel. Along the way, you'll also build a deeper understanding of design, process, and craftsmanship.

Many of our students have successfully transitioned to throwing clockwise. While it may seem like a major change at first, most discover that the adjustment happens much more quickly than they expected.

A Few Things to Know

Every mentorship is unique, and we'll adapt the experience to your interests, abilities, and goals whenever possible.

Some studio tasks involve heavy lifting and working with a wide variety of clay bodies, slips, and glaze materials. It's the wonderfully messy side of ceramics, and we embrace it!

This program is best suited for people who are genuinely excited to immerse themselves in the life of a working studio. Some of our past and current mentees are recent graduates, former apprentices from other studios, artists between studios, or makers looking to deepen an already serious ceramics practice. We welcome anyone who feels called to pursue the craft more deeply. More than experience, we value honesty, curiosity, commitment, generosity, and a willingness to learn.

This summer, Kazu will be spending time at an artist residency exploring wood, stone, printmaking, and urushi lacquering. Depending on the timing and your interests, some mentorship days may include assisting him in the sculpture studio, offering a chance to experience another side of his creative practice.

If you're simply looking for an occasional pottery class, your local community studio may be a better fit. If you're looking for a deeper, more immersive experience, we'd love to hear from you.

To Apply:

Please complete the application form in the link. We look forward to learning more about you. - here