Box Workshop

Essence of My Box-Making

In this workshop I showcase my techniques and aesthetics for creating clay boxes that are far more than functional from crafted from slabs of clay. I share how I work, the tools I use, the materials I’ve sourced over the years, and the reasons/psychology behind my choices.

Workshop participants will see me employ three different forming methods when beginning my boxes.

Slab Rolled

Solstice Box - s02-01 | Clay - Raku by Brian Somers
Solstice Box – s02-01 | Sold

Over all my most-used equipment for forming a box is the slab roller. During the workshop I will make slabs of varying thickness to use in over half of the boxes I’ll demonstrate as I describe how the slab roller, in less obvious ways, is essential to my work.

Wheel Thrown

I love to throw on the potter’s wheel hence these boxes are first thrown to approximately 1/4″ think, trimmed and squared, then topped with a slab of clay. The surface of the box is always glazed through the raku process.

Bella Song | Clay
“Bella Song” : Sold

NMC (Not Mostly Clay)

Patino Ŝtalo Skatolo - s02-03 | by Brian Somers
Patino Ŝtalo Skatolo – s02-03 | $425 | 4″ x 5.5″ 4″

I am now expanding my box forms to include stabilized clay, steel and other materials, which gives me the opportunity to expand my scale and diversity of box forms.

Giant's Rest by Brian Somers - Mixed Media and Clay
Gian’t Rest
13″ x 17″ x 3″
$1,625