Makers' Spark Membership [45]
Description
Ready to Push Your Pottery Further? Let's Spark Some New Ideas Together!
Maybe you want to:
- Finally master the art of pulling kick-ass handles
- Play with new surface techniques and get over your fear of decorating
- Learn how to make your own templates & bisque molds
- Push your creativity and skills in new directions
- Learn to make better pots that are uniquely yours
Look, I get it. Clay can be freaking hard eh? I’ve been working in clay since I was 16 years old (30 years!), and I’ve had too many ceramic-casualties to count:
The piece you spend hours on only to have it fall apart at the last stage, or the new flower vase that looked stellar but, um, didn’t really hold flowers very well (true story). Not to mention the surfaces and glazes that looked so darned yummy when I tested them but went on to wreak havoc on the pots and the kiln shelves. Or figuring out how to make a bowl that is beautiful to look at and a joy to use.
Part of what I love about clay is that it is endlessly versatile—you can do so darn much with it, but it’s also going to kick your ass every now and then eh?
Clay is all about troubleshooting, taking chances, trying new things, failing, then trying again.
That’s why we like it, right?*
AND, that’s also why it helps to have some expert guidance along the way. Plus, it’s way more fun and to learn about clay in community with other makers.
Having a trusted place to go to with your questions—and a community of fellow clay geeks who’ll be there to cheer you on, can make all the difference—both in the pots you make, and how connected you feel.
In the Makers’ Spark membership, you’ll be part of a community of creative potters from around the world, who are interested in both the how and the why of making awesome (and beautiful) pottery.
Are you looking for inspiration and support in your creative journey? The Makers' Spark membership inspires you to reach new heights with your pottery, by learning new techniques and exploring new ways to express your unique voice.
Do you want to connect with other makers and learn from a bad-ass professional potter? Makers' Spark offers connection and mentorship through both real time conversation and a library of on-demand resources to access on your own time.
This is a month-to-month membership and you can cancel anytime.
In this membership, you will get:
One virtual teaching a month — learn new pottery techniques and expand your creative skills. These sessions are a combination of live, recorded, and guest workshops, lasting from 1-2 hours each. Plus, you'll have access to all recordings for the duration of your membership! ($60+ value! for each session)
A monthly live Q&A session — have your questions answered from an expert & learn in community with other makers, so you can continue to grow and evolve your work.
Access to a professional potter, artist, and mentor who will support you throughout your journey via a weekly newsletter and monthly Q&A, so that you can be inspired to reach new heights with your work.
Access to the Makers’ Spark Mud Room, a private, member-only community space, where you can ask questions and get feedback from your peers and be part of a community of like-minded makers.
PLUS all New Members will get ongoing access to the membership workshop library (a $1900+ value!).
Member favourites include:
Handle It: A Deep Dive Into Making Handles
This workshop will insert some new life and ideas into your handle game. You’ll learn my step-by-step method for pulling consistent handles, and a ton of different ways to make handles. You’ll also get a deep dive into the ergonomics of what makes a great and comfortable handle.
Layered Surfaces: Integrating Surface & Form
In this step-by-step workshop, I’ll teach you my signature method of working with simple newsprint cutouts to create pattern and depth on your pots. This is a great workshop for anyone who is stuck on how to decorate their pots—no more “dipping & dunking” surface blues.
Designing Templates with Jen Allen
This workshop is packed with awesome tips and strategies for creating new forms, and making and refining simple templates. Jen demonstrates different strategies for making templates so that you can find the method that works best for you. Plus this workshop includes a packet of incredible illustrated handouts that you can download.
In the membership library you'll also find workshops on:
- Intro to Mixing Slip and Glaze (a membership exclusive)
- Hand-Built Pitchers & Creamers (a membership exclusive)
- Coil-Built Planters (a membership exclusive)
- Studio Solutions Workshop (a membership exclusive)
- Making & Working with Bisque Molds Workshop
- Texture Tools Workshop
- Vases & Flower Baskets
- Multiple Mugs Workshop
- Designing Good Pots (a membership exclusive)
- Hand-Built Bowls
- Hand-Built Plates and Oval Dishes
- Beyond Layered Surfaces (a membership exclusive)
- Making Plaster Damp Boxes (a membership exclusive)
- Glazing & Finishing Details
- Tiles & Wall Boxes (a membership exclusive)
- Pierced Lanterns
- Hand-Built Cups 3 Ways
Guest Artist Workshops
- Advanced Altering & Templates with Jen Allen
- Cut It Out Stencils with Shalya Marsh
- Put A Lid On It with Jen Allen
- Digging Into Why with Sean O’Connell (a membership exclusive)
- Screen Printing for Clay with Shalya Marsh
- Carving with Confidence with Diana Adams (a membership exclusive)
- Photographing Pottery to Sell Online with Rebecca Ickes Carra (a membership exclusive)
- All About Spouts with Jen Allen
- Indigenous Pottery: Learn from the Land with KC Adams (a membership exclusive)
- Can My Body Do This Forever: Ergonomics with Dawn Olson (a membership exclusive)
- Developing Your Visual Voice in Clay with Carole Epp (a membership exclusive)
- Unlocking Terra Sigillata with Shalya Marsh
- Scoops & Spoons: Making Ceramic Utensils with Jen Allen
Monthly Q&A + Community Support
Remember when I said that clay is best learned in a supportive community? Mentorship and peer-support have been a HUGE part of my clay journey (and I owe much of my success as a potter and artist to them).
That’s why a key part of the Makers’ Spark Membership is the ongoing support you get from me, a full-time professional potter and teacher—AKA: head clay-cheerleader, and self-professed pottery geek. This support happens at our monthly Q&A calls, and in the Mud Room—a private, member-only community space, where you can ask questions and get feedback from your peers and be part of a community of like-minded makers.
How do the Q&A’s work?
These vary every month depending on what’s going on, but usually we have a theme for the call—a topic to focus our discussion. These could be anything from a fun show & tell of what you’re working on in the studio, to chatting about a current Maker Challenge (we do these about 3x a year in the membership), or getting behind the scenes with one of our guest artists. Regardless of the format, there’s always time for your making-related questions!
Here are questions and topics from some recent Q&A’s
- At what temperature is it safe to open your kiln or use fans to help cool it faster?
- How to dry flat pieces like plates and platters so that they don’t warp.How to troubleshoot firing issues and failures.
- What’s the secret to getting a flat transfer on the interior of a bowl?
- How do you find focus in the studio when you’re exploring many different mediums and juggling projects, and strategies for incorporating play into our studio practice.
- How to make a comfortable handle—is there a good rule of thumb for how thick or wide it should be in relation to the mug?
How does the Mud Room Community work?
The Mud Room is a private member-only community space that is tied to the course portal—so there’s only one place to login! We’ve got themed chats to organize questions and posts. Topics include: Tech Questions, Recipes, Studio Brags, and more. We love it when members share images of what they’re working on, and issues they’re having so we can help troubleshoot.
The Mud Room community — For Asking Questions:
And For Sharing Your Wins & Favourite Clay Things:
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT MAKERS' SPARK:
"I love the variety of content and ways to connect. There is also a genuine gift of encouragement and a real value for community building in the membership.” - L. Kaufer, 2024
“Thank you for all the work you put into the Makers Spark Membership. I have been a member for over a year and every video and email you produce has been so incredibly valuable to me as I grow a small ceramics business alongside raising three active boys. I have learned so many techniques and tricks and gained so much confidence just watching all of the recorded sessions. While you have rarely seen my face I feel as though I know you both and that you are both cheering me on and laughing alongside me in my day-to-day trials in the studio.” A. Hogan Kosciak, 2025
Join Makers’ Spark today and get the inspiration, instruction, and expert support you crave.
*Or we could all just be masochists? 😅
About The Instructor
Hi, I’m Naomi Clement, I’m a ceramic artist, teacher, and creative entrepreneur! I’ve been working in clay for over 25 years, and I’ve taught workshops and exhibited my work all across Canada and the US. I have my BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, and my MFA in Ceramics from Louisiana State University. That means I do on occasion say both y’all and eh? in the same sentence.
Today I am well known for my elegant hand-built forms and my signature rich and layered pottery surfaces. But I wasn’t always making work that felt like “mine” – it’s taken me a lot of trial and error, not to mention more than a few hundred entries into what I lovingly refer to as the “blue-steel-gallery” (aka the dumpster), to make work that I feel happy and proud of.
So I know first-hand how discouraging it can be to want to make pottery that is uniquely yours, but not knowing how to get there.
That’s why I’ve created the Makers' Spark pottery membership: it’s a place for makers like you who want to really dig into technique and substance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the membership work?
All workshops will be available in Naomi’s School on the learning platform Thinkific. When you sign-up, an account will be created for you so you have immediate access to the bonus workshops, and all future workshops. Plus, you’ll get access to a monthly private membership Q&A session where you can ask all your questions!
How does the community work?
The community aspect of this membership occurs in a private community platform connected to the membership in Thinkific. This private, member-only community is a space for members to connect, ask question, and get feedback from Naomi and fellow members.
How long do I have access to the membership workshops?
You have access to the membership workshops as long as you are a member in good standing.* This includes all future workshops that may be taught as part of the membership experience.
What if I can’t make the live workshop or Q&A time?
Don’t worry! All Q&A sessions and workshops will be recorded and you’ll have access to them for as long as you remain a member. Plus, you will be able to submit questions in advance in case you can't make the live session.
Will the price go up?
As long as you remain a member in good standing*, the price of your membership will remain the same. Plus, you’ll get access to all new benefits of the membership as the program grows! Pretty great eh?
Can I pause or cancel my membership?
Sure thing! You can pause it at any time. However, if you want to join again in the future, you’ll join at whatever the current price is.
A note on cancellations: when you cancel you will still have access to the membership content for the remainder of your current billing period.
*Good standing is defined as a member who has not missed a payment or paused their membership for any reason.
Naomi has such a relaxed and down-to-earth approach to teaching and is VERY generous with all she share. Love her workshops! I have attended two so far and look forward to more. Naomi is an EXCELLENT teacher! I've learned so much from her!
" I have taken two workshops with Naomi and I learned so much at both! She is so patient and open with information and tips, which makes her so approachable for students and people learning. After those two workshops I would definitely take another workshop with Naomi! "
I took your surface decoration workshop a while back and just wanted to thank you!! I’ve been stuck on a project for too long—your workshop was very inspiring and really helped me focus on simplifying my idea.
Great workshop again today. It was just what I needed. I'm motivated to get in the studio and dive in again – thank you!