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Mystic Waters: Narrative Ceramic Sculpture Workshop with Natasha Dikareva

Ceramic sculpture. The form slightly resembles a shell and has a spiral in the middle. There is a blue face with flowing hair protruding from the overall shell shape.1 Weekend Workshop

Skill Level: All

December 12th-13th

Price: $300 per person

Ceramic fish shaped sculpture. The predominate colors are blue and gold. The fish has the face of a person and has a line drawing of two silhouettes on the stomach area.

In this two-day workshop, Natasha Dikareva will guide students through the process of creating imaginative aquatic-inspired sculptures that blend mythology, folklore, and personal storytelling into unique ceramic forms. Drawing inspiration from the mystery and beauty of underwater life—from ancient mer-legends to contemporary ocean narratives—students will develop their own sculptural stories inspired by sea creatures, mythical beings, and imagined inhabitants of the aquatic world.
On the first day, Dikareva will begin with a slide presentation exploring aquatic imagery, mythology, and artistic inspiration, followed by demonstrations of essential hand-building techniques, including slab construction, sculpting expressive faces, and creating dynamic gestural elements. Students will learn building methods for both wall-hanging and free-standing sculptures, offering versatile display options for their finished work. Whether inspired by a childhood memory, a cultural myth, or pure imagination, students will learn how to transform their ideas into compelling ceramic narratives.
 
The second day focuses on transforming the ceramic surface into a vibrant storytelling canvas. Students will explore the use of slips and underglazes while learning the sgraffito technique to carve through layers of color. These surface treatments will help bring aquatic forms to life through intricate textures, flowing patterns, expressive details, and rich visual narratives that evoke the movement, mystery, and emotion of the underwater world.
 
Throughout the workshop, Dikareva will work individually with students to help them develop their personal iconography and shape meaningful sculptural forms with narrative depth. Through a balance of creative exploration, demonstrations, and hands-on instruction, students will strengthen both their technical skills and their unique artistic voice.
 
All skill levels are welcome. Students will leave with a finished sculpture that reflects their own vision of the aquatic realm, along with a deeper understanding of hand-building, surface decoration, and storytelling through clay.
Register here!
This is a tall ceramic sculpture. It is a bust of a female with what seems to be an octopus for hair. The head of the octopus seems to be mad out of blue glass.Artist Bio:
Born and raised in Kiev, Ukraine, Natasha Dikareva started creating at a young age and her passion for the visual arts led to pursuing a BFA in graphics at the Kiev State Academy of Art and Design. The narrow standard of approved art of Soviet realism inadvertently pushed Dikareva to develop her own symbolic language. Dikareva immigrated to Minneapolis and received her MFA from the University of Minnesota in 2004. After graduating, she moved to San Francisco where she lived and worked for 15 years. In 2020 she relocated to the East Coast. She now splits her time between Newmarket, NH and Sarasota, FL, working on series-based sculptures that reflect her personal life and the events around the world. From the mythical forest creatures inspired by the wildlife of New England to the haunting images of war-torn Ukraine, Dikareva’s work showcases the range and depth of her artistic vision. 
 
Dikareva’s work has been featured in various publications, including 500 Prints on Clay and New Ceramics European magazine, and garnered several prizes, such as the Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in 2012. She exhibits locally and internationally and her work is held in public and private collections including Yixing Ceramics Museum and Kamm Foundation. Recently, she has been featured on public radio and television, where she has spoken about her artistic process and her reflections on the latest events in Ukraine.
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