Clay Relief Sculpture & Plaster Mold-Making: Creating Open-Faced One-Part Press Molds with Ianna Nova Frisby — Jun 6th - 9th

Dates: June 6-9 2025
Times: 12-4 PM
Level: All levels
Membership Price: $500 (Member use discount code MEMBERS10 at checkout for 10% off)

This price includes a $30 materials fee.

Workshop Description:
In this workshop, you'll explore the exciting world of clay relief sculpture and plaster mold-making. In the first session, you will be guided through designing and crafting a clay relief tile, focusing on texture, depth, and composition. You'll learn how to work with clay to create intricate raised designs, from organic patterns to more geometric shapes, laying the foundation for your plaster mold. Participants will use their clay relief design to create a one-part open-faced plaster press mold allowing you to make multiple impressions of your design in clay or other materials. In the second part of the class, you'll also learn how to properly prepare your mold, manage the curing process, and safely remove your sculpture from the mold for future use. By the end of the workshop, you'll have both a unique relief sculpture and a reusable plaster press mold that can be used for casting future works, whether you're interested in creating textures for pottery, wall pieces, or other clay-based projects. This class is perfect for beginners eager to experiment with clay relief design and mold-making, as well as for more advanced artists looking to expand their techniques for casting and reproduction.

About the Instructor:
Ianna Nova Frisby is a ceramic artist based in Sacramento and a dedicated art professor at Sacramento City College. Alongside her teaching, she leads engaging workshops in tile design, mold-making, Raku firing, and Pysanka—traditional Ukrainian egg dyeing. While ceramics remain at the core of her creative practice, her work also spans textiles, printmaking, Pysanka, and mixed-media sculpture. Ianna is the co-creator of The Art Advice Booth, a traveling art project launched in 2016 that was featured in Sactown Magazine. Previously, she co-managed and curated monthly exhibitions at Tangent Gallery in Sacramento, contributing significantly to the local art scene.

Her work has earned several accolades, including the Regional Artist Award from Visions in Clay 2023, the Fine Art Juror’s Award at the 2022 California State Fair (#goldenbear), and a grant from The Leff-Davis Fund for Visual Artists through the Sacramento Region Community Foundation in 2016.

Ianna earned her BFA in Studio Art from Humboldt State University and her MFA from the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Required Materials:
- Design ideas for your tiles Hand towel

Optional Materials:
- Clay tools
- apron