Filaments & Textures By Alberto Bustos

Alberto Bustos all the way from Catalonia Spain is teaching us unique techniques like 'launch' where we make textured slabs, filaments, textured blocks using pigments, while enabling us to tell stories of hope through our pieces, from the most absolute freedom and improvisation.

Book your slot here

Dates  25th October to 29th October 2026

Slow Pottery Studio Location Velanga Orchard, Andhra Pradesh, India

Here's a guide to staying at our farm.

Accommodation & Studio Details below

Ceramic Artist / Facilitators  Alberto Bustos, Catalonia, Spain

Level All Levels Welcome

Duration  3 Days

Firing One firing with all 8 students pots. No guaranteed number of pots due to the varying size of the pots.

Studio Hours & Materials

All days 10:30 am to 5:00pm (This includes teaching, supervision and practice on your own) 
Optional self practice in the studio 5:30pm to 8pm

All materials will be provided

Note - If you'd like to sign up for two or three consecutive intensives you can stay with us at no extra cost during the break of three days. The Studio will be closed in preparations for the next intensive.

Book your slot here

Manual Instalment Payment Option

If you'd like to pay in two instalments, 50% to book now and 50% to be paid two months before the course starts, please email me at hello@slowpottery.com and pay via a manual bank transfer/UPI/ International bank transfer or use Wise.

The Intensive

“Self-taught as I am, I never dreamt that my passion and admiration for Ceramics
would turn into my way of life, would give meaning to my life. It may well be that my inborn attraction to nature pushed me down to the ground so as to be fused with earth, our true essence. Through “natuRareza” I submerge myself into the vegetal Psyche in order to find out those tortured feelings, product of the deterioration of the environment that we humans habitually cause. My only wish is that my modelling goes in deeply into human sensitivity to revert the harm we are inflicting on ourselves”

The main objective of the workshop is to model the clay directly with our hands,
without tools. In this way we will be able to communicate directly with the clay and
transmit our feelings.

- With the technique of "launch" we will make textured slabs. Also square, flat and
rectangular filaments.

- Creation of stone textures using pigmented cookies.

- Application of coloring pigments and glaze, powder and liquid, on the wet clay to do
only one firing.

- We will discover how all these techniques can not only be applied to sculptures.

- We can also adapt them to the functional ceramic style.

In this workshop I want to tell stories of hope with our pieces, from the most
absolute freedom and improvisation, without obsessing with technique.

Schedule 

Day 1

Video presentation. Trajectory. Technical issues. Questions.

Construction of plates without mechanical means. Throwing technique.

Application of colouring stains mixed with transparent matt powder glaze with a
strainer and a brush to generate a double texture.

Realisation of several pieces applying the previous processes.

Explanation of the modelling of square filaments by the throwing technique.

Application of colouring stains with transparent glaze in liquid with a toothbrush on
raw clay.

Stoneware powder texture technique.

Loading the kiln with the pieces made for drying.

Hand Filament Technique
Decoration with colourant pigments and glaze
One firing.

Day 2


Presentation of photos on powder cracking techniques and stone textures.

Explanation of stony texture with pieces of pigmented cookies.

Discussion on the use of other organic materials in said texture; macaroni, sugar
cubes, etc.

Construction of a cube using the technique of plates from the previous day and the
texture of cookies. Assembly by pressure and hit using two woods.

Explanation of the modelling of flat filaments by the throwing technique.

Application of colouring stains with transparent glaze in liquid with a toothbrush on
raw clay. Also powder on wood.

Assembly of filaments in the piece made.

Firing

Stone texture blocks with vegetal elements

Day 3


Presentation of photos on rectangular filament techniques.

Explanation of the modelling of rectangular and flat filaments with the throwing
technique.

We will use a wooden cylinder to build different sculptural or functional pieces.

We will apply the colouring stains mixed with the transparent matt powder glaze on
wood and with a brush.

Possible variations of the construction technique with multiple cylinders and/or
quadrangular wooden slats.

Opening of the kiln and discussion about the results obtained.

Book your slot here

 

Slow Pottery Studio Facilities & Environment

The Slow Pottery studio is situated in Velanga Orchard, surrounded by mango trees. Our focus on natural light and airflow creates a minimal, inspiring space for our students. The local Kerala tile roof and glass tiles provide shade and brightness, even in the hottest months.

We have an electric wheel for each student, one electric kiln, a small kitchenette with unlimited freshly ground coffee, plenty wedging tables to spread wide with projects along with a restful chai spot to catch a break during long work hours. Ample shelves, stoneware clay, all materials required for each intensive is a given.

Hoping the studio fosters inspiring intensives and nurtures a space where creativity, ideas, and positive energy flourish.


Farm Stay & Accommodation - Velanga Orchard

Velanga Orchard is located in Andhra Pradesh in a village known as Jambuneradipalli, a mango orchard, skirting a reserve forest at the foot of a hill with a couple of lakes nearby. Surrounded by shrub forests endowed with over a 100 species of birds and animals.

Here's a guide to staying at our farm.

The Stay

- We have individual cottages for single occupancy, a shared accommodation for double occupancy.

- The cottages are built using vernacular design, local material and vintage aesthetics. The space is surrounded by neem, coconut, teak trees, under the canopies of mango trees, with the hill at the back and lush green all around.

Single Occupancy Private Cottage

Living space: Single bed with a side table, a study table and chair, Storage space for your belongings, with some décor elements. 

Kitchenette: Kettle, hot plate, basic utensils, mini fridge, a clay water dispenser, basic cutlery.

Private bath & small patio

No air conditioners

Our common space for students has a laundry room for DIY Laundry, a dining where all meals including evening snacks will be provided, all day coffee & tea stations, a hang out space, library/study.


    *The design of furniture varies in all cottages. 

    Double Occupancy Shared Cottage

    Living space: Two Single beds with a side table, a study table and chair, two storage space for your belongings, with some décor elements. 

    Kitchenette: Kettle, hot plate, basic utensils, mini fridge, a clay water dispenser, basic cutlery.

    Attached bath & small patio for two.

    No air conditioners

    Our common space for students has a laundry room for DIY Laundry, a dining where all meals including evening snacks will be provided, all day coffee & tea stations, a hang out space, library/study.

     

    Here's a guide to staying at our farm.

    Fees 

    Inclusive of the course, stay, all meals, farm activities, firings, materials, tax

    Double Occupancy Shared Cottage - Rs.1,09,415/-

    Single Occupancy Private Cottage - Rs.1,23,565/-

    Book your slot here

     

    Manual Instalment Payment Option

    If you'd like to pay in two instalments, 50% to book now and 50% to be paid two months before the course starts, please email me at hello@slowpottery.com and pay via a manual bank transfer/UPI/ International bank transfer or use Wise.

     

    To Register 

    Once the payment is made, we will get back to you with a welcome mail. If you'd like to chat about the course, the stay, travel, schedule a call or more, please write to us at hello@slowpottery.com and I'll personally get back to you within one working day.

    Book your slot here

    Cancellation Policy

    - If you cancel before and on the 24th August 2026, we will provide you with a 100% refund.

    - If you cancel between the 24th August to 15th September 2026,, we deduct 50% of the total fees as cancellation fees and refund you the remaining paid amount.

    - Post 15th September 2026, we will not be providing any refund. 

    - In case of International payment refunds, the customer bears the transfer fee. It will get automatically deducted by the payment gateway.

    - If your case of medical emergency informed at-least a week in advance, we can consider rescheduling the course (upon providing proof) Refund is not possible. Less than a week, we will not be able to help you.

    - Due to any reason, you have to leave during the course, we won't be able to give you a refund or reschedule.

    - We follow this policy without any exceptions. 

    - We take three to four weeks to process the refund. 

    Hope to see you soon!