Valentina Zlatarova all way the from Athens, Greece is conducting a course teaching us how to construct anatomically correct head and to read human faces so they convey not just likeness to the model but emotions as well. Participants can expect to learn how to construct a head well, how to use sculptural tools, how to hollow and re-assemble a head, and how to make work personal, discovering their own sculptural language.
Dates 2-13 August 2026 (Check in 2nd August, Check out 13th August)
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 Valentina Zlatarova
Level All Levels Welcome (Beginners must have basic skill and be able to make pots through handbuilding or wheelthrowing)
Duration 10 days
Maximum number of students per batch 9
Studio Hours & Materials
All days 10:00am to 5:00pm (workshop time)
Additional studio access from 5:00pm 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.
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
The course is about learning how to construct anatomically correct head and to read human faces so they convey not just likeness to the model but emotions as well. Participants can expect to learn how to construct a head well, how to use sculptural tools, how to hollow and re-assemble a head, and how to make work personal, discovering their own sculptural language.
What To Expect
The expectation however and the focus of the course will be on learning and the process of making a piece, not on the finished product,( although we will do our best to have good results). The aim is for the students to come out of this course confident that they can construct believable portraits and have all the knowledge and practical tools to practise this on their own in the future.
Daily Schedule
Day 1:
AM: Getting familiar with the studio and materials, Introduction to the course, setting up group and individual goals, going through print outs
Lunch
PM: Starting putting clay on the armature and blocking-in the main volumes of the head, anatomy of the head, clearing our workstations and wrapping up before the end of the day
Day2:
AM: Short slideshow on facial anatomy, establishing the proportions of the face and adding more internal information
Lunch
PM: Drawing in clay- erasing and re-drawing an outline, practising drawing in clay on our sculptures
Day 3:
AM: The profile and mapping out the structure for the features
Lunch
PM: Establishing the nose and setting space for the mouth
Day 4:
AM: Short slideshow on the lips and start the block-in of the the mouth
Lunch
PM: Finishing the block-in of the mouth and finding position of the eyes
Day 5:
AM: Lecture on the eye and a demonstration
Lunch
PM: Sculpting the eye and refining all other features, profile and beginning introducing transitions to our work
Day 6:
AM: Transitions and subtleties
Lunch
PM: Finishing touches
Day 7: Free day, no studio
Day 8:
AM: Subtleties and finishes
Lunch
PM:Subtleties and finishes, hollowing if ready
Day 9:
AM:Hollowing
Lunch
PM: Putting sculptures together, surface work, drying work if assembled
Day 10:
AM: Any serface work left from previous day
Lunch
PM: Drying, Loading the kiln, firing
Day 11:
Firing day, no studio activity?
Day 12:
Opening the kiln, admiring results and packing
About The Ceramic Artist
Valentina Zlatarova is a Bulgarian-born artist. She attended Art School at the age of 13, in her hometown of Plovdiv, where she specialised in sculpture.
Valentina moved to Italy in 2004 and studied at The Florence Academy Art's Sculpture program where in her last year of study she was offered a teaching position.
She moved to London in 2007 to pursue a career as a professional artist and teacher. Since 2007 she has been teaching in Europe, Asia and Indonesia both in private academies and public universities such as The Florence Academy of Art, The Art Academy London, Barcelona Academy of Art, La Salle University, Gaya Ceramics Bali and many more.
Valentina’s work has been well recognised and has received several awards for her sculptures including the Founder's Sculpture Prize and twice has been awarded the Tiranti prize for young artists.
Valentina’s primary interest has always been the human form, working from life and using natural sustainable materials. She has recently been developing some new ideas by exploring abstract and figurative forms and how they relate to their shared environment.
Since 2022 her time has been divided between England and Asia where she continues to develop her personal practice.
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, firings, materials & tools, studio time, valuable time with guest teacher, stay, wholesome home cooked meals and snacks, farm activities, tax for the entire duration of the course.
Double Occupancy Shared Cottage - Rs.92,250/-
Single Occupancy Private Cottage - Rs.1,00,250/-
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
Book your slot through this link
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.
Cancellation Policy
- If you cancel before and on the 2nd June 2026, we will provide you with a 100% refund.
- If you cancel between the 3rd June to 30th June 2026, we deduct 50% of the total fees as cancellation fees and refund you the remaining paid amount.
- Post 1st July 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!