The Art of Animals: Between Reality and Creation
“Free your imagination and transform clay into unique and poetic animal sculptures.”
Dates 18th February - 1st March 2026 (Check in 18th Feb, Check out 1st March)
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 Veronique Benony
Level Intermediate (Should have 1-2 years of experience with clay)
Duration 10 days
The Intensive
The Art of Animals: Between Reality and Creation
“Free your imagination and transform clay into unique and poetic animal sculptures.”
Learning Objectives
- Observe and understand animal morphology
- Learn the basics of modeling and slab construction (stoneware)
- Develop a personal style (simplification of forms)
- Master decorative techniques (textures, patterns)
- Experiment with engobes (colored decoration)
Key Techniques Covered
- Slab building
- Slip joining
- Hollow construction (lightweight sculpture)
- Selection and use of textures
- Underglazes (decoration before firing)
- Glazing (finishing after bisque firing)
Expected Outcomes
To understand the method, we will begin with simple-shaped animals, then progress toward more complex sculptures throughout the week.
At the end of the 10 days, participants will have:
- Created 2 to 4 animal sculptures
- Acquired a complete ceramic creation method
- Developed a personal, inspired style
Development of a personal artistic language
- Simplify animal forms into expressive volumes
- Create stylized and coherent sculptures
- Integrate decoration and form into a unified approach
- Draw inspiration from Véronique Bénony’s work without copying it
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.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Day 1 – Discovery and Animal Observation
- Presentation of Véronique Bénony’s work
- Introduction to animal sculpture
- Sources of inspiration : François-Xavier Lalanne, François Pompon, Claude Lhoste…
- Understanding proportions and postures
- Basics of geometry and choice of imprints
- Imagining fantastical animals
- First exercises: creating sardines (small fish) and maquettes
Objectives:
- Learn to observe before sculpting
- Learn to simplify animal forms
Day 2 – Slab Construction and Simplification of Forms
- Creation of a first simple animal (fish type, two-sided)
- Slab work only
- Use of imprints
- Process presentation with images
Practice:
- Cutting
- Choosing patterns
- Assembly
Objective:
Master fundamental gestures
Day 3 – More Complex Creation
- Creation of a more elaborate animal (horse, sheep, parrot…): slabs + modeling
- Assembly of complex volumes
- Head modeling
- Work on proportions
- Closing volumes
- Transition from realism to stylization
- Creation of a simplified animal
Objectives:
- Strengthen and balance the sculpture
- Develop a personal artistic language
Day 4 – Continued Assembly and Texture Work
- Finishing the animal:
- Imprints (fabrics, wood, objects)
- Engraving and incisions
- Organization of patterns
Objectives:
- Enrich the surface with graphic effects
- Develop a personal artistic language
Day 5 – Technical Pause
- Final drying
- Loading the kiln
- Start of bisque firing
Day 6 – New Creation
- Beginning a more elaborate sculpture (rhinoceros, hippopotamus, rabbit…)
- Presentation of new challenges
- Demonstration by the instructor
- Participant practice
Objective: move toward a more ambitious sculpture
Day 7 – Engobe and Glaze Decoration
- Preparation and application of underglazes and glaze
- Layering, reserves, contrasts
Objectives:
- Integrate color before the second firing
- Create a strong visual identity
- Firing of glazed pieces
Day 8 – Kiln Opening and Analysis
- Opening of the kiln (key moment): Discovery of fired pieces
Group observation:
- Underglazes results (colors, effects, contrasts)
- Behavior of the material (cracks, possible deformations)
- Impact of textures after firing
Continuation:
- Finalizing the complex sculpture
- Applying engobe on leather-hard clay
- Drying
Day 9 – Firing (depending on timing)
- Organizing pieces in the kiln
- Starting the firing
Day 10 – Review and Presentation
- Final kiln opening
- Group and individual review
- Exhibition of creations
- Photographing the works
- End of the course
About The Ceramic Artists
Véronique Bénony is a French ceramic sculptor recognized for her work in animal sculpture.
Born in 1962 in Nantes, she now lives and works in Angers, where she has established her studio.
Since 1995, she has developed an artistic universe deeply inspired by the animal world, which lies at the heart of her creative approach.
As a contemporary artist, she renews animal sculpture by offering a style that is both refined and graphic, combined with an original exploration of material.
Her work, poetic and lively, offers a sensitive and resolutely modern vision of animals, at the crossroads of observation and imagination.
Artistic Style and Technique
- Véronique Bénony’s work is distinguished by several characteristics:
- Simplification of forms
- She reduces animals to essential, often geometric forms in order to capture their essence.
Career and Exhibitions
Trained at the Fine Arts School of Angers, she has participated in numerous artistic events:
exhibitions in France, fairs dedicated to ceramics and sculpture, as well as gallery
presentations in France and abroad (Spain, Italy, Belgium).
Her works, all unique, are entirely handcrafted using traditional expertise.
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.
Maximum number of students per batch 8-9
Studio Hours & Materials
All days 10:30am to 5:00pm (workshop time)
Additional studio access from 5:00pm to 8pm
All materials will be provided
Studio facilities
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.73,500/-
Single Occupancy Private Cottage - Rs.84,000/-
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 15th November 2025, we will provide you with a 100% refund.
- If you cancel between the 15th November to 1st December 2025, we deduct 50% of the total fees as cancellation fees and refund you the remaining paid amount.
- Post 1st December 2025, 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!