Ceramic Character Design: Explore Color and Texture
A course by Nastia CalacaCeramic Artist
A course by Nastia Calaca, Ceramic Artist
Learn to sculpt whimsical and handmade characters by combining colors, textures, and clay modeling techniques
Through the clay modeling of characters, you can bring your imagination to life and craft unique ceramic pieces that are reminiscent of childhood. Artist Nastia Calaca uses her sculptures to take people back to a forgotten world of tales and magic. She fell in love with ceramics at a young age before founding her own studio where she sells her work to people all over the world.
In this course, Nastia guides you through the basics of ceramic character design as you learn how to draw inspiration from everyday life and turn a sketch into a colorful ceramic creature. Explore the slip trailing technique and use it to give your character its own unique personality. Start the course with a piece of mud and your hands. Finish it with your own ceramic creation.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 13 downloads
Materials
6 minutes, 49 seconds
Inspiration and Sketching 1
17 minutes, 37 seconds
Inspiration and Sketching 2
6 minutes, 41 seconds
Working with Clay
17 minutes, 20 seconds
Decorative Techniques
14 minutes, 59 seconds
The Body 1
19 minutes, 19 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by learning how Nastia fell in love with ceramics in the most unexpected way. Then discover some of Nastia’s influences, from the things she sees on her travels to the colorful sets of Wes Anderson movies.
Familiarize yourself with Nastia’s preferred tools and learn how to work with them. Then start looking for inspiration, sketch your initial ideas on paper, and create a simple clay miniature to visualize your character. Nastia then shows you how to work with clay and experiment by creating different body parts. Develop a color palette and practice decorative techniques to breathe some life into your budding creature.
Time to bring your character (and your imagination) to life! Nastia teaches you how to transform a simple shape into your character’s body. Create the eyes and basic shape of the piece then add detail to the design using the slip trailing technique. Paint the creature with underglazes from your color palette and fire it in the kiln.
Nastia shares one of her most valuable tips: how to present and package your finished ceramic work. To finish the course, discover the different uses and applications for your sketches, designs, and ceramic pieces.
What is this course's project?
Design and make a ceramic animal using clay modeling techniques. The teacher makes a toad but you can make an animal of your choice.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who is interested in ceramics or sculpture.
Requirements and materials
You don’t need any previous experience to take this course, but some basic drawing and sculpture skills will be helpful.
In terms of materials, you will need clay, a set of modeling tools, underglazes, and brushes, as well as access to a kiln.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Me está divirtiendo mucho, muy interesante
- 3 months ago
muy buen curso para iniciar en este mundo de la ceramica
- 5 months ago
Para los que quieren hacer personajes en plastilina epoxica o mas adelante en ceramica, debes tomar este curso. Muy bueno
- 6 months ago
Es un excelente curso, muy práctico. Me encantó y lo recomiendo!
- 7 months ago
O curso muito bem explicado, a professora é excelente, Recomendo.
In 2016 Nastia founded Calaca Ceramic Art; an online store selling ceramic characters and figurines inspired by the world around her. Every piece is handmade and Nastia sells her custom orders to people all over the world. She also shares her work with over 70K followers on Instagram.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Preparation
- Materials
- Inspiration and Sketching 1
- Inspiration and Sketching 2
- Working with Clay
- Decorative Techniques
- U3
Bringing Your Sketches to Life
- The Body 1
- The Body 2
- The Eyes
- Incorporating Elements and Details into the Body 1
- Incorporating Elements and Details into the Body 2
- Texture and Finishing
- Adding Color and Glazing 1
- Adding Color and Glazing 2
- U4
Post-Production
- Packaging
- Other Applications
- FP
Final project
- Ceramic Character Design: Explore Color and Texture
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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FAQs
Yes, this ceramics course is designed for beginners and covers foundational hand-building and sculpting techniques from scratch, making it easy to follow for those with no prior experience.
You’ll need basic clay, a rolling pin, cutting wire, simple sculpting tools, cloth, and access to a kiln for firing. Household items can substitute for some professional ceramic tools.
You’ll learn how to design, sculpt, and detail stylized animal characters using hand-building methods, including sketching, exaggerating features, and adding limbs for expressive, unique sculptures.
Yes, the course covers underglaze application, slip trailing, patina effects, and how to layer and fire glazes for finished, colorful ceramic sculptures.
Yes, the course shares ways to use household items as substitutes for professional tools and explains how to prepare clay and build sculptures at home, though you’ll need kiln access to finish pieces.
You’ll explore Victorian and vintage magazine inspiration, learning to blend classic costume motifs with minimal, stylized illustration for unique ceramic character designs.
Yes, you’ll be guided through professional packaging methods, materials selection, and protective strategies for shipping fragile ceramic artworks.