Join us for
Guest Artist Workshops/Retreats
This year, we're welcoming three guest artist to lead us through weeklong workshops focused on their specific style and techniques. Because lodging at the residency house is limited, we have tiered pricing that offers three choices for participants:
- All inclusive: lodging at Villa do Barro, most meals, field trips/exploration, workshop, materials
- Workshop Inclusive: This includes all of the above, except breakfast and lodging. Separate lodging is available nearby.
- Workshop only: This option is for local artists or those who don't want to join the group for meals and activities. It does include lunches with the group.
Take a Claycation
2027 Retreats and Workshops
Join us for a summer ceramics retreat at Well Traveled Wares Studio and Villa do Barro residency house. Just an hour north of Lisbon, we're tucked away in the countryside, but close to museums, cultural heritage sites, castles, yummy food, lots of ceramics and creative inspiration.
I'm thrilled to host retreats for guest artists Helen Rasekhy (aka the Persian Potter),Jordan Coons, Sarah Catherine Gromek, and Ashley Maxwell (Nyx & Lore), next summer for four unique workshops detailing the techniques and tools used to create the style of work each artist is known for. We may be adding two more retreats to the roster, so keep an eye out.
The full 2027 Retreat and residency schedules will be posted in September 2026. Be sure to get on our email list to be notified when bookings open!
May 2027 -------Clay Imprintology with Helen Rasekhy
Helen (you may know her better as The Persian Potter) will teach a 7 day workshop on all the tips and tricks you'll need to create your own rollers and stamps for making patterns on clay. We'll also be using slabs an rollers to handbiuld a piece or two. Traveling guests are invited to join us, with accommodations for four available in the residency house (right over the studio), or in shared accommodations for 5 more guests a short walk away from the studio. Local artists may choose just the workshop portion, or can join us for the whole adventure, but sleep in their own beds. We’ll be dining together at Villa do Barro (aka the residency house). Visiting local restaurants, and cultural attractions.
Dates and Details Coming soon!
July 2027 Making and Carving Double Walled Pottery with Jordan Coons
Join Jordan Coons in rural Portugal for an immersive 7-day workshop exploring the magic of double-walled pottery. Together, we’ll handbuild and throw/assemble layered vessels, learning the structural techniques that make these forms possible — and the carving methods Jordan uses to transform solid walls of clay into intricate, light-catching surfaces.
Class Size: 15
August 15-21- --- Exploring Leather Craft Through Clay with Sara Catherine Gromek
This hands-on workshop introduces participants to handbuilding techniques that mimic the look and feel of leather. Students will construct a functional ceramic mug or cup using slabs of clay while exploring texture, seams, construction methods, and surface details inspired by traditional leather craftsmanship.
The workshop emphasizes thoughtful construction, craftsmanship, functionality, and creative exploration. Participants of all experience levels are welcome.
Class size: 10-14
September13-19--- Narrating in Blue: Myth, Lore and Ceramic Surface Design with Ashley Maxwell
This workshop is centered around storytelling through surface, with a focus on blue and white pottery and the many ways it can be achieved through underglaze techniques.
Artists will learn my personal approach to blue and white surface design, using underglaze in a way that is both visually rich and approachable. The techniques taught are designed to feel intuitive, flexible, and easy to integrate into an existing studio practice.
Working on tiles, and small handbuilt forms we will explore a range of surface methods including wax resist inlay, traditional inlay, and layered underglaze application to achieve a soft, painterly, watercolor effect. While we will be practicing on tiles, the goal is for artists to confidently translate these techniques onto their own functional or sculptural work.
Class size: 14
Woven Porcelain with Stela Ivanova- NEW DATES COMING SOON
Learn to create sculptures from multiple layers of overlapping porcelain coils using the collapse effect of high temperature firing. Stela Ivanova will share her process and unique techniques for creating these delicate woven sculptures and her inspiration and journey to develop the process.
Please email Nicole to get on the wait list for this incredible workshop. We had to reschedule, and will have new dates soon.
Class size: 10
Overview
There's something about travel that inspires creativity. Our retreats offer a quiet space in the Portuguese countryside to learn and experiment with new ceramics techniques. Those who stay with us in the village will have most meals provided by a private chef on site. They will also have unlimited studio access during their stay. We will have a day long field trip and a couple of adventures to visit near by towns, where we'll explore local arts, cuisine, and culture. Details are specific to each event and can be found within the specific retreat listing.
Airfare and transportation from the airport are not included in the prices.
Lodging
There are four beds available at Villa do Barro: two single rooms and one shared room with two beds. The residency house has a full kitchen and two full bathrooms. Each room is priced as a package for the whole retreats, so you can find pricing specific to each experience on the retreat page. Guests who are interested in adding time on to their stay can request a price for additional days so they can stay and continue to experiment with what they have learned.
If Villa do Barro is booked, we have partnerships with other short term lodging in our village, just a short walk away. Guests can choose to book these places and join us at Villa do Barro for meals and adventures.
Food
Most meals will be provided for guests staying at Villa do Barro, and guests traveling from other countries will also have the option to have meals included. We are partnering with local chefs, who are using local ingredients to prepare lunches and dinners for us at the residency house. There will be options for vegetarians, vegans, gluten free and other dietary restrictions with advance notice. Menus will vary by retreat.
Breakfast will be a simple buffet of bread, fruit, and yogurt with coffee, tea or juice, but guests have kitchen access to prepare their own breakfast.
There will be 2-3 dinners and 1-2 lunches out at restaurants, on the days we explore neighboring cities and towns. Those meals will be at the expense of guests and not included in the price of the retreats.
Alcohol is also not included in the price of retreats, but guests are welcome to buy wine, beer or other drinks locally to have at the house.
Day Trips
Clay needs time to dry and fire, so we will take advantage of studio down time by taking small field trips to experience the local art, architecture and culture the region has to offer. We'll skip the more well known tourist sites like Lisbon, and Porto, and explore hidden gems like Caldas da Rainha (UNESCO world Heritage site for ceramics), Obidos castle (shown in the video here), Alcobaça, Tomar and Nazare. We'll be transported to and from the residency house by licensed and insured local tour guide Vanessa, who grew up in Caldas da Rainha. She shares a local perspective and takes us to sample the best of the area.