When you start ceramics, you discover a world that is both fascinating and... a little temperamental. At Dodo Toucan workshop, we regularly welcome people who have never touched clay in their lives. And that's precisely what we love: seeing clumsy gestures become confident, mistakes turn into learning experiences, and eyes marvel at the first piece coming out of the kiln. Today, I want to share with you the most common mistakes people make when starting ceramics — and especially, how we help you avoid them (or turn them into pretty sur-
prises).
1. Wanting to go too fast
Ceramics takes time. Each stage of modeling, decorating, firing, and glazing is spaced at least one day apart. When you start, you often want to work quickly, or even try to do everything in one session... but clay doesn't like to be rushed.
On Instagram, we see videos of professional ceramists creating masterpieces in fast motion, and I see that this can create a surprise effect for our students when they realize the slowness of the process during a workshop!
No worries, our workshop and course formulas are designed according to the different "times of the clay," with sessions at the appropriate time for modeling, decorating, and glazing.
At Dodo Toucan workshop, we teach you to work in harmony with the rhythm of the material. We take the time to understand, to feel, to observe.
And if everything can't be finished on the same day, that's normal: the beauty of ceramics also comes from its slowness.
But from my point of view, nothing beats the pleasure of rediscovering your pieces, now vibrant and shimmering, when opening the kiln a few days after the workshop!
Finally, for those who are most pressed for time, we have designed single-session workshops, which allow you to discover a facet of creation that is dear to us: decorating or painting.
You'll still have to wait to get your pieces back while they fire, don't be crazy :)
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2. Over-wetting the clay
This is a very common mistake: people tend to add too much water thinking it will soften the clay.
In reality, it weakens it, makes it soft, difficult to work with, and can even cause cracks during drying.
And without the help of a teacher, it's very difficult to know how much to add at first!
At Dodo Toucan, we show you how to moisten just enough, and especially how to work with finger pressure rather than water.
It's a very tactile, almost meditative, and ultimately quite fast learning process.
3. Aiming for perfection... before even starting
Often, I see students putting pressure on themselves!
There's that little inner voice that compares our creation to an industrial piece or something we saw on Instagram.
However, the beauty and poetry of handmade ceramics lies in its irregularities, its small flaws, its human imprints.
During our introductory workshops, you will see many examples of easy or complex pieces, where imperfections are part of the object's charm.
But most importantly, your piece is yours. It tells a story of a moment, a gesture, a first encounter with the material.
And that's what makes it precious.
Let us guide you through the process and remember that your ceramic will also be enhanced by firing.
I've seen many doubtful students during certain manufacturing stages leave incredibly proud during the "reveal" of their work after it came out of the kiln!
4. Not properly attaching elements together
Attaching a handle, an ear, or a small decoration to a piece is an art in itself!
The typical mistake? Rushing the process and not taking care to blend the two parts you're assembling into one another. Result: guaranteed detachment during firing!
No worries, we'll guide you step by step. We'll learn together how to score, slip, press... and most importantly, how to check that each addition holds well. It's a great lesson in patience and precision, but also the possibility of truly personalizing a simple object with an original detail.
At Dodo Toucan workshop, we learn by creating
What we convey through each workshop is that ceramics is not an exact science. It's a dialogue with the material, with its unforeseen events, its quirks, its happy accidents. We guide you with kindness, we show you the gestures, we share our workshop anecdotes (and my failures too!), and above all, we let you explore. Because the best way to learn... is to do.
And what if you came to try?
If you want to get your hands in the clay, to discover this craft at your own pace, in a warm and inspiring setting, we welcome you with joy at the Dodo Toucan workshop in Paris. Places are limited, to maintain an intimate and personalized experience. You will leave with your creations... and often, the desire to come back.
Sara - Dodo Toucan
