Clay Studio Leiden

Clay Studio Leiden in Jasmijn's words... 💖 "Signing up for a few classes at Ipek’s light, beautiful spacious studio was one of my best ideas this year. I would love to be in this amazing studio each week! It is the most calming, zen space I can think of. Your head is clear and at peace; all you focus on is the process of creating. It almost feels like meditation. Ipek is a true professional and a wonderful mentor; she gently guides you where you want to go and lets you discover what you’re capable of. There is magic happening there!"

For more info, visit website claystudioleiden.com and sign up for newsletters!

On Wednesday we started the open studio session with a little bubbly to celebrate Yeon’s birthday! 🎂💖😘🥂🎶 Happy birthday Yeon!!!!

Hannah throwing porcelain cups, working on pulling up the walls and making them thin to get them to be translucent. 💖

Black and white photography was my first love. I’d spend hours without a break - sometimes for 12 hours at a time - in the dark room developing pictures I took, portraits, cityscapes, still life, animals….

Between my art, teaching and running a business on my own I don’t have much time for B&W photography these days but I still love taking pictures. My students are often my subjects when they’re totally in the zone. 🥰

Wednesday evening open studio with Marieke, Anne-Marie, Gunhild and Carolyn. 🥰

I won’t lie… I was a bit heart-broken to see these gorgeous pieces leave the studio but I know they need to go to their real home at Annemyn’s. 💖

Beautiful work Annemyn! Truly, gorgeous, gorgeous pieces! Handmade, food-safe and dishwasher-safe too! ✨💖👏

Annemyn was given a throwing and glazing workshop as a birthday gift by her sister. 🥰🎂🎈

What a lovely gift!!! Got someone you want to gift a workshop to?

Interview with Turkish weekly newspaper about my upcoming exhibition in Boston. Many thanks to Pinar Celikel for her thoughtful questions.

Delighted to share my interview with Pinar Celikel in Turkish newspaper Oksijen, published in today's paper. Pinar asked me about upcoming and biggest exhibition in Boston at Pucker Gallery opening in a couple weeks; what inspires me and what it's like to live and work abroad. Many thanks to Pinar for her thoughtful questions!

You may read the interview by clicking on the photo below or visiting this link, if you subscribe to Oksijen: https://gazeteoksijen.com/o2/kaselerin-icine-dunyalari-sigdiriyor-167919

Masa glazing the bowls he made in the last open studio session of the year and the last open studio session in our current studio. Can’t wait to see them come out of the glaze firing.

It’s been 15 years since I made my first pot but I still get excited about opening kilns! 🥰🥳☺️

Also, we’re moving to a new and bigger location soon! More on that later…

Hope everyone’s enjoyed the holidays! 🎄🕎🎁

Sinem in an open studio session after finishing throwing a pretty big piece. 💖✨👏

Another lovely piece by Eugenia. Made by drawing a pattern using a stencil on bisque tile and decorating it with underglaze and glaze. 🎉💖

Eugenia’s gorgeous little charcuterie platter! 🥰 She made this beautiful piece from beginning to end starting with an uber-flat and bubble free slab. Then texturized it and glazed it. So nice!!! Congratulations Eugenia!! 👏🎉💖

Scenes from the studio of my students working. I do love the community aspect of teaching. It’s so nice to see such different people together in the same space, working on their own individual projects and also enjoy each other’s company while doing whatever it is they want, whatever gives them joy and allows them to feel free and creative! 🥰🎉💖🧚‍♀️

Hannah’s amazing plates and fabulous illustrations. She made these in one glazing workshop and one open studio session! Just lovely!! 😍🎨🖌💖

Stephanie loving her first pots which she made in two throwing workshops followed by a glazing workshop. 🥰 Congrats Stephanie!! Beautiful pieces!!

Scenes from a lovely workshop with European Space Agency Ceramics Club members. We worked on good slab rolling techniques so everyone learned how to roll completely flat and bubble-free slabs and how to work with texture rollers. Small plates, bowls, sushi plates, cheese platters, glaze test tiles and even some Christmas ornaments were made! The pieces will really come alive in the glazing workshop in a few weeks when they’re glazed! 💖

From a really fun workshop yesterday evening with European Space Agency Ceramics Club members Grace, Eugenia, Christina, Maria and Marta. Time flew by!! Looking forward to the glazing workshop! 💖

It’s so fantastic seeing my students get excited about what they create! Anna signed up for a 3-session mini course. First throwing, then glazing and then an open studio. And made these gorgeous pieces in just three sessions! Congratulations Anna! Beautiful work! 💖🎉👏

I added one more workshop to an already full October schedule. The glazing workshop still has a few spots available. If you’re interested check out the info on my website (link in bio).

Ben admiring his work. 🥰

Sign up for my newsletters to receive info on my upcoming workshops. Link in bio.

Ben admiring his work. 🥰

Sign up for my newsletter to receive info on my upcoming workshops and courses. Link in bio.

Bry with her lovely pieces in autumn colors! She made these plates by rolling out slabs, pressing leaves, flowers and acorns on them and then using underglazes and glazes to color them. 🍁🧡🍂🤎🍁💛🍂

Sign up for my newsletter to receive info on my upcoming workshops and courses. Link in bio.

Evelien’s testimonial:

“My time in the clay studio was a lot of fun! During the 3-session mini-course, a lot of attention is paid to good basic techniques, so I quickly felt in control of my work.

You’re not just learning a trick, but you’ll be learning a skill.

When you enter the studio, you will immediately notice that someone works here who loves working with colours.

During glazing, it was then no surprise that there was plenty of room to experiment with colours and techniques.

Ipek herself is clearly a very talented teacher and artist, who shares her knowledge with great enthusiasm. In short, I’m already looking forward to the moment when I can step into her studio again.”

Veronica made these two lovely pots in two sessions. A throwing workshop and a glazing workshop. Love the colors and relaxed brushwork! 💛💖💜

Sign up for my newsletter to receive info on my upcoming workshops and courses. Link in bio.

Elisabet with her boys Lucas and Leo when they came to pick up her pieces which she made in a two-session mini course.

August and September courses are fully booked but I’ll be offering new intensive courses for beginners and intermediate level students later in the fall. Sign up for my newsletter to be notified as soon as the new dates are announced. Link in bio.

Some of Fatima’s work. 💖 August and September courses are full but I’ll be offering new intensive courses for beginners and intermediate level students later in the fall. Sign up for my newsletter to be notified as soon as the new dates are announced. Link in bio.

Jack and Magnus deep in discussion, critiquing their own and each other’s works after a firing.
August courses are full but I’ll be offering new intensive courses for beginners and intermediate level students in the fall. Sign up for my newsletter to be notified as soon as the new dates are announced. Link in bio.

From this week’s glazing workshop with Denise, Bry and Zarifa. 🌈🎨🖌✨💖

Curious about my workshops? Visit my website and sign up on my newsletter (link in bio).

One spot left in July but August dates will be announced soon!

Staying around this summer? My 3-session mini ceramic courses are starting soon! Come be a part of a really fun and international community and try your hand at ceramics!

Learn from a professional artist whose artwork is represented in museums (including the Boijmans) and who was commissioned by Cartier and interviewed by Harper’s Bazaar!

The mini course consists of a wheel-throwing workshop, a glazing workshop and an open studio session so you can have some free play time and also practice what you’ve learned in the workshops.

This is a great trial opportunity if you’re interested in my longer courses which will start in the fall.

Lessons are taught in groups of 3-6 participants and entirely in English.

Questions or concerns? PM me and I’ll get back to you asap!

For special deals sign up on my newsletter (link in bio) July workshop dates announced already and August dates will be announced soon!

Saturday morning open studio session. 💖 Ifi on the wheel working on a piece she threw in our last lesson, Yuli glazing pieces she threw in her previous open studio session, me working on a 10 kg piece I threw earlier this week… We listened to the sound of rolling waves from the Greek islands, well, because it’s summer… 💖☀️🌻🏖🇬🇷
Curious about me, the workshops/open studios? Come to our happy hour today from 17:00-18:40!
For special deals sign up on my newsletter (link in bio) July workshop dates announced already and August dates will be announced soon!