Nastia Calaca – Handbuilt Tapir

Hi, my name is Nastia Calaca, and I’m a ceramic artist originally from Ukraine. I’ve been working and living in the Netherlands for the last five years.

In my workshop, I am going to show you, how to make one of my favorites – a baby tapir from scratch, using hand-building techniques.

This workshop is suitable for all levels!

After this workshop you could be making amazing pieces like these:

When you buy this workshop, you get:

• Instant Access to Watch my pre-recorded Workshop
  • The workshop is 50 minutes long.
  • You can watch it as soon as you purchase this workshop & login to your account.
    
• Bonus Q&A
  • Watch my bonus Q&A where I answered questions about my process face-to-face.
    
• Lifetime Access to the Replays
  • The workshop and the Q&A are recorded, and you will have lifetime access to it. You can watch it online, or download it to your device to watch offline at any time.

Other work from the artist

About Nastia Calaca

I have always been dreaming of becoming an illustrator. Creating intricate illustrations, reinventing beloved book characters, and writing new versions of my favorite stories was all part of my childhood. One day, I unexpectedly stumbled upon ceramics. We unconditionally fell in love and have never parted since, having now been united for more than 11 years.

Living in the high-tech world of flat screens and omnipresent plastic, you could, of course, say that picking dust and mud as daily tools might somehow seem silly. Perhaps it is, but I find in this some childish joy and excitement, like when your parents allow a four-year-old you to jump in a puddle.

Personas and illustrations shaped into the teapots, pot holders, and little decorative statues. They started their life as flat images on the printed pages, but then they came to life as real and alive as I imagined them; you can touch, cuddle, hug, and kiss them. As for me, I even talk to my handmade fellows. We agree on the number of their fingers, the color of their eyes, come up with their past, and discuss their future.

Every such piece I create is unique. Even the copies I make on-demand are different from the original, they have mood and character of their own; some gain a wee bit of weight, some get a few new charming little wrinkles, and each of them hopes to be loved and cared for by their new owners. With hand modeling and glazing, the final result is always a surprise. Unpredictably magical changes take place in the kiln where every 10 degrees add a new exceptional effect.

All my creations travel a lot, too. Ever since I started some odd 11 years ago, my cute little beasts have been rocketing around to every corner of the world: one of the teapots has gone to Japan, another one is now in India, a dozen of plant pots and figurines have moved to the US, and many more fellows are in Sweden, UK, and Italy. At times, I even envy them a little, as I can’t join them when they leave. Despite this, I don’t regret letting them go, as they are off to your cozy homes and lovely families.

I am now going to disappear off to my studio, and let you have a look around on your own, in the hope that you find a little fellow to take home with you.

Contact:

https://calaca.me/

https://www.instagram.com/calacaceramicart