Nerikomi: Colored Clay Patterning with Jesse Armstrong A mesmerizing Japanese technique
Friday, October 24, 2025 | 9AM – 5PM | Dennis Ott Ceramic Studio
One-Day Hands-On Intensive
Discover the art of Nerikomi, a mesmerizing Japanese technique that transforms colored porcelain into vivid, intricate patterns that run all the way through your clay. In this immersive one-day workshop, artist Jesse Armstrong will guide you through the entire process—from building your patterned clay blocks to forming refined, polished ceramic pieces.
In the morning, you’ll dive into techniques like color fading, layering, reducing, and tiling to create two stunning nerikomi blocks.
In the afternoon, you’ll shape your patterned clay into cups and bowls using plaster molds and tar paper templates.
Jesse will also demonstrate professional lapidary finishing techniques, including precise sponging, sanding, and polishing methods that will leave your ceramics with a high-gloss, gallery-quality shine.
Materials: See Materials tab for details
Age Requirement
Ceramic workshops are designed for persons aged 18 and over, or with instructor approval.
25 1024w JA
Jesse Armstrong
Jesse Armstrong grew up in Norman, Oklahoma surrounded by creativity and ingenuity. His mother, Carol Armstrong, is a professional painter and educator, his dad Jim Armstrong held advanced degrees in Biology and Environmental Chemistry and was an amateur woodworker, and brother Jake Armstrong is a successful artist and animator. Armstrong readily recognizes he was raised with a passion not just for the arts, but with a deep curiosity for the how things work.
Armstrong received his BFA in Ceramics and Sculpture from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. He spent several years as an intern and resident artist at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, CO, and spent a year as the interim Director of Ceramics at the Firehouse Arts Center in Norman, OK, before heading to Arizona State University in 2010 to complete an MFA in Ceramics. The contacts made in Arizona offered Armstrong an opportunity to spend several more years as a Resident Artist at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, AZ. In addition to being a working artist Armstrong is also an educator and is currently the Head of the Ceramics Department at the Mesa Arts Center.
Materials for students to bring:
Spray water Bottle
Old Pillowcase or sheet cut down to approximately 2’ x 3’
Fettling Knife
Thin Wire tool
Basic pottery tools, whatever students regularly use for hand building
1” hake-like Paintbrush (for applying water)
A serrated rib for scoring. I use this one by Xiem:
Students may register online or call Sedona Arts Center Office at 928-282-3809, Ext 1 or toll free at 866-282-3809 Ext 1.
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express are accepted or student may pay with cash or check by registering in person during office hours Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
In-Person and Online Classes Cancellation
Students must cancel or transfer at least 7 days prior to the first day of class.
If a student cancels or transfers before the 7-day cut-off, a 15% fee will be applied.
If a student cancels within 7 days prior to class, there are no refunds.
If Sedona Arts Center cancels the class for any reason, all payments made will be refunded in full.
Note: If traveling to Sedona, we strongly urge students to purchase refundable airline tickets or travel insurance in case of workshop cancellation due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen changes. Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for non-refundable ticket purchases or lodging fees.
Important Message
Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for providing make-up sessions or issuing refunds, credits, or transfers for courses missed as a result of illness, emergencies, or other events beyond our control. There are absolutely no refunds after the cut-off date for any reason, unless Sedona Arts Center has to cancel the workshop, then all fees paid will be refunded in full.
