Yunting Li.
Japanese Overglaze Painting in the Nabeshima tradition
A three-hour introduction to Japanese overglaze painting, inspired by the refined porcelain tradition of Nabeshima ware from Arita, Japan.
Japanese Overglaze Painting.
with Yunting Li
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Fine brushwork, balanced composition, and controlled colour on glazed porcelain.
The workshop opens with a brief introduction to the history and aesthetics of Nabeshima ware, followed by demonstrations of Japanese overglaze pigment preparation, brush handling, layering, and application.
Participants then create their own designs on glazed porcelain, exploring traditional Nabeshima-inspired motifs — florals, birds, and geometric borders — with step-by-step guidance throughout. The workshop closes with a discussion of the overglaze firing process and how colours develop and mature in the kiln.
Who it's for Artists of all experience levels interested in Japanese porcelain decoration and in developing detailed surface painting skills.
What's included
- A Japanese lead-free overglaze pigment kit — eight colours plus the necessary overglaze medium, shared among all participants
- Specialized brushes and painting tools provided by the instructor for use during the workshop
- Step-by-step guidance throughout the painting process
Pre-glazed, pre-painted porcelain plates with cobalt underglaze designs will be available for purchase for anyone who'd like a ready-to-paint piece.
Not included
- Lunch — please bring your own food, snacks, and a water bottle
A refrigerator and microwave are available for everyone to use.
What to bring
Purchase a prepared pieceThe instructor will provide pre-glazed porcelain plates with cobalt underglaze designs, ready for overglaze painting. Available for purchase during the workshop.
Bring your ownA clear-glazed porcelain piece with a coloured underglaze outline or design already fired beneath the glaze. Blue, black, grey, and other coloured underglaze outlines are all fine, as are coloured underglaze transfers.
For beginners, a plate or relatively flat porcelain surface is strongly recommended — it's the easiest surface on which to learn the technique.
If you bring your own piece, keep the underglaze design relatively small and avoid covering a large area. The overglaze pigment is applied as a liquid directly onto a smooth, clear-glazed surface, so larger designs — especially on curved forms — can cause the pigment to move or flow before drying, making clean application much harder.
Firing
Clayhouse members & enrolled studentsFiring is included, using your member or student inches where applicable.
Everyone elseA $75 firing fee applies.
Overglaze pieces need a subsequent firing to mature the pigments and complete the finished surface.
Cancellation policy
2 weeks or more beforeFull refund.
10 to 14 days before50% refund.
Within 10 daysNo refund.
All refunds incur a $20 processing fee.
Join the waiting list.
We'll let you know as soon as a spot opens.