Brandon Peña - How to make a water etched teapot

Hi, my name is Brandon Peña, and in this workshop I will be showing you how I throw and assemble teapots, and additionally how I decorate them with a technique called water etching, to create low relief patterns on the surface.

Workshop Overview

In this hands-on workshop, I’ll guide you through the full process of creating a well-functioning and beautifully decorated teapot. Together, we’ll explore each step—from throwing and assembling the parts to adding expressive surface decoration—through demonstrations and shared techniques. This workshop is designed to support both learning and creative exploration in a relaxed, encouraging environment.

Demonstrations will include:

1. Throwing and trimming teapot bodies
2. Throwing a closed-form lid and trimming it using the teapot body as a chuck
3. Throwing, cutting, and sculpting spouts
4. (Optional) Casting a small hump mold using a tablespoon and creating an internal bulb strainer
5. Attaching the optional strainer and spout
6. Pulling a handle directly from the teapot body
7. Using shellac to create decorative patterns and water-etched surfaces
8. Enhancing water-etched effects with slips, underglazes, and brush-on glazes

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After this workshop, you could be making amazing work like this:

Workshop Benefits

By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the skills and confidence to design and create your own teapots from start to finish. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of functional teapot construction and learn how to effectively use water etching to enhance both glazed and unglazed surfaces, adding depth, texture, and visual interest to your work.

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Required Materials

• Shellac or wax resist
• Paintbrush

Optional Materials

• Pottery plaster
• Spherical tablespoon or another small, smooth spherical object
• Small hole punch

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About Brandon Peña

My work is anchored in a continuous development and exploration of techniques and materials with a heavy emphasis on surface decoration.
Drawing inspiration from various aspects of urban life, I strive to create forms that reflect both the obvious and often overlooked elements of the city scape and it's people. From fashion and footwear design, to architecture, down to the weather-worn surfaces that line the streets and sidewalks; I strive to create a pleasing balance between functionality and familiarity.
As a core element of my work I employ colour, texture, and depth to form surfaces that ask to be explored beyond their obvious function, inviting a meditative pause within daily routines.
Originally from Utah, USA, Brandon Peña is a potter currently based in Glasgow, Scotland, working as a teaching artist at The Craft Pottery Studio.
Prior to moving to Scotland in 2021, Brandon worked as an educator at Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah from 2017-2021. Brandon received his BFA in Ceramics from Utah State University in 2016 after spending four years in their renowned ceramics program. Brandon first discovered his passion for working with clay after taking classes in high school where he fell in love with the various elements of working with clay. With over 20 years of experience making pots Brandon has found joy in teaching others alongside developing his own work and making practices.

Instagram: @penapottery