José Carvalho
José Carvalho guiding a ceramic workshop in his studio

Aldeia do Meco · Sesimbra · Portugal

Time with
clay.

Workshops and residencies shaped by attention, curiosity and the quiet pleasure of making by hand.

Explore the programme

01 / The studio

Come as you are.
Begin with the material.

Clay asks us to slow down. At José’s studio, learning begins through touch: noticing weight, resistance, balance and the small changes that turn an idea into a form.

Each session is deliberately intimate, with space for individual guidance and experimentation. Complete beginners are welcome, as are intermediate/experienced makers looking for a fresh perspective on their practice.

José Carvalho shaping a large vessel in the studio
José Carvalho in his Aldeia do Meco studio

02 / Meet José

Teaching as a conversation.

“I want every person to feel that clay is a material they can explore—not something they have to master.”

José Carvalho is a Portuguese ceramic artist whose teaching has grown naturally from his studio practice. After nearly two decades in London, he returned to Portugal and established a studio among the pine trees of Aldeia do Meco.

His approach is generous, practical and responsive. Demonstrations are clear, but never prescriptive; guidance arrives when it is useful, leaving room for each maker to find their own rhythm and visual language.

José Carvalho Ceramic artist

03 / Private tuition

A session entirely
your own.

Focused one-to-one or two-person tuition, shaped around your experience, questions and pace.

One participant

Private session

A personal studio experience for one person who would like to learn and make.

1 hour
€60
1.5 hours
€90
2 hours
€120

Two participants

Shared private session

A personal studio experience for two people who would like to learn and make together.

1 hour
€120
1.5 hours
€180
2 hours
€240

Private tuition · One participant

Choose your session length.

Cancellation policy: Private tuition bookings are non-refundable. Sessions may be rescheduled with at least 48 hours' notice, subject to future availability. Changes made less than 48 hours before the session cannot be rescheduled or refunded.

60 minutes 90 minutes 120 minutes

Private tuition · Two participants

Choose your session length.

Cancellation policy: Private tuition bookings are non-refundable. Sessions may be rescheduled with at least 48 hours' notice, subject to future availability. Changes made less than 48 hours before the session cannot be rescheduled or refunded.

60 minutes 90 minutes 120 minutes

Possible areas of focus

  • Wheel throwing
  • Pinch pots
  • Coiling
  • Slab building
  • Tile making
  • Slip casting
  • Surface decoration
  • Glazing

Clay, tools, studio materials and use of relevant equipment are included. Prices include VAT. Firing, collection and shipping can be arranged separately.

Hands gently shaping clay on a pottery wheel

Learning happens in the hands.

04 / Group courses

Four weeks.
A shared rhythm.

Small, structured courses that create time to practise, reflect and build confidence from one week to the next.

A student learning to throw clay on the pottery wheel

Pottery wheel

Center the Clay.

Learn to centre clay, pull walls and develop balanced forms on the wheel. Projects may include cups, bowls, plates and small vases.

Begins
Friday, 4 September
Time
17:30–20:00
Duration
4 weekly sessions
Group
3–4 participants
Fee
€430.50 per person

All materials included. Firing and shipping are separate.

The course requires a minimum of 3 participants and has a maximum of 4.

A €100 deposit per participant is required to secure your place. The remaining balance is payable once the minimum number of participants required for the course has been reached. If the course does not go ahead because the minimum number of participants is not reached, the deposit will be refunded in full. If you cancel your booking, the deposit is non-refundable.

Booking more than one place? Please complete a separate booking for each participant. Each booking reserves one place and requires a €100 deposit.

Request a place
Traditional ceramic tools arranged in José Carvalho's studio

Hand-building

Creating without a wheel.

Explore pinch, coil and slab techniques to create functional or sculptural pieces with a strong sense of touch and surface.

Begins
Saturday, 5 September
Time
10:00–12:30
Duration
4 weekly sessions
Group
4–6 participants
Fee
€430.50 per person

All materials included. Firing and shipping are separate.

The course requires a minimum of 4 participants and has a maximum of 6.

A €100 deposit per participant is required to secure your place. The remaining balance is payable once the minimum number of participants required for the course has been reached. If the course does not go ahead because the minimum number of participants is not reached, the deposit will be refunded in full. If you cancel your booking, the deposit is non-refundable.

Booking more than one place? Please complete a separate booking for each participant. Each booking reserves one place and requires a €100 deposit.

Request a place

05 / Family workshops

Make something
together.

A playful, unhurried introduction to clay for children and adults.

Families work side by side using simple hand-building techniques and/or on the wheel, depending on ability. Projects may include animal sculptures, pinch pots, small bowls or decorative tiles. No experience is needed—only clothes that can collect a little clay.

Duration
2 hours
Suitable for
Children aged 6+ with an adult
Group size
Up to 4 people
Availability
Selected Saturdays
Fee
On request
The ceramic studio surrounded by pine trees in Aldeia do Meco, Sesimbra

06 / Artist residencies

Five days to go deeper.

A focused studio stay for ceramic artists, designers and committed makers developing a body of work or a new direction.

Mornings combine demonstration, discussion and individual tuition. Afternoons offer independent studio time, with José nearby for questions and reflection. The small group creates a generous exchange of ideas while preserving the quiet needed to work.

Duration
5 days
Guided studio time
10:00–13:00 & 14:30–15:30
Independent access
15:30–18:30
Group
Maximum 4 artists
Included
Individual wheel, bisque firing, breakfast & lunch
Accommodation
Subject to availability
Fee
On request

If the studio accommodation is unavailable, we can recommend options nearby in Aldeia do Meco, Sesimbra.

07 / Philosophy

Not perfection.
Attention.

There is no pressure to make perfect pottery. The aim is to become absorbed in the process, develop useful skills and leave with the confidence to continue a personal journey with clay.

08 / Practical details

Questions,
answered.

Do I need previous experience?

No. Private tuition, family workshops and group courses welcome complete beginners. If you have experience, share a little about it in the booking form so the session can be adapted to you.

Are materials included?

Yes. Clay, tools and the studio materials needed for your session are included unless a programme states otherwise. Firing costs are not included and are calculated as €3.50 per kilogram of clay.

Can I keep what I make?

Yes. Work must dry fully before firing. Outside the residency programme, firing is optional and charged separately. Finished pieces can be collected or shipped for an additional fee.

Is the booking form a confirmation?

No. It begins a conversation. José will reply with availability, final details and payment instructions. Your place is confirmed after payment.

Where is the studio?

In Aldeia do Meco, Sesimbra, Portugal, around five minutes from the Atlantic coast. Full directions are shared with your booking confirmation.

09 / Booking request

Begin your time with clay.

Tell José which experience interests you, when you would like to visit and what you hope to explore. He will reply personally with availability and next steps.

No payment is taken here. Submitting this form does not confirm a place.