Pottery Workshops & Masterclasses in Midlothian, VA

Our specialized pottery workshops at River City Clay offer the perfect opportunity to dive in, get your hands muddy, and create something beautiful. Conveniently located for makers across Richmond, Chesterfield, and the surrounding RVA areas, our single-session and short-run workshops range from beginner-friendly pottery date nights to advanced masterclasses led by celebrated guest instructors.

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Cuerda Seca with Leslie Messersmith • August 8th

Cuerda Seca is a process of ceramic surface decoration that originated in the Middle East as a technique for decorating tiles. Wax is used to draw out the design and then the areas inside the lines are filled with glaze. The wax keeps the glaze in place. I currently use black and clear wax resist.  I have been experimenting with this process for a few years and am working on developing various colors of wax resist.

Decorative circular dish with intricate floral and leaf patterns in red, yellow, green, and blue colors.
WORKSHOP: Cuerda Seca with Leslie Messersmith WORKSHOP: Cuerda Seca with Leslie Messersmith
WORKSHOP: Cuerda Seca with Leslie Messersmith
$125.00

DATE: Saturday, August 8, 2026
TIME: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Instructor: Leslie Messersmith

Looking to try something truly unique with your ceramic surfaces? We are so excited to host guest instructor Leslie Messersmith of Locust Hill Pottery for an in-depth workshop!

If you aren't familiar with Cuerda Seca ("dry cord"), it is a stunning, ancient surface decoration technique originating in the Middle East. By using a special wax resist to draw out intricate designs, you can pipe vibrant glazes into the sections without them bleeding together. It creates an incredible, crisp, raised-line effect on your pottery.

What’s Included:

  • All materials : Each student will also leave equipped with their personal set of Cuerda Seca applicator tools and bottles of special wax infused glazes.

  • All post-workshop firings

SPACE
 IS LIMITED!

About Leslie Messersmith

My studio, Locust Hill Pottery, is in Mechanicsville, Va. My early training in production pottery began as an apprentice in North Carolina at a family owned pottery.  This training and an additional B.A. in sculpture from VCU have carried me on a path to creating beautiful, functional pottery. I also enjoy making sculptural, decorative objects. I use many different ceramic processes to create my work and am inspired by the natural world and by the rich history of ceramics worldwide. I have created and sold reproduction items to a number of historical locations in their gift shops including Williamsburg and Jamestown. I have had my work in the Virginia Museum Shop, 43rd St. Gallery in Richmond, VA., Touch of Earth in Williamsburg, VA. and Sophia Street Gallery in Fredericksburg, VA. I have participated in numerous craft shows over the years in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Leslie Messersmith’s Cuerda Seca

Decorative ceramic plate with a painted design of red cherries and green leaves on a blue textured background.
A colorful, round ceramic vase decorated with floral and abstract patterns in red, yellow, green, and blue colors.
Decorative black ceramic plate with colorful floral pattern in yellow, blue, and red with green dots.