WORKSHOPS AND SHOWS
The workshops are exclusively hands-on and span over one or two days. Instrested in hosting a workshop, click here.
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Introduction to Making Jewelry with Precious Metal Clay
Dates: SATURDAY & SUNDAY, June 28–29th Time: 10 AM–4 PM on Saturday & 12PM-4PM on Sunday Discover how to make pendants and earrings from fine silver Precious Metal Clay in this two-day workshop. The experience begins with a two-hour intro to forming and molding techniques, including hand-building, mold-making, hollow core beads, bas relief, and slab construction. You’ll explore design possibilities and craft your own pieces with Biliana’s guidance, learning skills such as texturing, refining, soldering, and patination. By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with wearable jewelry and a new appreciation for the creative potential of metal clay. 👉 Register for Jewelry with Precious Metal Clay |
Head, Hands and Hearth Exhibition
Mc Groarty Arts Center
7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga, CA 91042
(818) 352-5285 / [email protected]
Monday -Saturday, June 9 - 21, 2025
10 am to 4 pm
I will showcase several teapot sets, cups, and sculptures at the group show "Head, Hands and Hearth" at the McGroarty Art Center in Tujunga, CA, alongside 14 remarkable artists. The show is curated by Ray Yokum.
Participating Artists: Mary Ziats, Carol Horst, Jotham Hung, Jeff Picou, Staton Hunter, Matthew Faughnan, Heather Scheetz, Nikki Lewis, Katie Queen, Biliana Popova, Steve Horn, Kevin Kowalski, Annie Quigley, Sean Roberts, and Jack Halpern.
Mc Groarty Arts Center
7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga, CA 91042
(818) 352-5285 / [email protected]
Monday -Saturday, June 9 - 21, 2025
10 am to 4 pm
I will showcase several teapot sets, cups, and sculptures at the group show "Head, Hands and Hearth" at the McGroarty Art Center in Tujunga, CA, alongside 14 remarkable artists. The show is curated by Ray Yokum.
Participating Artists: Mary Ziats, Carol Horst, Jotham Hung, Jeff Picou, Staton Hunter, Matthew Faughnan, Heather Scheetz, Nikki Lewis, Katie Queen, Biliana Popova, Steve Horn, Kevin Kowalski, Annie Quigley, Sean Roberts, and Jack Halpern.
PAST EVENTS
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June, 2025
Clay As a Tool Green&Bisque Clay House, Pasadena, CA Learn how to use clay as a tool in your studio practice by creating custom texture stamps, signature stamps, molds for simple and complex forms, drape, press and hump molds, bas-relief/sprig molds, foot makers, diameter shapers, templates, ribs, edge trimmers, shrink rulers, and more. This hands-on workshop begins with a 90-minute overview of tools and their uses, followed by clay-building sessions using slab construction, solid forming, and carving. You’ll have time to experiment, design, and refine tools tailored to your unique studio needs, with support and demonstrations from Biliana throughout. By the end of the day, you’ll walk away with a set of custom tools—and the know-how to continue creating them. |
June, 2024
All About Templates
Barro Sur Ceramic Studio in Todos Santos, Baja California
Are you ready to elevate your pottery skills and explore the limitless possibilities of soft slab clay construction? Join our exclusive workshop and immerse yourself in the art of crafting stunning templates that will bring your ceramic creations to life! Explore various template designs and learn how to adapt them to suit your artistic vision. Many topics will be covered, from translating a 2D sketch into 3D form, to ergonomics and functionality of forms, handle, spouts and lid designs, etc. Throughout the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to work on their own ideas. It would be helpful if they came prepared with sketches and sample pieces. In addition, the Instructor will provide guidance, support, and individual feedback.
All About Templates
Barro Sur Ceramic Studio in Todos Santos, Baja California
Are you ready to elevate your pottery skills and explore the limitless possibilities of soft slab clay construction? Join our exclusive workshop and immerse yourself in the art of crafting stunning templates that will bring your ceramic creations to life! Explore various template designs and learn how to adapt them to suit your artistic vision. Many topics will be covered, from translating a 2D sketch into 3D form, to ergonomics and functionality of forms, handle, spouts and lid designs, etc. Throughout the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to work on their own ideas. It would be helpful if they came prepared with sketches and sample pieces. In addition, the Instructor will provide guidance, support, and individual feedback.
April, 2024
Yixing Teapot Workshop
Green&Bisque Clay House, Pasadena, CA
Immerse yourself in the world of Yixing teapots, the world's first designed for brewing tea! Experience the magic of these iconic teapots that have enchanted tea enthusiasts for centuries. Learn the art of pounding clay, press-molding, paddling, and slab methods at our two-day workshop. Unleash your inner potter and make your very own piece of history!
The workshop will begin with the history and significance of Yixing teapots and the methods and processes involved in creating these unique and functional objects. Next, participants will learn about the various stages of developing a teapot, including paddling, layering, spout construction, lid variations, and firing. Yixing teapots are all hand-made rather than thrown on the wheel. The clay for the Yixing teapots is first pounded with a heavy wooden mallet into a slab, then one of three techniques are used to shape the clay into pots: pre-molded for segmented teapots, paddled for round teapots, and the slab technique for square teapots.
You will learn how to construct the round teapot, which is generally considered a feminine design. The open structure is excellent for using tightly packed oolong teas like Monkey Picked because the space allows the leaves to open fully.
Throughout the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to practice each of these techniques and create their own Yixing teapot under the guidance and support of the Instructor.
October 22, 2023
10 am to 5 pm, lunch is provided
Darted Slab Construction Workshop
Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, CA
This workshop covers the foundation of hand-building with soft clay slabs. Starting with simple cylindrical forms, you will learn to alter them using Single, Double Pointed, I-shaped, T-shaped Darts, and Single and Double Pointed Darts with Complex Curves. We will also explore plates and small dishes, starting with a clay slab and playing with different shapes and darts; there are a lot of possibilities.
10 am to 5 pm, lunch is provided
Darted Slab Construction Workshop
Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, CA
This workshop covers the foundation of hand-building with soft clay slabs. Starting with simple cylindrical forms, you will learn to alter them using Single, Double Pointed, I-shaped, T-shaped Darts, and Single and Double Pointed Darts with Complex Curves. We will also explore plates and small dishes, starting with a clay slab and playing with different shapes and darts; there are a lot of possibilities.
Juror and Featured Artist
19th Annual Ceramics Juried Open Exhibition A National Competition
"The Human Figure in Clay 2023"
McGroarty Arts Center / 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga, CA 91042
(818) 352-5285 / [email protected]
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, 6:00pm
Exhibition Dates: June 3-June 24
Open hours: Monday - Friday 10am-4pm
The Ceramic Annual at the McGroarty Arts Center (MAC) has a tradition of featuring local, prominent, professional, as well as up-and-coming artists in the Southern California area. It was created over 16 years ago with the mission of “growing the ceramics department” at the MAC, and is one way it supports the arts and local artists in the community.
This exhibition will feature works in clay that explore the human figure in all its complexity and beauty, whether sculptural or pictorial. The primary medium is clay but other materials can complement that. We want to encourage artists to submit a series of works that relate to one another. The exhibition will create a dialogue between the artists and viewers by exhibiting works that capture the diversity of the human form and its range of emotions. In addition, the show will focus on works that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. With this exhibition, we hope to provide an opportunity for artists to explore their creativity and for viewers to engage with works of art in a meaningful way.
19th Annual Ceramics Juried Open Exhibition A National Competition
"The Human Figure in Clay 2023"
McGroarty Arts Center / 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga, CA 91042
(818) 352-5285 / [email protected]
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, 6:00pm
Exhibition Dates: June 3-June 24
Open hours: Monday - Friday 10am-4pm
The Ceramic Annual at the McGroarty Arts Center (MAC) has a tradition of featuring local, prominent, professional, as well as up-and-coming artists in the Southern California area. It was created over 16 years ago with the mission of “growing the ceramics department” at the MAC, and is one way it supports the arts and local artists in the community.
This exhibition will feature works in clay that explore the human figure in all its complexity and beauty, whether sculptural or pictorial. The primary medium is clay but other materials can complement that. We want to encourage artists to submit a series of works that relate to one another. The exhibition will create a dialogue between the artists and viewers by exhibiting works that capture the diversity of the human form and its range of emotions. In addition, the show will focus on works that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. With this exhibition, we hope to provide an opportunity for artists to explore their creativity and for viewers to engage with works of art in a meaningful way.
AMOCA / American Museum of Ceramic Art
Pomona, CA
June 24 & 25, 2023 • Figurative Sculpture w/Biliana Popova
10 AM-4 PM Saturday & Sunday • $250
This ceramic sculpture workshop will be full of helpful information on solid sculpting a human figure. The focus will be on interpretation from 2D sketch to 3D format, giving special attention to the anatomy and balance of the sculpture. We will look at how the underlying skeleton, volume, and planes of the figure tie into one another and how subtle changes can add character to the piece. Adding texture and other sculptural elements will add another rich narrative layer.
The instructor will demonstrate solid sculpting techniques and cover simple anatomy, problem-solving solutions, and creative ways to create evocative sculptures. In addition, the disassembly, hollowing, and reassembly for firing, surface finishes, and slab-building techniques will be discussed. Time-lapse video and slide presentations will convey large amounts of information in a condensed format and will be enriched by live demonstrations addressing key details and participants’ needs.
Pomona, CA
June 24 & 25, 2023 • Figurative Sculpture w/Biliana Popova
10 AM-4 PM Saturday & Sunday • $250
This ceramic sculpture workshop will be full of helpful information on solid sculpting a human figure. The focus will be on interpretation from 2D sketch to 3D format, giving special attention to the anatomy and balance of the sculpture. We will look at how the underlying skeleton, volume, and planes of the figure tie into one another and how subtle changes can add character to the piece. Adding texture and other sculptural elements will add another rich narrative layer.
The instructor will demonstrate solid sculpting techniques and cover simple anatomy, problem-solving solutions, and creative ways to create evocative sculptures. In addition, the disassembly, hollowing, and reassembly for firing, surface finishes, and slab-building techniques will be discussed. Time-lapse video and slide presentations will convey large amounts of information in a condensed format and will be enriched by live demonstrations addressing key details and participants’ needs.
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June 2022
Sculptural Workshop at @Barro_sur Ceramic Studio in Todos Santos, Baja California This two days hands-on workshop taught students how to approach sculpting solid in clay. The process begins with a sketch, solid sculpting with subtraction, and addition from a block of clay, following the process of disassembly, hollowing, reassembly, firing, and finishing. No previous experience required. Open to all levels. |
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June 2018
Precious Metal Clay Jewelry Class Xiem Clay Classes: Join Biliana Popova @bilianapopova for a course in Precious Metal Clay at Xiem in Session 4 and apply your Intermediate Hand Building skills to a new medium. www.xiemclaycenter.com |
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“Material Matters” A Ceramic Art Group Exhibition
October 6-26, 2017 Artists: Melody Cooper, Stanton Hunter, Stephen Horn, Brian Peshek, Biliana Popova, Steven Portigal, and Ray Yocum Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery 1100 W Clark Ave, Burbank, CA 91506 |
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The Flintridge Prep Students Ceramics Exhibition with Biliana Popova
April 15 - May 14, 2017 Xiem Clay Center 1563 N. Lake Ave Pasadena, CA 91104 |
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"The Figurative in Clay", Invitational Group Exhibition
2/28/2015 - 3/28/2015 The Craft in America Center presents four distinct, contemporary clay artists whose work is based on the human form. From whimsical to deeply psychological, each has a story to tell. Featured artists: Gerit Grimm, Vince Palacios, Biliana Popova, Dino Sophia. Craft in America Center 1120 South Robertson Blvd. Suite #301 Los Angeles, CA, 90035 (310) 659-9022 |
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