San Francisco · Opening soon
Make it out of
concrete
A workshop studio where concrete handles like clay, only faster. Color it with pigment, pour it, press it or trowel it into vessels, small stools, side tables, bowls, and more. Cast it one day; the next it is out of the mold and ready to stain, polish and seal. The mix is lightweight and fiber-reinforced, and there's no need for a kiln.
The material
Concrete that behaves like clay.
This is not bagged mix from a hardware store. It is a lightweight, fiber-reinforced formula developed over forty years to be worked by hand, and forgiving enough to learn in an afternoon
Easy to handle
The mix presses, trowels and textures in the hand, similar to clay. If you have touched mud, your hands already know this material.
Cures overnight
No kiln, no firing schedule. Cast one day, pop it out of the mold the next. Cold weather slows it down, and an additive speeds it up when a piece has to move fast.
Almost no shrinkage
Fiber reinforcement means pieces hold their shape, edge, and size.
Built to be used
Strong enough to sit on or plant in, and light enough to lift, because you control how much material goes into it.
Workshops & classes
Six tracks, from first cast to finished form.
Every class ends with a real piece in your hands. Most people start with First Cast. Dates and pricing are being set now.
First Cast
Workshop floorBeginner · Two visits · 3 hours, then a shorter finishing session
First visit: mix, press and trowel into a mold from the studio library, then texture and pigment the surface. Second visit: pop it out of the mold, stain, polish and seal it. The fastest way to find out whether this material is for you.
You make: A vessel, a planter or a set of tiles
Vessels & Objects
Workshop floorIntermediate · Multi-week series
vessels, small stools/side tables, planters, kitchware, and more. You work a form from the studio library or bring a shape, then press, texture and pigment it into a finished piece.
You make: A vessel, small stool, side table, planter or set of dishes
Cast-in-Place
Partner trackIntermediate · Multi-week series
Build a form in place, then pour and finish the piece there. For larger work that needs a clean edge.
You make: A cast-in-place form with a finished edge
Mold Making
Back studioAdvanced · Extended format
Go into the back studio and build your own mold from a master — melamine-faced wood, plaster, or silicone, depending on the shape you are after.
You make: A reusable mold, plus one cast from it
Sealing & Finishing
Finishing roomAll levels · One session, or an add-on
Sealers, clear coats, faux-stone and metallic pours, in a dust-free room kept separate from the wet work. Ultra Z Poxy is one option here, not the only one — you learn how to pick a finish for the piece in front of you.
You make: A finished, sealed surface panel
Vertical & Sculptural
Workshop floorAdvanced · Extended format
A lightweight, cartable mix made for rock walls, vertical surfaces and large-scale installation work. Where the craft leaves the tabletop.
You make: A vertical panel or sculptural element
How it works
Pattern, mold, cast, finish.
Every piece in the studio moves through the same four stages. Beginner classes use the last two. Advanced classes take you back to the first.
- 01
Pattern
A master pattern is cut in the wood studio which can be a vessel, figure, tile, etc.
- 02
Mold
The master becomes a mold: melamine-faced wood for clean shapes, plaster for one-offs, silicone for texture and undercuts.
- 03
Cast
The mold moves to the workshop floor. You press, trowel, texture and pigment. It cures overnight (cold weather slows this process).
- 04
Finish
On the second visit you pop the piece out of the mold, then stain, polish and seal it in the finishing room. Clear coats and decorative pours happen here too.
The studio
A public floor, and a working studio behind it.
Classes run on the open workshop floor. Behind it sits the studio that makes the molds which is also where the advanced classes go.
- Workshop floor
- Casting, pressing and troweling stations, stocked with a library of pre-made molds. Most public classes happen here.
- Wood studio
- Master patterns and melamine-faced molds. The melamine face gives a smooth, reusable surface with no plaster step needed.
- Plaster & silicone
- Plaster molds for one-offs and short runs; flexible silicone molds for texture, undercuts and repeat use.
- Finishing room
- Separately ventilated and dust-free, for sealers, clear coats, pigmented pours and metallic finishes. Ultra Z Poxy is one of the products used here.
What to know
Common questions.
Do I need any experience?
No. The material was developed to be taught to beginners. Classes start at the beginning, and the mix is forgiving in a way most people do not expect from concrete.
How is this different from a pottery studio?
The feel in your hands is close — pressing, troweling and texturing. The differences are the end of the process. There is no kiln and no firing. Pieces cure overnight, so a class runs over two visits, and what you take home is a vessel, a planter, a small stool or side table, a set of tiles.
Will it crack?
The mix is fiber-reinforced and formulated for almost no shrinkage, which is the usual cause of cracking. Pieces are also light enough to carry and strong enough for daily use.
How long does a piece take?
Two visits. You cast on the first one and leave the piece in the mold overnight; a cold room makes that slower. On the second visit you pop it out, stain and polish it, and seal it. If you would rather not come back for the seal, we can finish it for you.
What can I actually make?
Sculptural concrete forms: vessels, small stools/side tables, planters, kitchware, and more. Advanced tracks add custom mold making, sealing and decorative finishes, and vertical work for walls and installations.
Are you open yet?
Not yet. We are scheduling pilot workshops and settling on a location. Leave your email and we will tell you when dates go up.
Can I have a piece made for me instead?
Yes. The same studio takes private commissions — a planter for a terrace, a set of small stools or side tables, a run of tiles — using the same pipeline the classes use.
Be there for the first pour.
We're not open yet but pilot workshops are being scheduled now. Leave your email and we will tell you when dates and pricing go up.
Studio location: San Francisco, to be announced.
sfconcretecraftworks@gmail.com