April, 2024
April 3rd to April 5th 2024 Nara, Japan. 3-day kintsugi workshop
April 12th to 26th 2024 Nara, Japan. Extended 10 day traditional, lacquer based kintsugi workshop.
This workshop will
meet 12th and 13th
break 14th and 15th
meet 16th 17th 18th
break 19th
meet 20th 21st
break 22nd 23rd
meet 24th 25th 26th
May, 2024
May 5th to May 7th 2024 Nara, Japan. 3-day kintsugi workshop
May 12th to 26th 2024 Nara, Japan. Extended 10 day traditional, lacquer based kintsugi workshop.
This workshop will
meet 12th and 13th
break 14th and 15th
meet 16th 17th 18th
break 19th
meet 20th 21st
break 22nd 23rd
meet 24th 25th 26th
August, 2024
August 7th to 21st 2024 Nara, Japan. Extended 10 day traditional, lacquer based kintsugi workshop.
This workshop will
meet 7th 8th
break 9th 10th
meet 11th 12th 13th
break 14th 15th
meet 16th 17th
break 18th
meet 19th 20th 21st
I can schedule workshops in Japan to fit your schedule in person and online.
I can schedule workshops in Japan to fit most schedules. I also offer 2 hour and 10 hour online workshops.
The courses I teach are aimed at people who want a deep and thorough understanding of traditional kintsugi. I don’t use putties or glue and we use real gold and silver during the longer courses. Many of the people who study want to teach so they need a complete understanding of the process and how to troubleshoot and solve problems that come up. Taking a 3 and 10 day course will provide more instruction than years at a once a week, hobbyist type course. It isn’t possible to finish a piece from start to finish in any of the courses other than the 10 day course, lacquer takes more than a day to dry in the best of environments.
Covered in the longer courses is the following.
Materials
• tools and materials, stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3
• abrasives, parts 1 and 2
• drying box
• brush care
Processes
• pre-repair preparation
• mixing of medium
• placing medium
• securing pieces
• drying
• initial clean up
• middle layer of black
• middle preparation
• final clean up
• final pre-metal preparation
• fill work
• metal finishing
• simple repair
• cracks in the body, Nyu
• edge chips
• yobitsugi
• tomotsugi
• restoration work
• Types of kintsugi
Trouble- shooting
• wrinkly lacquer
• old lacquer
• lacquer that won’t dry
• not smooth metal
• ceramic body types, problems
• lacquer not drying
• wrinkly substrate
• hairline cracks
• endless filling
• very small ridges
All courses are taught in English or Japanese with a focus on traditional Japanese processes and materials. This includes not being wasteful with the materials and keeping the work space free of food and other distractions. The courses and teaching are based on what is called in Japan minarai, 見習い, learning by looking and feeling, a more intuitive approach.
Finished workshops
November 28th. to December 12th. 2022 Nara, Japan. 10 day traditional, lacquer based kintsugi workshop. This workshop will meet November 28th and 29th. November 30th and December 1st will be a break. Meet December 2nd, 3rd, 4th. December 5th. will be a break. Meet December 6th and 7th. December 8th., and 9th. will be a break, and then meet December 10th, 11th., and 12th.
October 2 — 18, 2020. 10 day workshop, Nara, Japan.
Oct 2 – 4 : Class
October 5 -6 break
Oct. 7 class
Oct 8 – 9 break
Oct 10 – 12 class
Oct 13-15 break
October 16 – 18 class
Participant review
This is the second time I take Dave’s workshop. The first time was a three-day workshop and this time the ten-day one.
Both were excellent. The shorter one provides a good overview on the basics of the technique, while the ten-day workshop allows theoretical and practical in depth learning.
Dave is very knowledgeable not only on Kintsugi but also on ceramics and antiques and provides valuable insights about how to handle each piece along the Kintsugi process.
The pace and style of teaching makes the lesson very enjoyable and enlightening.
Looking forward to my next workshop!
January 13th. to January 15th., 2020, Nara, Japan. 3 day workshop
January 16th. to January 25th., 2020, Nara, Japan. 10 day workshop
August 25th. to September 7th. 2019, Nara, Japan, 10 day extended traditional, lacquer based kintsugi workshop. The workshop will meet for 10 days, the remaining days are to allow the lacquer to dry.
Participant review
When planning my recent trip to Japan last December, I knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to take a kintsugi class from Dave Pike. I have been following his work for years and knew that he taught classes around the world, but not in my area. These classes are an investment so I saved up and decided to opt for his 3-day class in Nara, Dave’s stomping ground. There is a lot to cover in a 3-day class. Dave structured the class so that there was lecture time paired with work time every day. This was quite effective and helped me embody the written and lecture parts of the class. In addition, his written materials and supplemental online tutorials give me a way to continue my kintsugi projects with confidence. All in all I found Dave’s class to be thorough, understandable and immensely enjoyable. In addition to his course, he handled the arrangement of my accommodations and made my experience absolutely worry-free. As a native English speaker myself, it was extremely helpful for me to have someone like Dave who is fluent and familiar with Japanese language and customs. I recommend this class highly; it exceeded my expectations in every way. I hope to take his 10-day class in the future.
Nadine Edelstein Vashon Island
FULL July 8, — 12, 2019, Chapelle, Glâne, Switzerland, FULL 5 day workshop. This workshop will focus on the initial stage of kintsugi.
FULL July 15, —- 19, 2019, Chapelle, Glâne, Switzerland, FULL 5 day workshop. This workshop will focus on the middle stage of kintsugi.
Nara, Japan, April 15th. to April 25th. 10 day workshop.
Nara, Japan. November 20th. — November 22nd., 2018, 3 day workshop.
FULL November 1st, 2018, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm San Francisco, California. This workshop is full. 3 hour workshop. It will be held at Workshop Residence, 797 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA.
Participants comments.
“It was a great experience–I really enjoyed the Kintsugi workshop. Just being there was so exciting. I look forward to attending more workshops in the future.”
“Thank you! It was so much fun.”
FULL November 1st., 2018, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 3 hour workshop San Francisco, California. This workshop will meet from 5pm to 8 pm. It will be held at Workshop Residence, 797 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA. Workshop Residence
FULL November 2nd, 2018, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm San Francisco, California. This workshop is full. 3 hour workshop. It will be held at Workshop Residence, 797 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA.
FULL November 2nd, 2018, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. San Francisco, California. 3 hour workshop. This workshop will meet from 5pm to 8 pm. It will be held at Workshop Residence, 797 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA. Workshop Residence
FULL November 2nd, 2018, San Francisco, California. 1 hour presentation on kintsugi. It will be held at Workshop Residence, 797 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA. Workshop Residence
FULL November 3rd — November 5th., 2018, San Francisco, California. 3 day workshop.
Participant comment
Dave Pike brings a watchful sensitivity to his intensive three-day workshop that keeps the myriad details organized and productive. Enhanced by strategic staging, repetition, and reinforcement, Dave’s class provides the kind of immersive experience that brings a welcome sense of flow to the student experience, as well as a satisfying level of clarity to an exacting craft. Highly recommended.
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Nara, Japan, October 8th. to October 24th. 2018 10 day traditional, lacquer based kintsugi workshop.
October 8th, workshop
break 1 day.
October 10th. workshop
break 1 day
October 12th. 13th. workshop
break 2 days
October 16th, 17th, workshop
Break 2 day
October 20th, 21st. workshop
Break 1 day
October 23rd, 24th. workshop
1 day flexible time may be added for drying.
Nara, Japan. October 4th. — October 6th., 2018, 3 day workshop.
Participant comment
I took the three day workshop in Nara and found it extremely interesting. You will be amazed to learn how intricate the Kintsuki process is and how your slightest actions can bring out a completely different outcome. Dave is a detailed and patient master and doesn’t hesitate to share all his knowledge on the several aspects that Kintsugi involves.
The three day workshop is excellent to introduce you to the basics of each part of the process and I plan to take another workshop, hopefully the 10 day one, to continue improving my skills. If you have the chance to take the class in Japan, the workshop takes place in a lovely village in the countryside of Nara and makes it all an even more amazing experience.
July 9, 10, 11, 2018, Chapelle, Glâne, Switzerland, 3 day workshop. The address is Imp. Notre-Dame 29, 1608 Chapelle (glâne)
https://www.google.co.jp/maps/place/Impasse+Notre+Dame+29,+1608+Chapelle+(Gl%C3%A2ne),+Switzerland/@46.5870582,6.8358477,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x478e8035d704603d:0x15b3fe61e7be6a08!8m2!3d46.5870582!4d6.8380364
Oron-la-ville is a place close by that has rooms to stay.
Nara, Japan, May 5th. to May 19th. 2018 10 day traditional, lacquer based kintsugi workshop. This workshop will meet May 5th. through the 7th. May 8th. and 9th. will be breaks, meet from May 10th. through the 12th. May 13th., 14th. and 15th. will be breaks, and then meet May 16th. though the 19th. Beginner workshop.
Participant comment.
The itinerary of Dave’s 10 day workshop ticked al my boxes: working with the real thing, learning by doing it self, in Japan and being able to ask questions in English since I don’t speak Japanese. I didn’t get disappointed! I left Japan feeling equipped and confident (a bit anxious too though 😉 that I can apply the art of Kintsugi at home by myself.
Add a beautiful location where the workshop was held and two finished pieces to complete the experience.
It was a pleasure working with Dave and the other participant in the workshop. I am looking forward to keep in touch and share experiences and questions about Kintsugi.
April 8-10, 2018, Sarasota, Florida, U.S. 3 day workshop Beginner level. Seating is limited to 5 people in this workshop.
Participants comment
I was lucky enough to catch David Pike in the United States in April 2018 for a 3 day Kintsugi workshop. His knowledge and expertise was evident throughout. His calm distribution of sometimes complex processes made it easy to follow. No question was off the table. He kept us on schedule and working as promised throughout the 3 days. Even adding what our names looked like in Japanese writing when we asked! David’s workshop can be taken by anyone at any level of training. I highly recommend grabbing the opportunity when you can, this truly is so unique and a once in a lifetime experience.
October 1, 2017, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. 3 hour beginner workshop. Seating is limited to 10 people in this workshop. The workshop will be held at http://www.sozogallery.net/
October 1, 2017, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. 3 hour beginner workshop for Vets. Seating is limited to 5 people in this workshop. This workshop is full. The workshop will be held at http://www.sozogallery.net/
June 30th – July 2nd, 2017, Nara, Japan, 3 day workshop Beginner level. Seating is limited to 5 people in this workshop.
Participant comments.
As a recipient of a Fund for Teachers fellowship, I had the good fortune of being able to participate in a 3 day intensive kintsugi workshop with David Pike in Japan at the end of June 2017. The workshop took place in his studio which is located in a beautiful mountainside region outside of Nara. I conveniently stayed at a hostel right across the Nara train/bus station and was able to hop onto the bus every morning. David was there waiting for me at the bus stop.
As a total novice to kintsugi, David effectively broke down the entire process into concrete steps so that I could digest this very complex and layered art form. The kintsugi process cannot be completed in 3 days, it takes time. So, David first demonstrated the steps of the process that could actually be executed during this timeframe and then had me perform the tasks, as well. As an educator myself, I really appreciated his patience, hands-on approach, and how he scaffolded the content. The aspects of the process that couldn’t be executed during the workshop, he brought to life as much as possible through concrete examples of work that he had in his studio.
I look forward to receive my supplies and pieces that I started in the mail shortly so that I can put the theory I learned into practice. David was very open to having me contact him via email to answer questions as the process unfolds. Thank you, David!
ALL SEATS FULL April 5, 6, 7, 2017, Chapelle, Glâne, Switzerland, 3 day workshop. ALL SEATS FULL. The address is Imp. Notre-Dame 29, 1608 Chapelle (glâne)
https://www.google.co.jp/maps/place/Impasse+Notre+Dame+29,+1608+Chapelle+(Gl%C3%A2ne),+Switzerland/@46.5870582,6.8358477,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x478e8035d704603d:0x15b3fe61e7be6a08!8m2!3d46.5870582!4d6.8380364
Oron-la-ville is a place close by that has rooms to stay.
Participants comments.
Ce workshop est magnifique. Le kintsugi est un art de la réparation, et comme tout art et philosophie, il demande du temps. Je me réjouis de faire le workshop de 10 jours qui me permettra d’aller plus précisément dans les différentes étapes de cette technique.
J’ai apprécié la découverte de la technique, de mieux la comprendre les différentes étapes du kintusugi
On a du matériel de qualité!
le kintsugi? Mais c’est un deuxième métier!
très bon workshop. Le kintsugi est une technique très pointue, donc il a fallu y entrer et faire des efforts de compréhension .
April 8, 2017, Chapelle, Glâne, Switzerland, 3 hour beginner workshop. Seating is limited to 10 people in this workshop. Oron-la-ville is a place close by that has rooms to stay. Address of workshop is the same for both workshops.
December 20, 2016, Nara, Japan 3 hour beginner workshop. Seating is limited to 10 people in this workshop.
Berkeley, California, October 14. 2016 Doe Memorial Library, 4pm to 6pm. This isn’t a workshop but a talk about kintsugi through the Berkeley Colloquium series. berkeley.edu//event
San Francisco, California, October 15th. 2016, 3 hour workshop. Nob Hill.
815 Hyde Street, San Francisco, 94109 Start at 9:00 am till 12:00 pm
Participant comment
After years of savoring the idea of kintsugi, the real thing arrived in the form of David Pike from Nara. In an intimate setting, we were taken through the steps and thinking that kintsugi requires. Each student was provided the materials and tools needed in neat and labeled packets. Participants brought their shards of ceramic pieces and tried to repair and imagine them whole again! all along the way, Pike was there with advice and hands-on help. I was taken with the importance of sound and touch in this ancient craft and Pike’s obvious experience and knowledge. For me, this was my ‘fall expense’ and it was worth it completely—not because i walked away with an intact finished piece, but because i had a morning with a master of the craft and enough teaching to begin the path. I wholeheartedly recommend this workshop.
Nara, Japan, August 22nd. — September 4th. 13 day kintsugi workshop, Intermediate/advanced workshop. There are 2 seats left for this workshop.
Participant comment.
I can highly recommend the ten day workshop Dave Pike is offering, for people who have prior knowledge of kintsugi. Its a unique class you cannot find elsewhere. I just came back from the workshop and had a fantastic experience – not just in relation to the actual practice of learning how to put things together in the traditional kintsugi way (meaning no glue, only using lacquer) but also in relation to the entire atmosphere, the place, and what you learn about the culture and its aesthetics (from food to ceramics to the philosophy of wabi sabi and more) through a unique time on site, conversations and people you meet. It really is a Japan I would not have been able to see otherwise. I learnt much more than I expected and came back really inspired. The course is well structured and Dave a great teacher with a lot of patience, accommodating people’s needs, wishes and time schedules. The studio space is also great and situated in a peaceful location. Because of the necessary drying time of the pieces I would have liked to stay longer – fifteen days with weekend breaks to travel in between (to allow the pieces more rest and time to dry) would have been ideal.
Nara, Japan, May 30th. — June 10th. 10 day kintsugi workshop, Intermediate/advanced workshop. There are 2 seats left for this workshop.
Participant comment.
I recently attended a 10 day intermediate/advanced workshop with Dave Pike. It was a fabulous experience. My knowledge of the intricacies of Kintsugi and techniques involving urushi lacquer and Maki-e metal work has advanced significantly. It is a difficult technique to learn to do properly but Dave’s experience and hands on teaching has improved my abilities considerably. I had been struggling with some aspects of the technique and he was able to show me how to overcome these problems. He also arranged for me to work with a specialist in Maki-e which enabled me to learn about advanced metal finishing techniques. He provided a fantastic insight into Japanese culture and arranged for me to stay in a wonderful Ryokan/homestay which I greatly appreciated. He was also able to help me with some translation and visits to see other ceramic practitioners. If you are interested in learning advanced techniques or indeed how to tackle ceramic repair techniques using Kintsugi I would most definitely recommend his courses. Stephanie Hammill
Japan, May 18th. 3 hour workshop, Beginner workshop.
Nara, Japan, May 2nd. — 4th. 3 day kintsugi workshop. Beginner workshop.
Participant comment.
This was a brilliant workshop. Dave is quite simply an excellent teacher, providing very clear instructions and demonstrations. He is also a wonderful host, making sure that your stay in Japan (I travelled to the workshop from overseas) is entertaining and smooth. This particular workshop was conducted at a small Japanese Ryokan in a charming little village near Nara, in the mountains. The surrounds were spectacular, the food at the Ryokan was unbelievably good and the local people very welcoming. If you have an interest in pursuing Kintsugi, I cannot imagine a better way to begin than by taking Dave’s introductory course. And once you’re in, you’re likely to be hooked.
November 30th. — December 2nd. Nara, Japan. 3 day workshop, Beginner workshop.
November 16th. — 27th. Nara, Japan. 10 day workshop. This workshop is an advanced level course.
The workshop will be for people who have already learned the fundamentals of kintsugi and it will be limited to 5 people.
The class will meet from 9:00 am till 12:00 pm and then again from 1:00 pm till 4:00 pm. The morning session will focus on putting pieces back together using kintsugi with the goal of completing them in the first 6 days. The remaining time will be given to applying metal to the seams. The afternoon session will be given to metal finishing. We will be using rougher grind metal and going through the process to completely finish it. It is the heart of kintsugi and needs to be mastered in order to master kintsugi.
The dates are going to be from November 16th. to November 27th. The weekend of 21/22 will be days off.
November 30th. –December 2. Nara, Japan. 3 day workshop.
This workshop will cover all processes of kintsugi. You will work in a morning and afternoon session. Both sessions will include explanation and hands-on work. The class size is limited to 5 people.
This workshop is full. October 29th. Cedar Valley, Iowa, Three Pines Farm. 3 hour workshop with synthetic lacquer.
The course will be from 1:00-4:00 pm. The workshop is an introductory, hands-on class for kintsugi using synthetic lacquer. Everyone will have the opportunity to repair a piece they bring with them. I will demonstrate the first, basic steps in getting a piece back together, clean up of the piece and final metal application. Time permitting you will have the chance to practice the metal application on an extra piece you bring.
October 31st. and November 1st. San Francisco. 3 and 4 hour workshops with synthetic lacquer for the 31st., real lacquer and a focus on metal finishing for the November 1st. workshop.
The October 31st. will be from 1:30-4:00 pm. The course is an introductory, hands-on class for kintsugi using synthetic lacquer. Everyone will have the opportunity to repair a piece they bring with them. I will demonstrate the first, basic steps in getting a piece back together, clean up of the piece and final metal application. Time permitting you will have the chance to practice the metal application on an extra piece you bring.
The November 1st. will be from 10:00-2:00 pm. This course is an introductory course using real lacquer. It is longer to allow more work in the clean-up and metal finishing steps of kintsugi.
May, 2015. Nara, Japan.
October, 2013. San Francisco.
November, 2012, Kyushu, Japan.