Natural Plasters + Paints

3-Day Natural Plasters + Paints

DATES: June 1-3, 2024

INSTRUCTORS: Greg + Danielle

STUDENT #: 13 students [maximum]

COST (includes meals):

  • $560

  • 5% discount for family + friends participating together

  • 10% discount for BIPOC participants

DESCRIPTION:

Plasters and paints are important functionally and aesthetically. They protect your natural wall system from the elements, and also provide an opportunity to add color, texture, and beauty. Plastering can be quite a satisfying experience, both in regards to how it looks, and how it feels to apply. Our students often refer to it as the “icing on the cake!”

Join us to get hands-on experience mixing and applying a variety of natural finishes. Our emphasis will be on clay plaster (base and finish coat, as well as sculpting + relief work). We’ll also be making and applying clay paint, milk paint, and limewash. Additionally, there will be a demo of lime plaster, plus an opportunity to try applying them. We will be working on-site on our demonstration cottages, as well as experimenting on individual sample boards.

In addition to our scheduled learning time, there is a wonderful community aspect to our workshops. Three wholesome meals are provided each day, which are shared as a group in our community gathering space. Plenty of unscheduled, leisure time is available for relaxing.

Click on the link below to see a sample of a detailed daily schedule.

  • * applying all layers of earthen plaster: base/scratch coats, and finish coats

    * plastering on different natural wall systems

    * plastering on drywall (sample boards)

    * lime plaster (demo + discuss, plus small hands-on opportunity)

    * working with site-harvested clay vs. bagged clay

    * mixing and using clay alis paint, milk paint, and lime wash

    * sculptural relief work with earthen plaster

  • 8:00-9:00 Breakfast

    9:00-12:45 Morning work session

    12:45-1:45 Lunch

    1:45-5:30 Afternoon work session

    5:30-6:30 Shower, relax

    6:30 Dinner! (no dinner on Day 3)

  • Meals are included! Food is vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options available.

    We provide a simple breakfast spread of fresh fruit, oatmeal packets, yogurt & granola, coffee, and tea. (Non-dairy oat and almond milk are available)

    Lunch and dinner are hearty vegetarian meals, catered by local small businesses. Vegan and gluten-free options are available upon request.

    For this longer course we’ll get to include a Cob Oven Pizza Night! We always look forward to these fun evenings, making pizzas together in our community dining space.

    *There is no dinner on the last day*

  • Tent sites are free!

    We have 6 tiny sleeping cottages available to rent - 4 with natural walls, and 2 wooden A-frames. See the options here. Each cottage provides the basics- a mattress with fresh bedding, a lamp, and a fan. If you’re interested in a cottage, there is space to let us know on the registration form.

    Check out our FAQ page for more info about nearby towns.

  • This workshop is held on-site at the Mud Dauber campus, on our small homestead in Snow Camp, NC.

    We are 10 min away from Saxapahaw, 20 minutes from Siler City and Pittsboro, and 30 minutes from Carrboro/Chapel Hill, and one hour from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

REGISTER:

Click below to fill out the registration form and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours to confirm availability and discuss payment. We look forward to seeing you here!

Please read our Refund Policy here.

Questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us here!