Los Angeles

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Craft

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Pottery

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Kintsugi

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Kid Friendly

Kintsugi Class

Learn the ancient Japanese art of gold joinery in this workshop in Los Angeles.

Kat McDowell

5.0 (32)

9k followers

ClassBento donates with every booking to

2 hours 45 mins

1 to 8 (public classes), 5 to 15 (private) (private classes)

$219

Los Angeles

•

Craft

•

Pottery

•

Kintsugi

•

Kid Friendly

What you'll do

Save your broken ceramics, and learn Kintsugi in this workshop in Los Angeles. In this Kintsugi art class, you can learn to turn your chipped goods into beautiful art.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics and filling the cracks with gold or other metallics. It's a beautiful slow art form that gives the heart time to reflect and connect. It's a truly transformational experience and participants have come out of this more hopeful and with a different perspective on the world.

If you're looking for mindful hobbies, upcycling DIY projects, or fun things to do at home, Kintsugi is a peaceful and relaxing craft to explore. You will receive a kit with all the supplies you need to get started on this art form. Your instructor will guide you through the process in an intimate in-person workshop in Los Angeles.

This class also makes for great team-building activities, birthday party ideas, and more!

See available dates, Request a private class or Gift

See booking options

Add-on available for this class

Broken bowl or plate ($12)

You can add these when you book (optional).

Knowledge required

Beginner-friendly!

What you'll get

Unique Modern Japan Lacquer made from Cashew Nut (safer and faster drying than traditional lacquer made from poison sumac)
Epoxy putty
Bronze powder
Super Glue
Paint brush
Two kinds of sandpaper
A shell palette for the lacquer
Turpenoid Natural (For thinning out the lacquer)
Review and Materials card

Other materials and tools needed for the day.

What to bring

A broken ceramic piece (unless ordered beforehand)
A cardboard box to take your piece home in.

Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a team building activity, Christmas party, birthday or bachelorette party.

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 10 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids, and must pay for a separate ticket.

This would also be a nice gift for her, gift for mom, anniversary gift or birthday gift.

Location

The location varies by date (select a date to see this). You'll get the specific address after booking.

Your teacher

Kat McDowell

5.0 (32)

9k followers

Kat McDowell is a Kintsugi Maker, Origami teacher and an award winning, chart topping singer songwriter who creates ocean pop music in a blend of Japanese and English.

Her love for singing and crafts came from her Japanese grandmother. Although Kat spent the majority of her twenties and thirties as a Musician and touring artist, she would always be handcrafting her own merch through making paper crane earrings or canvas paintings and making was always a part of her soul.

Kat wrote two songs in 2019 that would change the course of her life.
One was called "1000 Paper Cranes" written in honour of her grandmother who passed away, and "Scars" which was inspired by another Japanese artform called "Kintsugi" which is all about mending broken ceramics and highlighting the cracks with gold bringing beauty out of brokenness.

Both of these songs led Kat to dive deep in to these artforms, and as the pandemic halted all musical tours and performances, Kat started to teach these artforms virtually instead. Helping people find some relief during a very stressful season.

Coming full circle back to music "Kokoro no kakera" the Japanese version of the song "Scars" went on to win Grand Prize in the world section of the John Lennon Songwriting competition in 2021.

To Kat, the spiritual aspect of Kintsugi is just as important if not more than the craft itself. She loves how art can heal and touch the soul and wants to continue sharing this with the world.

Gift this artisan experience

With our gift card, they can book this class at a time that suits them

Gifting options

Verified reviews

We only show reviews from customers who have paid for and attended this class

Vanassa Mau • Nov 2023

I recently had the privilege of taking a Kintsugi class with Kat, and it was nothing short of a transformative experience.

Kat is a skilled instructor with a deep understanding of Kintsugi, guided us through the process with patience and expertise.

As I carefully pieced together the fragments of my broken plate, I found myself reflecting on my own life. Just like the plate, I have experienced my share of cracks and breaks. But rather than discarding these broken pieces, I learned to embrace them, to see them as part of my story.

As I carefully applied the gold lacquer, I felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over me. The repetitive motion, the delicate touch, the focus on the present moment – it was all so meditative.

In the end, I emerged from the workshop with a newfound appreciation for imperfection, and a calmer, more centered mind. The class was more than just a lesson in Kintsugi; it was a journey of self-discovery and healing.

I highly recommend this Kintsugi class to anyone seeking a transformative experience. It is a reminder that we are all broken, but we are also beautiful, and our imperfections make us unique. Just like the Kintsugi plate, we can embrace our cracks and breaks and find strength and beauty in them.

Kintsugi Class review by Vanassa Mau - Los Angeles

Teacher's response

Thank you so much Vanassa! It was so wonderful meeting you and I'm happy to hear that it was a journey of self-discovery and healing for you!

Shannon Lewis • Nov 2023

We live in a disposable world …sigh and Kintsugi focuses on repairing instead of disposing. Thank you Kat for your lovely energy. Enjoy sharing Kintsugi with the world.

Teacher's response

Thank you so much Shannon! It was so great to see all of the beautiful pieces you had kept and mended together with your husband over the years and now you can add the final touches!

Janet Rorschach • Nov 2023

What was the teacher like? Charming, knowledgeable, and gracious.
How was the venue (if applicable)? Lord sitting outdoors while we learned how to do Kintsugi.
If materials were provided, did you like them? The materials worked great and allowed each student to complete one piece.
Was the experience good value for money? Absolutely.
What did you do / learn? We learned how to transform a broken ceramic piece into the beautiful art of Kintsugi.
What did you like most? The entire process was soothing. I could focus on the work rather than worry about it all being perfect the first time around. It was a gentle, calming class.

Teacher's response

Thank you Janet! It was wonderful meeting you and appreciated the enthusiasm and energy you brought to the table!

Jeannette Lee • Nov 2023

An exceptional introduction to the art with thorough instructions, guidance, and supplies to begin your journey with this art form.

Justin • Sep 2023

Kat was a truly wonderful instructor, this was a special experience, I highly recommend it for those interested in learning the beautiful practice of Kintsugi.

Rebecca Markman • Sep 2023

This class was a wonderful experience all aroundThe instruction and the materials provided were stellar and I definitely would recommend taking the class with Kat. In fact I would love to do another one!

Julia Walker • Aug 2023

Kat's class is a really fun, non-intimidating introduction to Kintsugi! Highly recommend for anyone in the Los Angeles area who is curious about the technique.

Chris Stoneley • Aug 2023

Kat is a wonderful teacher. There is an authentic sincerity in her creation of a safe space to be still, reflect, and practice this ancient art. Subtly merging the practical and philosophical, she leads her class through a meditative process, which is part catharsis, and part healing. What a beautiful, safe, and sacred space. I learned so much to hone my art, and I’m so grateful I got to spend an afternoon with Kat.

Cannot say enough good things - just take the class. I promise you won’t regret it. I feel like I just meditated on repair and recovery for a few hours, and I’m both relaxed and exhilarated as a result. Blissful.

Kintsugi Class review by Chris Stoneley - Los Angeles

Khalighi Keri • Aug 2023

Kat is a delight and full of love and knowledge of this precious art form. This was a wonderful way to spend a day…mending a beloved item and turning its brokenness into a new kind of transformed beauty. Thank you, Kat!

Lynda Thipavong • Jul 2023

Thank you Kat for such a beautiful experience. I enjoyed the class, music and learning about Kintsugi. I will definitely continue to learn this wonderful art and look forward to seeing you again.

Thank you!

Nicola Morgan • Jun 2023

I recently attended Kat's Kintsugi workshop, and it was exactly what i was looking for! Set in a serene outdoor location, this workshop offered a peaceful ambiance to explore the art of Kintsugi. With Kat's expert guidance, I had an enjoyable and satisfying experience working on my first Kintsugi project. Highly recommended!

Paloma Anoveros • Jun 2023

This was a fantastic class! The materials provided were ideal for the project and Kat was very attentive and inspirational. Thank you!

Anna Laifer • Jun 2023

I loved this workshop and thoroughly enjoyed my time learning Kintsugi with Kat. I joined because I had a broken bowl that I wanted to fix and it far exceeded my expectations! Kat did a wonderful job holding space, connecting the practice to spiritual growth and allowing for us to connect and bond with one another. We sat outside and it was a beautiful day. thank you!

Shawn Ledingham • Jun 2023

Kat was a patient and communicative instructor. She also cultivated a very positive and enjoyable environment. It was a wonderful afternoon.

Beth Colcord • Jun 2023

Kat led a very informative class that taught me what I needed and wanted to know to start learning Kintsugi. The kit and other supplies were super organized which made transitioning to different steps, effortless. Kat has a very calm presence and the outdoor pleasant setting was a great compliment to her teaching style. It is a wonderful feeling to now be drinking from a cup I thought was previously unusable, especially one that was a cherished gift. Highly recommend this class.

Jody Thomas • May 2023

I've been wanting to take a Kintsugi class with Kat for over a year and this experience did not disappoint. It was an intimate class size (4 students total), so Kat was able to attend to each person's questions. The overall vibe of the lesson was very meditative, mindful and rejuvenating. It also helped to have other classmates who were wonderfully open and thoughtful. I learned so much and am able to do more Kintsugi work at home. I highly recommend this class.

Piper Overbaugh • May 2023

This was such a great class! Kat was a lovely teacher, very informative and helpful with sharing her knowledge and put together adorable little kits for each student to take with them in order to do more Kintsugi at home. The venue was at a charming house and was comfortable for all the people who attended. Highly recommend if you are looking to learn more about Kintsugi!

Celia Gannon • May 2023

This class is a wonderfully supportive introduction to the art of kintsugi! Kat presents the information and instruction in such a kind and interactive way that you come out of the workshop feeling well-informed and able to continue the process independently. It helps that she has thoughtfully put together customized tool kits, as well as providing extensive online resources.

Kat is a natural teacher and her love and deep knowledge of kintsugi is evident in her detailed approach to the workshop. I definitely recommend and will definitely take the class again myself!

Tim Huang • Apr 2023

Can not be happier with the class! Kat was such a excellent singer and teacher.