Clay Plasters, Paints and Sculpting

Number of Students: 10

Cost: $400 (includes all meals and camping)

​Overview of the Three-Day Weekend

This is a hands-on class designed to get you comfortable with basic clay plasters so you can take on projects in your conventional home, a natural building, or for art projects. You’ll learn how to source, mix, make, and properly apply base and finish coat plasters from local/native sources as well as purchased materials including fine clays and pigments. We’ll also make and use clay paints and lime/clay plasters and use special mixes to make sculptural and decorative elements on the recently completed sauna.

About the Site

Rosewater Ranch sits on 130 acres of high desert steppe and coniferous forest 30 minutes north of Reno, NV. It features permacultured grounds, organic gardens, dairy goats, a mushroom business, a small community of residents, Prema Farm, a new earthen sauna we built in July, and a cob cabin from our 2021 workshop. The property borders expansive national forest with miles of trails and offers stunning vistas and sunsets.

Lodging and Food

Campsites, van and RV sites are available at the site and are included with the workshop. Guests are welcome to arrive during the afternoon of Thursday, September 18th. Class ends the afternoon of Sunday, September 21st. Hot showers are on-site.

Delicious home-cooked meals, coffee and tea are provided and will be vegetarian with occasional meat options.

The Daily Schedule

We are aware that students make a big investment in a workshop like this. We honor your time and do the best we can to share our knowledge and experience. Expect long days with lots of building and learning. On some evenings we will show slides and films featuring our previous projects and that of other people and cultures. Believe it or not, we also still like to make time for a campfire and some music. We always strive to make the workshop itself a comfortable, memorable and fun experience.

We start Friday Morning, September 19th with breakfast at 7:30, and end with lunch on Sunday, September 21st.

7:30 breakfast

8:30 plaster session 1

1:00 lunch

2:30-6:00 plaster session two, lectures, discussion

7:00 Dinner

8:00 lectures/slideshows/campfire/free time

Registration, Payment, & Refunds

This workshop requires a $150 payment to reserve your spot. Once a payment is made, Kyle will reach out to you, welcome you to the course, and get you in the email loop with all the details.

Go here to pay with Venmo or send a check for $150 made out to “Cobitat” and mailed to 2055 McCloud Avenue, Reno, NV 89512.

Payment is refundable until 2 weeks before the start of the class. If you cancel with less than two weeks before the start of the class and your spot can be filled, we will issue a full refund. If it can’t be filled, we’ll issue a partial refund or put your payment towards a future workshop.