ITSANA | Handmade Ceramics

ITSANA is the handmade ceramics studio of Ana, a Brazilian ceramic artist living and working in the Algarve, based in Lagos. Every piece sold in her shop is hand-built using traditional techniques such as clay slab building, coiling and the pinch pot method, in a contemporary, minimalist style. Ana also runs a Pinch Pot Technique workshop from her atelier. The session runs for approximately 2 hours and is open to beginners, working with high-temperature stoneware (gres) clay by hand. Workshops require a minimum of 2 people to go ahead and are booked by contacting Ana directly. Finished pieces are not ready to take home the same day: they need to dry naturally for about 10 days, then go through a two-step firing process (a first firing at 900C to become solid ceramic, and a second firing at 1250C once glazed), a process that typically takes 3 to 4 weeks in total before the piece is packed and shipped to the maker. Outside of workshops, Ana's studio produces functional and decorative stoneware including vases, plates and cups, safe for microwave, dishwasher and oven use, sold through her online shop.