Age Requirement: 14+

Duration: 7 consecutive weeks / 2hrs per session.

Price: £350

Course Description:

Join us for a seven-week pottery wheel course dedicated to exploring the versatility and creative potential of various clay bodies. This course provides an in-depth understanding of clay selection, including the properties, advantages, and limitations of each type. Participants will experiment with several clay bodies, gaining insight into their unique characteristics and how to work effectively with each.

Course Objectives:

The primary focus of this course is to introduce participants to diverse clay options and to demonstrate practical techniques for adapting these materials in pottery. By working with different clay bodies, students will learn how to incorporate aggregates, pigments, and textures, as well as refine throwing and trimming techniques specific to each type.

Course Outline:

• Week 1: Throwing with Adapted Clay Bodies

  Introduction to modifying a standard clay body with aggregates, pigments, or other additives. Students will throw 3–4 forms, experimenting with color variations and textures to create custom effects.

• Week 2: Trimming Techniques

  Participants will trim the pieces thrown in Week 1, focusing on smoothing and shaping to enhance the added textures and pigments.

• Week 3: Throwing with Black Groggy Clay

  This week covers the techniques and challenges of throwing with a textured black clay body. Students will throw 3–4 pieces, exploring how to manipulate texture and push creative boundaries with groggy clay.

• Week 4: Trimming Groggy Clay Forms

  Students will refine the black clay forms from Week 3, paying attention to detail and balance while working with a textured surface.

• Week 5: Throwing with Porcelain

  Participants will learn about the properties of porcelain, a delicate and refined clay body. This session will focus on throwing techniques to achieve thin, elegant forms that highlight the material’s unique characteristics.

• Week 6: Trimming Porcelain Pieces

  Students will trim their porcelain forms, enhancing their shape and finesse while learning the particular care required for working with this fine clay.

• Week 7: Glazing and Finishing

  The course culminates in a glazing session, where students will learn techniques for layering and masking glazes. Emphasis will be on completing the forms with finishes that accentuate the individual qualities of each clay body.

Whats Included:

• All materials, including clay, tools, and glazes.

• Expert guidance from experienced tutors.

• Firing of your completed pieces.

• By the end of the course, you’ll have a selection of handmade pottery to take home and the basic skills needed to continue your pottery journey.

Suggested Follow up Courses:

• Pottery Wheel: 2 Week Practice Block (Lvl 1)

• Hand-Building: 5 Week Course - Level 1 (The Basics)

• Pottery Wheel: 5 Week Course - Level 2 (Jars)

• Pottery Wheel: 5 Week Course - Level 2 (Vases)