Weeklong hand building course

During this six-day intensive course, you will be guided through a number of demonstrations and set tasks which will introduce the traditional hand building techniques and tips, in order for you to create a range of functional and/or decorative ceramic pieces.

This is an intensive but fun and relaxing workshop. A great time to connect with your creativity of hand-crafting objects and meeting new people with similar aspirations from around the world, all in the cosy setting of my studio.

The course is open to beginners with no previous experience as full instructions will be provided, and to more experienced ceramic artists who are looking to refine their skills and develop new ways of working and thinking about their designs.

During this course you will explore the versatility of clay as a material through traditional hand building techniques such as pinch, coiling and slab building. You will begin your session by handling soft clay and rolling out coils and slabs which will be used to create your unique pieces.  Different types of clay will be available for you to use, enabling you to get a better understanding of their properties and behaviour.  You will have the chance to further refine your work by adding attachments such as handles, applying texture, patterns and slip decoration.

There will also be introduced to different approaches to glazing to achieve a variety of surface effects,  this will include brush on glazes, dipping, pouring, and the use of wax resist. You will have the opportunity to work with coloured slips which allows for a more controlled outcome as well as a range of glazes available in the studio.

You will be introduced to  good practice in managing workspaces and resources to avoid common technical problems.

There will be the opportunities to discuss ideas and intentions within the group.  You will however be encouraged to experiment and explore different hand building and decorative techniques at your own pace and to work to your own design with support given as and when it is needed.

You will have access to various stoneware clays, slips, glazes, all necessary tools and the firing kiln. On completion of this course you will have broadened your ceramics skills and learnt new techniques for the realisation of your design.

Course Schedule

Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm with a studio lunch break in between.

Saturday from 2pm to 5pm.

Firing Schedule

Bisque firing of 4 selected pieces at the end of the day on Wednesday.

Glaze firing at the end of the day on Thursday.

Opening of the kiln and discussion of results on Saturday.

Please note that depending on the number of participants, sizes of the produced pieces and decorative approach used, there may be some adjustments made to the firing schedule. Any outstanding work will be glaze fired and available for you to collect at the studio or posted to you at no additional charge within one month after the workshop.

Materials and Tools

You will have access to a number of stoneware clays, coloured slips, underglazes, glazes, as well as all the necessary clay tools and the firing kiln.  Additionally, aprons, gloves and safety masks will be provided. It is  recommend to bring a notebook for taking notes and to wear a comfortable clothing.

Extras

Each day, I will arrange for a delightful lunch for all workshop participants. You will also have unlimited access to coffee, tea, fruit and other refreshing beverages at the studio.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the  course fee. However, I am more than happy to assist you in finding suitable accommodation in the area.  Additional information on the available accommodation in the area and transport will be provided upon registration.

Booking

Your place will be booked as soon as you place an order via my website.  If you would prefer to make payments in instalments, please reach out to me via email to arrange an instalment payment. The full amount must be paid 30 days before the commencement of the course.

For the cancellation and refund policy please read  the Terms and Conditions.