12-week Ceramics All Levels Course

About this course

The course introduces clay preparation and studio practice before developing core hand-building methods including pinching, coiling, slab building, joining and scoring. Participants then learn wheel techniques such as centring, pulling walls, shaping cylinders, bowls and cups, trimming, using hump moulds and adding handles. Later sessions cover studio glaze application, slip decoration and sgraffito, with time to revisit techniques and develop personal projects. Individual guidance is provided during the project-focused part of the course.

What you'll learn

• Prepare clay using wedging and follow basic studio safety and etiquette.
• Construct forms using pinching, coiling and slab-building techniques.
• Join clay sections using scoring and joining methods.
• Centre clay, pull walls and shape basic forms on the wheel.
• Trim thrown pieces and add features such as handles and attachments.
• Apply studio glazes and decorative techniques including slip work and sgraffito.

Is this course right for you?

The course is designed for complete beginners as well as learners returning after a shorter ceramics course who want more time with both wheel work and hand-building. It combines taught introductions with repeated practice and individually guided project work in the later sessions.

• No previous experience is needed.
• Suitable for learners returning after a shorter course.
• Includes both wheel and hand-building rather than focusing on one method.
• Later sessions allow for personal projects and individual guidance.

Before you go

• Studio tools and materials are introduced during the course.
• Studio glazes are used for finishing work.
• Work is prepared for bisque firing during the course, with pieces returning from the bisque kiln for glazing.