6-week Taster Ceramics Course

About this course

The course introduces ceramics through a progression of hand-building and wheel techniques. Participants begin with wedging, pinching, coiling, slab building, joining and scoring, and work with hump moulds before learning to centre clay, make cylinders and bowls, and trim thrown forms. Teaching introduces each technique to the group, followed by practice at an individual pace. The course also covers slip decoration, sgraffito and basic glazing, with less time than longer courses for repeating skills, refining pieces or developing personal projects.

What you'll learn

• Prepare clay for making by wedging
• Construct forms using pinching, coiling and slab-building techniques
• Join clay securely using scoring and related hand-building methods
• Centre clay on the wheel and shape basic cylinders and bowls
• Trim thrown pieces and apply slip decoration and sgraffito

Is this course right for you?

This course is intended for beginners seeking an introduction to both hand-building and wheel ceramics. Sessions combine demonstrations or instruction for the group with time to practise independently. The quicker progression leaves less opportunity than longer courses to repeat techniques, refine work or develop personal projects.

• Covers both hand-building and wheel techniques
• Introduces several techniques within a shorter course format
• Includes group teaching followed by individual-paced practice

Before you go

• Tuition, clay, glazes and use of studio equipment are included.
• Pieces need to be finished and ready for the firing queue by the end of the final making session.