Ceramics: throwing and assemblage

About this course

The course uses the pottery wheel as a starting point for making functional or non-functional objects from multiple thrown forms. Learners explore distortion, stretching, joining and construction, including throwing slabs and coils and joining components while they are soft or leather hard. Teaching combines demonstrations, slide lectures, visual material, and group and individual tuition. Work focuses on developing ceramic form and surface, with consideration of proportion, balance and the evaluation of ideas.

What you'll learn

• Assemble two or more thrown forms
• Demonstrate three techniques for developing ceramic forms and surfaces
• Apply concepts of proportion and balance to ceramic work
• Evaluate ideas and review ways of working
• Follow relevant ceramics health and safety guidelines

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners with basic throwing experience, including those with more advanced skills. Participation combines individual making with demonstrations, group discussion and self-evaluation. Learners should be able to follow written and verbal instructions and use simple measurements and calculations.

• Basic throwing experience is expected.
• Learners need to engage with hand-outs, demonstrations and health and safety information.
• Group discussions and reflection on individual work form part of the course.
• Simple measurements and calculations are used.

Before you go

• Tools are available within the department for use, although participants may bring their own preferred tools.
• Selected pieces can be biscuit-fired, with collection after the course.
• A separate glazing workshop is available for work made on the course.
• The potter's wheel motors may pose a serious risk to people with pacemakers or internal defibrillators. Those affected cannot work in the ceramics studio while the wheels are in use and should contact the Ceramics Department before enrolling.