Pottery & Ceramics
Pottery intermediate
An improver-level pottery course covering wheel throwing, hand-building, clay surface treatment, decoration and glazing through demonstrations and guided projects.
Choose a date before booking
Upcoming classes
1 class
About this course
The course develops ceramic work across functional and sculptural forms. Participants explore throwing on the potter’s wheel and hand-building methods, working with clay from its wet state through to leather hard. Set projects provide a framework for experimenting with form, while individual tuition supports independent development of ideas. Teaching combines demonstrations, group and individual tuition, slide lectures, handouts and visual information. Surface work includes glaze application, oxides, coloured slips, printing, paper and wax resist, marbling and feathering.
What you'll learn
- Produce a range of thrown forms using developing wheel-throwing skills.
- Apply hand-building techniques to functional, non-functional and sculptural forms.
- Work with clay through the stages from wet and soft to leather hard.
- Use glaze, oxide and coloured-slip techniques to decorate ceramic surfaces.
- Develop ceramic forms and surface treatments through set projects and independent ideas.
Is this course right for you?
This course is intended for improvers and learners with a basic understanding or more advanced experience of ceramic techniques, rather than complete beginners. Participants should be able to follow written and spoken instructions, demonstrations and health and safety information, contribute to group discussion, and use simple measurements and calculations.
- Previous ceramic knowledge or experience is expected.
- The course includes group discussion alongside individual tuition.
- Learners need to work with written instructions and basic measurements.
Before you go
- Closed shoes must be worn in the ceramics studio.
- Clay and porcelain are charged separately before firing.
- Departmental tools are available for use, although learners may choose to purchase their own.
- Participants are expected to follow workshop practice and health and safety guidance.
- Potter’s wheel motors may pose a serious risk to people with pacemakers or internal defibrillators. They should contact the Ceramics Department before enrolling to discuss this.