Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building Saturdays

About this course

The course introduces wheel throwing alongside hand-building methods including coiling, whirler work and slab building. Learners explore how these processes relate to ceramic traditions from around the world, with presentations and group discussions providing historical and cultural context. Teaching takes place in a studio through tutor demonstrations, group sessions and individual tutoring. Beginners can practise foundational clay preparation, hand building and throwing, while more experienced throwers can work on complex forms and troubleshoot issues such as recentring and making larger or narrower cylinders.

What you'll learn

• Prepare clay for making
• Use coiling, whirler work and slab building techniques
• Practise basic throwing on the wheel
• Apply throwing techniques to more complex forms
• Identify and troubleshoot common throwing problems, including recentring and forming cylinders
• Relate ceramic processes to traditions from different cultural contexts

Is this course right for you?

The course is designed for beginners with little or no clay experience, including those new to the wheel. It also accommodates more experienced throwers who want to extend their practice. Participation combines group learning, individual tutoring, demonstrations and discussion.

• Learners are expected to take photographs of their work and carry out some personal research outside class.
• Additional support is available for literacy, numeracy, English for speakers of other languages, learning difficulties and disabilities.

Before you go

• Clay is charged by the pound to cover material and firing costs.
• Wear solid footwear. Sandals and other open footwear are not suitable.
• Wear clothing suitable for working in a workshop.
• Learners should photograph all work produced and undertake some personal research.