Why Study This Course?
Want to take your ceramic skills to the next level? This one-week summer school is designed to introduce you to exciting ceramic decorating techniques. You’ll learn to decorate soft, leather-hard, and fired clay, opening up a world of creative possibilities. This course is perfect for those with some experience who want to expand their skills and create unique ceramic pieces. Please note there is an additional cost of approximately £50 – £100 for materials on this course.
This course offers hands-on practice and creative freedom. You will:
Explore various ceramic decorating techniques.
Enhance your ceramic pieces with expert guidance.
Gain confidence in your ceramic skills.
Expand your creative potential.
This course covers:
Historical and Contemporary Approaches: Develop an awareness of historical and contemporary approaches in ceramic decoration by learning about other artists.
Sgraffito Decorating: Sgraffito decorating to scratch illustrations onto leather-hard clay.
Mono-printing: Mono-printing with cobalt oxide to create mark-making and tonal drawings onto soft clay.
Printing and Painting: Printing and painting onto leather hard clay with under glaze colours and slips and using resist techniques, for example latex, wax and paper stencils for example: paper, objects, leaves etc.
Glazing Techniques: Glazing techniques for example: how to make a glaze, pouring, dipping, painting and glaze on glaze applications, including multiple firings onto fired clay.
Metallic Lustre Decoration: Metallic lustre decoration and how to apply ceramic decals.
This course offers hands-on practice and creative freedom. You will:
Explore various ceramic decorating techniques.
Enhance your ceramic pieces with expert guidance.
Gain confidence in your ceramic skills.
Expand your creative potential.
For beginners and experienced artists who wish to develop their skills using a range of decorating techniques
We encourage you to keep detailed notes and sketches of your work, including materials and techniques used. This will help you track your progress and inspire future projects.
Clay MUST be purchased from the College Shop. The cost of slip, glazes and kiln firings is included in the price of the clay, which learners can purchase as required from the technicians' office (Art Shop, RAS 5). A range of clay types is available, and the tutor will advise which is most suitable for each project.
Learners taking part in glazing activities will require an FFP3 mask, which is also available to purchase from the technicians' office. Glazing takes place throughout the course in accordance with strict health and safety procedures.
Ceramic tools are provided. Finished pieces typically take around two weeks to dry and complete the bisque firing (the first firing), followed by a further one to two weeks after glaze firing before they are ready for collection.
Work exceeding 28cm (H) × 38cm (W) × 28cm (D) or weighing more than 5kg will incur an additional firing charge.
Learners are encouraged to keep a record of their work, either in a sketchbook or digitally, including photographs where appropriate. Records should include details such as the clay used, decorative techniques, glazes applied, firing temperatures and approximate dimensions of each piece.
No food or drink is allowed in the studio; a nearby hub area is available.
Please allow 15 minutes at the end of each class to tidy up.
Please note there is an additional cost of approximately £50 - £100 for materials on this course.
Please note that tutors may occasionally be changed at short notice. While teaching styles may vary, we ensure consistent quality across all of our courses. For this reason, a change of tutor does not qualify for a refund.
