Why Study This Course?
Already comfortable with handbuilding or throwing on the potter’s wheel? This course is your next step! It’s designed to help you refine your skills, explore new forms, and bring your creative ideas to life. You’ll gain confidence in your technique and design, working towards a higher standard in your ceramic art. This course is perfect for those looking to push their boundaries and take their ceramics to the next level.
This course offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your existing skills. You will:
Refine your handbuilding and throwing techniques.
Explore advanced forms and designs.
Experiment with new ideas and push your creative boundaries.
Work towards achieving a higher standard in your ceramic art.
This course covers:
Lidded Pieces: Creating functional and decorative lidded forms.
Cups and Saucers: Mastering the art of crafting elegant cups and saucers.
Plates: Designing and producing various plate forms.
Pierced Vessels: Exploring intricate pierced designs in ceramics.
Enclosed Forms: Constructing unique and captivating enclosed ceramic pieces.
Large Bowls: Creating impressive and functional large bowls.
Altered Forms: Experimenting with altering and manipulating ceramic forms.
Surface Techniques: Learning and applying various surface decoration techniques.
You'll learn through a practical, hands-on approach in a classroom setting. Our experienced tutor, with real industry expertise, will share their knowledge and provide personalised feedback. We'll work with you to develop a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) to focus your learning goals and track your progress.
To join this course, you need to meet the following criteria:
You must be 19 or over on 31st August prior to the course start date.
You should already have basic throwing or handbuilding skills.
Your progress will be assessed through Personal Learning Plans (PLPs) and regular discussions with your tutor. You'll track your practice through written notes, and your tutor will provide written responses to gauge your progression and personal development. After this course, you could explore more advanced ceramics courses or focus on developing your own unique style.
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.