Why Study This Course?
Want to learn how to create beautiful pots and vessels? This course teaches you the essential skills for using the potter’s wheel. You’ll learn to shape, center, and control clay, building confidence to create functional and artistic pieces. This course is perfect for beginners and those with a little experience. Please note there is an additional cost of approx. £50 – £100 for materials on this course.
You will:
Learn essential potter’s wheel skills.
Gain confidence in shaping, centering, and controlling clay.
Create functional and artistic pieces with step-by-step guidance.
Develop your skills in a supportive environment.
Unleash your personal creativity in every session.
This course covers:
Techniques for making simple bowls, mugs, and jugs on the potter's wheel.
How to make and attach handles.
How to decorate and glaze your pieces.
Keeping a working journal of inspirational material, technical notes, and sketches.
Selecting and preparing clay for hand building or throwing.
Constructing forms using hand building or throwing techniques.
Skills to create at least one finished glazed piece of work.
Keeping a sketchbook, notebook or digital notes to record your work and to collect inspiration.
You will:
Learn essential potter’s wheel skills.
Gain confidence in shaping, centering, and controlling clay.
Create functional and artistic pieces with step-by-step guidance.
Develop your skills in a supportive environment.
Unleash your personal creativity in every session.
Suitable for complete beginners.
Also suitable if you have a little experience.
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.
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.