Age Requirement: 14+

Duration: 5 consecutive weeks / 2hrs per session.

*Limited self instructed weekly availability for additional studio hours will be offered for any work that has not been completed during the 2hr time-slot.

Price: £250

Course Description:

Introducing our first five-week course focused on scaling up your wheel work.

Designed for those with prior experience on the pottery wheel, this Level 3 course offers an in-depth exploration of working at a larger scale. You’ll learn how to adapt core techniques to handle heavier weights of clay, develop a greater awareness of your body, and use its strength safely and efficiently. The course also introduces methods for creating multi-section vessels using bat systems.

Over the five weeks, you’ll gain practical experience in throwing and trimming larger forms, assembling multi-part pieces, and approaching glazing for large-scale work. By the end of the course, you can expect to produce 2–3 vessels of varying sizes (approximately 30–50cm in height), depending on your skill level and experience.

Course Outline:

Week 1:

An introduction to centring and pulling walls using 3kg of a lightly grogged throwing clay. You’ll begin to adapt your existing techniques for working at a larger scale, with a focus on using your body strength effectively, safely, and with greater control.

Week 2:

Trim and refine the work created in Week 1, alongside an introduction to surface adaptation techniques. Explore both functional additions, such as lugs, and decorative elements including traditional coil embellishments.

Week 3:

Learn to work with bat systems as you apply the skills developed in Week 1 to design and throw a multi-part vessel. Emphasis will be placed on form, proportion, wall thickness, and structural integrity.

Week 4:

Assemble and refine your vessel, focusing on securely joining and sealing sections. You’ll also be introduced to practical approaches for trimming larger-scale forms with confidence and ease.

Week 5:

Conclude the course with glazing, including an introduction to pouring as a method of application, particularly suited to larger pieces.

What’s Included:

• All materials, including clay, tools, and glazes.

• Expert guidance from experienced tutors.

• Firing of your completed pieces.

• Reading material.