Age Requirement: 14+

Duration: 5 consecutive weeks / 2hrs per session.

Price: £230

Course Description:

This five-week course introduces you to the techniques of throwing, trimming and glazing plates of different sizes on the pottery wheel. Starting with small side plates, you’ll learn how to centre, compress and shape clay to achieve strong, even bases and elegant plate lips without the use of a bat system.

As the course progresses, you’ll develop your skills by trimming with structural support, experimenting with decorative stamping, and moving on to throwing larger plates using a wooden bat system. You’ll also explore optional surface decoration such as slip trailing to enhance your work.

Alongside throwing and trimming, you’ll gain practical knowledge on drying and firing plates to reduce warping and cracking, finishing with a dedicated glazing session. You’ll be introduced to both traditional dipping methods for smaller pieces and expressive pouring and layering techniques for larger plates.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a set (4-6) of your own hand-crafted plates and a strong foundation in plate making techniques that can be developed further in your pottery practice.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Introduction to throwing small side plates on the pottery wheel without using a bat system. This session emphasises careful compression, creating an even base, and exploring different shapes and styles for plate lips.

Week 2: Introduction to trimming plates, focusing on precise structural trimming methods such as incorporating a support ring on the underside. Optional decorative techniques include using stamps to create imprints on the plate lip.

Week 3: Progression to throwing larger plates and introduction to using a wooden bat system. Learn how to attach a bat to the wheel head, throw plates on a larger scale, and experiment with optional decorative slip trailing techniques.

Week 4: Development of trimming techniques for your plates. Incorporate decorative methods learnt in previous weeks and gain practical knowledge on drying and firing plates to minimise warping and cracking.

Week 5: Glazing. The course concludes with a focus on glazing techniques, including standard dipping methods for smaller works and expressive pouring and layering techniques for larger plates.

Whats Included:

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

• Expert guidance from experienced tutors.

• Firing of your completed pieces.

• By the end of the course, you’ll have a selection of handmade pottery to take home and the basic skills needed to continue your pottery journey.

Suggested Follow up Courses:

• Pottery Wheel: 2 Week Practice Block

• Pottery Wheel: 7 Week Course - Level 2 (Clay)

• Pottery Wheel: 5 Week Course - Level 2 (Jars)

• Hand-Building: 5 Week Course - Level 1 (The Basics)