Pottery – throwing tall with Kyra Cane

Pottery and ceramics

Ref: S4D32298

Location: West Dean
£694
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About this course

Whether you want to make functional pots or more decorative pieces, the capacity to throw taller forms extends your repertoire dramatically. This course enables you to develop your skills so that you can increase the height of forms you are able to make and learn to get the most you can out of your clay.

Course Description

You will develop an understanding of a range of methods which can be used to throw taller pieces and explore the potential of elongated forms.

This course is suitable for anyone who has already developed some throwing skills and wants to make taller pieces.

Getting more height when throwing involves techniques and skills which develop with practice; it appears so easy when watching potters, but there are times when the more you pull the clay, the shorter the piece becomes. This course will help you overcome these problems by helping you develop confidence in your understanding of how to throw clay effectively to create all kinds of taller forms.

•You will explore throwing techniques that enable you to pull clay upwards into tall, elongated forms.

•You will explore different methods of joining sections and adding coils to extend possibilities beyond your current capabilities.

•You will be able to consider methods of turning and finishing tall pieces.

•You will develop a more critical approach to examining form and structure, enabling you to apply this quickly when making decisions as you throw.

By the end of the course, you will have developed your understanding of the dynamic qualities of vertical forms, and you will have developed the capacity to design, plan and make more complex pieces from vases to jugs to vessels or constructed abstract forms.

You will have the opportunity to make a group of tall thrown pieces that encompass your freshly acquired skills. You will also be able to work in the pottery studio each evening to extend work and prepare for the next day’s activities.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • On this course, the College will supply most of the materials required for the specific project set by the tutor or shared by the group, including clay and slips.
  • The cost of clay/glazing materials and firing costs of work made is included – large work in size and quantity may be charged extra.

What students need to bring

  • A piece of your work that is tall
  • Throwing/ turning tools and brushes that you already have
  • A sketchbook and pencil
  • Some type of camera, if you like to record things in this way
  • An overall, old towel and medium sized, lidded, plastic box to keep pieces damp
  • Thin clean plastic for covering work
  • Cardboard boxes – useful if taking raw pots away at the end of the course

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • A small selection of pottery tools, sketching and drawing materials

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals. Firing and glazing options: 1. Leave your most successful raw, finished pieces for biscuit firing, basic glazing and re-firing by the College for collection within six months. 2. Leave raw, finished pieces for biscuit firing at the College. You can then book a place on a Glazing Day and glaze your own work (allowing four weeks for your work to be biscuit fired). This work will be re-fired after glazing and available for collection within six months. 3. Take away your unfired pots for firing and glazing elsewhere.

Tutors

Kyra Cane

Kyra Cane studied Ceramics at Camberwell College of Arts, she has taught and examined on numerous courses, notably Harrow Ceramics, University of Westminster. Her work is exhibited in national and international galleries. She has written a book about Making and Drawing and is currently Chair of the Craft Potters Charitable Trust.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.