Pottery weekender with Jo Taylor

Pottery and ceramics

Ref: SSW29698

Location: West Dean
£329
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About this course

This course is a short weekend with a timetable variation: 10am-5pm on Saturday and 9am-4pm on Sunday.

Get to grips with clay. Learn how to use the potter's wheel, press moulding techniques and slip decoration to make useful ceramic pieces – pots, plates or maybe a jug !

Course Description

In just one weekend, you will be introduced to the techniques of throwing pots on the potter’s wheel and press moulding, which uses a mould to shape the clay. You can choose to focus on just one of these or explore both to make beautiful and functional pieces to use at your table. If throwing, this will be pots, mugs or jugs, and if press moulding, this will be bowls or plates.

On Saturday you will start by watching the tutor demonstrate both techniques, and then you will spend the rest of the day making work at your own pace, with the tutor on-hand to guide and support you.

Sunday will start with a tutor demonstration of how to decorate your pottery with slip for those who want to get creative with colour, or, if you prefer, your work can be glazed in a plain colour, once fired. The rest of Sunday will be spent completing and decorating yesterday’s pieces and if time allows making even more new work to fill your table.

By the end of the course, you will have developed your ceramic techniques and produced a number of works. After the course your work will be fired and glazed by the technician who will contact you when they are ready for collection.

This course is suitable for all abilities: it makes a great introduction to ceramics for complete beginners, a useful refresher for those who haven’t used clay for a while or an ideal opportunity for intermediate potters to improve technique.

Timetable

Timetable for 2 day, short weekend courses

Saturday, session one: 10am-1pm & 2-5pm. Please arrive by 9.45am.

Sunday, session two: 9am-1pm & 2-4pm.

Lunch and tea/coffee is included.

Course Materials

Included

  • On this course, the College will supply all of the materials, including the clay, glaze, tools and equipment.
  • The cost of clay/glazing materials and the firing costs of your most successful pieces of work made are included, though large work in size and quantity may be charged extra. be charged extra.

What students need to bring

  • Apron
  • Old credit card

Additional information

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 your most successful raw, finished pieces for biscuit firing at the College. You can then book a place on a Underglazing Day to decorate your own work (allowing at least 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 pieces for firing and glazing elsewhere. Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals, and safety boots, if specified.

Tutors

Jo Taylor portrait

Jo Taylor

Jo studied at Bath Spa University gaining Ceramics BA, MA & teacher training qualifications. An experienced tutor, Jo regularly teaches from beginners to MA students. A member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, her work is exhibited internationally in shows such as COLLECT at the Saatchi gallery.

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.