Craft: Beginners Pottery - Hand Building Techniques

The course will develop your knowledge and understanding of the pottery process from raw clay to the fired kiln. It is structured for both beginners and those with experience. You will learn through making. You will build confidence in your practical skills manipulating the clay using pinching, coiling, press moulding and slab building in the expression and development of your own personal ideas. You will explore and use different techniques of adding colour, pattern and interesting textures to enhance your pottery work. You will learn how to effectively apply underglazes, slips and glazes, use stencils, impressing techniques and working in relief. You will learn how to use tools for shaping, forming, decorating and refining your clay work. You will bring your ideas to life, developing your creative skills through personal projects, using a sketch book for research, planning and evaluating your work as part of the design process. You will learn through tutor demonstrations and explanations of pottery techniques and processes delivered on a group and individual basis. You will be encouraged to discuss, celebrate, evaluate and share techniques, ideas and results from the biscuit and glaze kiln firings. At the end of the course, we will celebrate our achievements.