Gain a basic understanding of hand-building, glazing and decoration techniques. Explore your creative ideas whilst learning the exciting possibilities of working with clay. Enjoy a taster experience of throwing on the wheel in the final session.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This 6 evening ceramics course introduces the basic hand-building techniques of working with clay and in its final weeks gives opportunity to try your hand at throwing pots on the potter's wheel, learning how to centre clay on the wheel. You will have hands on experience of making your own finished pieces of pottery to take home. You will build an understanding of the unending possibilities that clay offers as a material and the process required to achieve finished work. This course gives you time and the expertise to be creative using clay and its related decorating materials.
What will we cover?
Everyone will be involved in hands on step by step practical project work to create finished fired pieces that explore different methods of working the clay. Projects cover a range of making and surface decorating techniques to build an understanding of how to plan, make and decorate clay work creatively and successfully.
You will decorate clay surfaces using texturing, resist, drawing, painting and simple printing techniques with ceramic colour and glaze.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Creatively explore texture, colour and glaze application on and into the clay surface - Make a piece of clay work using rolled sheets of textured clay - Produce a finished piece of pinched and coiled clay work decorated with ceramic colour And/or - Combine the coiling process with a press moulded base made by pushing clay into a ready made plaster mould.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No prior knowledge of pottery is required to attend this course. The course is ideal for beginners to pottery or those who have some basic understanding of ceramic processes. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to understand demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to do simple cost calculations for materials used and be able to do simple visual measurements.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Practical demonstrations, examples of work, discussions, handouts and hands on work. Design research work outside the course is optional.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Most ceramic materials are covered by the course fee. There is a charge of £2.75 per 500g for clay before firing, the porcelain charge is £24:00 per bag/ £12:00 per half bag. You may want to bring a note pad and pencil for notes and sketching out ideas. In the final week you will need to pay for materials that you have used, payments to be made by contactless card reader.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You will get feedback from your tutor which onto which courses to progress.
Within City Lit you could progress onto the City Lit Ceramics course- VR710, the Ceramics Intermediate Course - VR711 or the Diploma Course in Ceramics - VR712, all of which are structured courses that can lead to higher education or independent studio practice.
Trish is a ceramicist living and working at her multimedia studio in London. She currently teaches ceramics at City Lit and the WMC Camden, (The Working Men's College). She is also a visiting practitioner at the London Collge of Fashion (UAL). Trish has a Degree (First) and an MA in Ceramics from UWIC, (University of Wales in Cardiff). Her degree work was chosen for FRESH at the British Ceramics Biennial in 2011 and by The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (Nceca) in 2012, for an exhibition in Seattle. She has work in both public and private collections. After university Trish was chosen as ceramicist in residence at the prestigious Harrow School for boys in London. Adult education has now become Trish's main teaching direction, enjoying the enthusiasm and determination that adults bring to the learning environment. Having started her creative path in ceramics through adult education, prior to university and with several years of teaching across a wide spectrum of learners, her experience and wide skill set make her a dynamic and innovative teacher.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/introduction-to-ceramics233871Introduction to ceramicshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/x/pxl_20241022_134306646.portrait_1.jpg449449GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Ceramics & sculpture/Courses/Art & design/Ceramics & sculpture/Ceramics & pottery/Courses/vm/Creative courses/Courses/vm/Beginners courses in art & design/Courses/vm/Summer offers/Courses/vm/Summer Art School Offers2285113214311143867313608136141372612285113214311653Gain a basic understanding of hand-building, glazing and decoration techniques. Explore your creative ideas whilst learning the exciting possibilities of working with clay. Enjoy a taster experience of throwing on the wheel in the final session.142539747Introduction to ceramics449449https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/x/pxl_20241022_134306646.portrait.jpgInStockEveningMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-11T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersMay 2026Art & designVR716449449Introduction to ceramics359292449Trish Spenceintroduction-to-ceramics/vr716-2526Gain a basic understanding of hand-building, glazing and decoration techniques. Explore your creative ideas whilst learning the exciting possibilities of working with clay. Enjoy a taster experience of throwing on the wheel in the final session.0000-Available|2026-05-11 00:00:00This 6 evening ceramics course introduces the basic hand-building techniques of working with clay and in its final <br/> weeks gives opportunity to try your hand at throwing pots on the potter's wheel, learning how to centre clay on the <br/> wheel. You will have hands on experience of making your own finished pieces of pottery to take home. You will build an understanding of the unending possibilities that clay offers as a material and the process required to achieve finished work. This course gives you time and the expertise to be creative using clay and its related decorating materials.Gain a basic understanding of hand-building, glazing and decoration techniques. Explore your creative ideas whilst learning the exciting possibilities of working with clay. Enjoy a taster experience of throwing on the wheel in the final session.Everyone will be involved in hands on step by step practical project work to create finished fired pieces that explore <br/> different methods of working the clay. Projects cover a range of making and surface decorating techniques to build <br/> an understanding of how to plan, make and decorate clay work creatively and successfully.<br/> <br/> You will decorate clay surfaces using texturing, resist, drawing, painting and simple printing techniques with ceramic colour and glaze.- Creatively explore texture, colour and glaze application on and into the clay surface<br/> - Make a piece of clay work using rolled sheets of textured clay<br/> - Produce a finished piece of pinched and coiled clay work decorated with ceramic colour<br/> And/or <br/> - Combine the coiling process with a press moulded base made by pushing clay into a ready made plaster mould.No prior knowledge of pottery is required to attend this course. <br/>The course is ideal for beginners to pottery or those who have some basic understanding of ceramic processes. <br/> You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to understand demonstrations, hand-outs and <br/> health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to do simple <br/> cost calculations for materials used and be able to do simple visual measurements.Practical demonstrations, examples of work, discussions, handouts and hands on work. Design research work <br/> outside the course is optional.<p>Most ceramic materials are covered by the course fee. There is a charge of £2.75 per 500g for clay before firing, the porcelain charge is £24:00 per bag/ £12:00 per half bag. You may want to bring a note pad and pencil for notes and sketching out ideas. In the final week you will need to pay for materials that you have used, payments to be made by contactless card reader.</p><p>You will get feedback from your tutor which onto which courses to progress.<br/><br/>Within City Lit you could progress onto the City Lit Ceramics course- VR710, the Ceramics Intermediate Course - VR711 or the Diploma Course in Ceramics - VR712, all of which are structured courses that can lead to higher education or independent studio practice.<br/> </p>Ceramics & sculptureCeramics & potteryvirtual359449292VR716NONEMon11/05/26 - 06/07/2618:00 - 21:0018:0021:008 sessions (over 9 weeks)85-10 weeksWeekdayKSKeeley StreetTrish SpenceBeginnersAvailable courses2026-05-11T00:00:00+00:00EveningMay 2026Art & design449449Introduction to ceramicsintroduction-to-ceramics/vr716-2526Gain a basic understanding of hand-building, glazing and decoration techniques. Explore your creative ideas whilst learning the exciting possibilities of working with clay. Enjoy a taster experience of throwing on the wheel in the final session.0000-Available|2026-05-11 00:00:00This 6 evening ceramics course introduces the basic hand-building techniques of working with clay and in its final <br/> weeks gives opportunity to try your hand at throwing pots on the potter's wheel, learning how to centre clay on the <br/> wheel. You will have hands on experience of making your own finished pieces of pottery to take home. You will build an understanding of the unending possibilities that clay offers as a material and the process required to achieve finished work. This course gives you time and the expertise to be creative using clay and its related decorating materials.Gain a basic understanding of hand-building, glazing and decoration techniques. Explore your creative ideas whilst learning the exciting possibilities of working with clay. Enjoy a taster experience of throwing on the wheel in the final session.Everyone will be involved in hands on step by step practical project work to create finished fired pieces that explore <br/> different methods of working the clay. Projects cover a range of making and surface decorating techniques to build <br/> an understanding of how to plan, make and decorate clay work creatively and successfully.<br/> <br/> You will decorate clay surfaces using texturing, resist, drawing, painting and simple printing techniques with ceramic colour and glaze.- Creatively explore texture, colour and glaze application on and into the clay surface<br/> - Make a piece of clay work using rolled sheets of textured clay<br/> - Produce a finished piece of pinched and coiled clay work decorated with ceramic colour<br/> And/or <br/> - Combine the coiling process with a press moulded base made by pushing clay into a ready made plaster mould.No prior knowledge of pottery is required to attend this course. <br/>The course is ideal for beginners to pottery or those who have some basic understanding of ceramic processes. <br/> You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to understand demonstrations, hand-outs and <br/> health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to do simple <br/> cost calculations for materials used and be able to do simple visual measurements.Practical demonstrations, examples of work, discussions, handouts and hands on work. Design research work <br/> outside the course is optional.<p>Most ceramic materials are covered by the course fee. There is a charge of £2.75 per 500g for clay before firing, the porcelain charge is £24:00 per bag/ £12:00 per half bag. You may want to bring a note pad and pencil for notes and sketching out ideas. In the final week you will need to pay for materials that you have used, payments to be made by contactless card reader.</p><p>You will get feedback from your tutor which onto which courses to progress.<br/><br/>Within City Lit you could progress onto the City Lit Ceramics course- VR710, the Ceramics Intermediate Course - VR711 or the Diploma Course in Ceramics - VR712, all of which are structured courses that can lead to higher education or independent studio practice.<br/> </p>Ceramics & sculptureCeramics & potteryconfigurable
