Pottery for beginners

What is the course about?

This is a course for beginners and those new to clay. It will give students an introduction to the main making techniques used in ceramics, tuition on hand building will cover pinching, coiling, press moulding and slab building. There will also be an introduction to throwing on the wheel, simple surface decoration, glazing and firing processes.

What students liked most about this course run in 2015/16:

"I learnt a huge amount in a short space of time. I liked that I got a good grounding in different techniques to help me decide what to continue with as a next step. The tutor was very helpful and encouraging as well as knowledgeable."

What will we cover?

The aim of this course is to teach beginner level pottery processes. Techniques taught are pinching, coiling, press moulding and slab building forms, simple throwing on a potter’s wheel, decoration and glazing of work. Kiln firing will also be explained.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

Make simple forms using the techniques of:
- Pinching.
- Coiling.
- Slab building.
- Press moulding.
- Throwing.
Decorate the forms with different surface decoration techniques.
Glaze your work using department glazes and understand how the work is fired.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is for newcomers to pottery.

You should be able to understand simple written and verbal instructions to follow demonstrations and read handouts and health and safety information. You should be able to use numbers in order to do very simple measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Through group and individual tuition and practical demonstrations.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

There is a charge of £2.75 per 500g for clay before firing, the porcelain charge is £24.00 per bag/ £12.00per half bag.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

City Lit offers other Pottery course where you can learn further techniques. At the end of the course you will be given information about further courses available for those who wish to continue.