Pottery on Saturdays
Course Code: VR724
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This is a flexible ceramics course. For the beginner there will be simple projects to follow that teach the basics of pottery: throwing, hand building, surface decoration and glazing. The more advanced students will be encouraged to develop their own ideas and styles of making.
What will we cover?
We will cover the different ways of making ceramics: hand building, exploring clay from wet soft to leather hard, throwing and surface decoration. Glazing and firing will be taught. In addition, we will cover ways of developing and expressing personal ideas through making, working in sketchbooks and discussing ideas with fellow students and the teaching staff.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Make ceramic pieces through one or more of the following methods:
- Pinching
- Coiling
- Slab building
- Press moulding
- Throwing
- Sprigging
- Use a sketchbook effectively to investigate new ideas, and document learning
- Decorate these pieces with a variety of surface decoration processes
- Glaze your work
- Develop your ideas through experimentation and discussion.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for beginners and intermediate students.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and
safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Through practical demonstrations, group and individual tuition, slide talks and hand-outs. Using a Sketch Book both in class time and from week to week where appropriate.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There is a charge of £2.50 per 500g for clay before firing, the porcelain charge is £20:00 per bag/ £10:00 per half bag.
Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencil to printing services, at 15% off.
To get an LGC discount card, students will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment of them being a student at City Lit. You can apply for our card in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. The student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts/.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Pottery on Saturdays: intermediate – VR725
Your tutor will advise you on which courses to progress. Within City Lit you could progress onto the City Lit Ceramics course - VR710, the Ceramics Portfolio Course - VR711, the Diploma Course in Ceramics - VR712, all of which are structured courses that can lead to higher education or independent studio practice.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencil to printing services, at 15% off.
To get an LGC discount card, students will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment of them being a student at City Lit. You can apply for our card in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. The student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts/.
Lauren Ilsley is an artist who predominantly makes ceramic sculpture. She works from her studio in East London, which she set up after graduating from the Royal College of Art with a Master’s degree in Ceramics and Glass. Lauren specialises in combining industrial ceramic processes with hand-building, often modifying tools and techniques to build unique objects. She exhibits her work regularly and is a member of the artist collectives/research groups - Undertow and [ALLOY]. Lauren is committed to teaching alongside her creative practice to pass on her knowledge, skill and passion for ceramics and sculpture. She is currently a ceramics tutor at City Lit and the London Sculpture Workshop; at the latter she helped to design and set up the ceramics facility. http://www.laurenilsley.com
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.
