FRIDAY DAY COURSE: Beginners Pottery

Join us in our workshops for this introduction to basic pottery techniques. This course is intended to start from the very beginning and gives participants the chance to get their hands dirty and start experimenting with clay!

Over six-weeks you’ll craft your own ceramic bowls, tiles and boxes learning techniques including slab building and gaining an understanding of how to use clay tools and basic building processes. You’ll leave with a grounded basic knowledge of ceramics and confidence to undertake future pottery projects.

Thinking of gifting a place on our courses for someone special this Christmas? Our new Gift Certificates are now available to purchase!

Session 1: 
An introduction to box making, slab rolling and slip making.

Session 2: 
Bowl making, releasing, finishing and joining.

Session 3: 
Tile and stamp making.

Session 4: 
Cleaning and finishing tiles and bowls as well as tidying and decorating boxes. The ceramics are then stored and dried for bisque firing.

Session 5: 
Loading the kiln and making more bowls, boxes and tiles to be finished and fired in future drop in sessions for an additional firing fee.

Session 6: 
Tidying, glazing and wax resisting the ceramics.

About the tutor:

Training as a cabinet maker at 16 years old, Tom then went on to study furniture conservation and restoration and has worked in the industry for over 30 years. Drawing on his experience, he moved into furniture and product design, working with Grizedale Arts to create bamboo implements, multi-purpose furniture, display systems, garden gates and table ware for The Farmer’s Arms, Lawson Park and GA’s many local, national and international projects. Now the workshop manager at The Farmer’s Arms, Tom has developed The Farmer’s Arms’ mould-based pottery techniques and delivers workshops in crafts-based product development.