4 Weeks Creative Handbuilding Course
Stoneware clay has been used for centuries to make pottery pieces that are useful and beautiful. This course teaches you how to make pieces by hand, which include a variety of useful objects, like pots, dishes, and platters - even jewellery pieces or buttons. You can also create your own piece of abstract work by hand if you prefer!
The workshops give you the opportunity to design and hand-make your very own pieces through a series of making and decorating techniques taught over the four evenings, one evening per week. This course concentrates on hand-making techniques off the pottery wheel.
Over the course of the 4 evenings you will learn to make different pieces using a slab roller, cutting and shaping tools. You will also learn how to decorate and glaze your work.
Learning Outcomes
- Week 1- coils and pinch pot
- Week 2- different decorative coils forming bowls
- Week 3- carving out of a block of clay forming decorative house/sculpture
- Week 4- underglaze, Sgraffito, slip trail
- coiling, slabbing, pinching, building, and sculpting techniques
- handling clay and understanding your pottery tools
- taking care of your work station
- Slip decoration - Slip is a coloured or uncoloured liquified clay which can be treated like paint to decorate clay pieces. You will be taught how to use slip, opening up methods of decoration beyond traditional glazing. Slip can be used to create broad abstract textured images or flat precise detailed work.
- Sgraffitto - You will be taught how to use the sgraffitto method of decoration, which is technically a form of slip decoration. Contrasting colours of slip are layered onto your unfired clay. Your design or pattern is then scratched or carved into the dried slip to reveal the different colours beneath.
On completion of the course we will fire 2 of your favourite pieces for you that you have made and glazed throughout the course and contact you when they are ready for collection - usually between 8-10 weeks after the class.
FAQS (Please read before booking)
What should I wear/bring?
Your clothes and shoes will get wet and dirty from clay splashes so please wear comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting messy. Please bring your own apron and a hand towel.
For workshops/courses that do not include us glazing your piece for you, you may take some of your pots to air-dry at home if you wish, so please bring small boxes (like Tupperware or cardboard) to bring your creations home with you. Please note these pieces will be decorative only, and not be suitable for holding water or food.
Is there an age limit for the Workshop/Course?
In general, (excluding our family-friendly workshops) our workshops/courses are for people aged 18 and above. A teenager who is very interested in the crafting process may attend if they are accompanied by an adult guardian. Please let us know in advance.
Is my booking transferrable and what is the cancellation policy?
Please check our cancellation policy.
Are there any Health and Safety issues?
Please note you will be working on a pottery wheel in a bent position which might put some strain on your neck or back or wrists. Please first consult your doctor if you have had back, neck, wrist or any other injuries.
Please keep your hair tied up and your nails short.
Where can I contact you with any questions?
You can email us at workshops@arranstreeteast.ie
Cancellation Policy
- Unfortunately, no refunds are given. Please make sure that you, or the person you are giving the workshop to as a gift, can attend the workshop.
- If you cannot attend the workshop yourself we can reschedule your workshop if you inform us up to 3 weeks before the workshop's start date. If you request to reschedule less than 3 weeks before the workshop starting date we will not be in a position to change the date.
- You can give the workshop to someone else if you cannot attend yourself. Please email us as soon as you can before the course with the name and contact details of the person attending hello@arranstreeteast.ie
