There will be a talk and a handout on the safe use of chemicals, tools and
processes, plus how to minimize the environmental impact of pottery as a
hobby or business.
If you ever made mud pies when you were a kid you may have tried this! It is a great thing to start the weekend with as it is accompanied with a simple relaxation exercise as a way to help you focus on the class ahead and to get a feel for the clay. You will also be shown how this technique can be used to add decorative finishes to pots made by other methods.
Just to be different, the next thing we will be doing is usually the last thing done to a pot, glazing. These pots will be fired to stoneware temperature so they are completely frost and water proof This process takes a long time from the kiln heating up to cooling enough to take them out again, so we will be trying to get them up to the studio as early as possible so that you can take them home with you on Sunday.
You will be shown how to dip and paint on glazes and how different applications of glaze produce different effects. I will provide ready-made pieces for you to glaze.
We will all go up to my studio (about 2 miles from the organic centre) and you will be shown how to load a kiln and how to set up a studio, what equipment is required, and how layout is important.
This is another technique often used with children, but some quite amazing pieces can be produced by this method. We will be using an extruder to force clay into sausage shapes, which are then built up in rings to produce a plant pot, dish or wherever your imagination takes you.
With this method, clay is rolled out into flat sheets like pastry. It can then be used to build flat sided or tall cylindrical shapes, again for use as either vases or plant pots.
By using slab work and coiling you can also produce a planter for hanging on a wall,or even a name plaque for your house.
You will have a chance to have a go on the Potters wheel. I will demonstrate different techniques used then everyone can have a go if they like. It?s not everyone?s cup of tea, but its great fun trying it!? There will be several wheels there, so anyone wanting more tuition or practice on the wheel will be more than welcome.
There are many ways of decorating pots. You will be shown how different tools scraped on the surface can give different effects, how to press decorations onto clay, how to apply ?sprigging? to pots (this is applying small decorative features such as leaf shapes etc so they stand out on the finished pot) how different colours can be painted on in designs, pictures or lettering. There will also be a demonstration of how to apply transfer decoration to finished pottery.
Clay takes a long time to dry before it can be fired, so unfortunately, you will not be able to take the pieces you make yourself home with you these can either be collected at a later date or can be posted to you, or even if someone is going near to where you are we can arrange to leave them off somewhere. I will happily glaze any items for you after they have been fired before you get them.
This Course is aimed at the complete beginner. If the only contact you have had with clay is scraping it off your wellies, then this is the course for you! You do not need to be a creative type either. (I have found that those who say they are not creative often produce the most original pieces!) All you need is a sense of humour and to be prepared to get your hands dirty always try to make sure everyone has a good time. Do bring old clothes and if you have one, an apron.
The Date of this course is yet to be confirmed.