Name: 8Wk Beginners Pottery Throwing Wheel Course Tuesday 14th January 6.45-9pm
Start: 2025-01-14T18:45:00+00:00
End: 2025-01-14T21:00:00+00:00
Location: Claykilncraft

8Wk Beginners Pottery Throwing Wheel Course Tuesday 14th January 6.45-9pm

An intensive throwing on the Potter's wheel course for beginners learning the basic techniques of making cylinders, bowls & pulling handles!
About this Event

This fantastic 8 week beginners potter's wheel course is run on Tuesday evenings 6.45-9pm. It teaches you the technique of throwing and how to glaze. Maximum 6 people in the class with 2 teachers means you get plenty of one to one tuition. It is for adults 18 and over only.

It covers learning to centre, throw bowls and cylinders, turn bases and pull and attach handles on the wheel. After your work has been fired you come back and glaze it all. After this you will be up to the standard required to either take on membership or come to our open sessions to continue and improve your practice.

All your materials and firings are included in the cost. There are no additional hidden charges. We supply all equipment and aprons. All you need to do is turn up!

Cost: £295 INCL all materials and firings.

REMEMBER: You can pay in 3 instalments via PayPal!

Dates: Tuesday January 14th, 21st. 28th, February 4th 11th, 18th & 25th 6.45-9pm + 2 and quarter hour glazing session on Tuesday March 18th 6.45-9pm. If you are unable to make this session please get in touch when you book and we will organise another glazing date for you.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS: If you have any medical condition you do need to let us know in advance, preferably before booking. Some conditions can make it difficult to do pottery and it void our insurance.

PREGNANCY: Please note that this course is not suitable for pregnant women as there are health implications.

If you are found to have withheld information regarding a medical condition or pregnancy you will be asked to leave the course with no refund.

The course structure is as follows:

1. Centring and making basic cylinders: Centring is the most difficult thing to master when learning to throw on the wheel. It is what keeps a pot symmetrical. But everyone learns at different rates and the important thing to realise is that you will learn to do it. The first session is really just learning the technique.

2. Centring and drawing up clay into taller cylinders: Again, working on the centring and how the clay is drawn up. A common problem is that people draw up too quickly losing their centring or even collapsing their pot. This session helps with pressures and speed.

3. Centring and making bowls: During this session you will continue with mastering your centring and getting more control of the shapes you are making. We will look at rounded bowls and open bowls.

4. Continued throwing practice looking at more ambitious shapes and sizes.

5. Continue throwing practice.

6 Pulling handles and turning bases. During this session you will make and attach a handle to one of the cylinders you threw the previously as well as turn any bases left to do.

7. Finishing off all turning work.

8. Glaze all work: Generally I allow work to dry for about 8-10 days before firing (which takes 2 days). The last session can be taken during one of the open sessions on a Wednesday evening or a Saturday morning.

Some classes are easier to miss than the others. If you do miss a session you may be able to do a catch up on a Saturday morning but please note that there is a charge of £60 for this. If you miss a class due to having to self-isolating and want to make it up please note that we unfortunately do have to charge for this. If you develop Covid unfortunately we cannot make-up any classes free of charge.

REFUNDS & DATE TRANSFERS: *Please note that if you cancel or request a date transfer 15 full working days in advance are required. After this period and before the course starts you will only get a 50% refund or transfer if someone else can be found to replace you. There are no refunds or transfers after the start of your course. Please note that all refunds are minus Eventbrite fees which are non-refundable. Cancellations may be subject to an admin fee of £50.

GROUP BOOKING: please note, groups of 3 or more people will need to give 20 working days notice for refunds. We are unable to offer transfers to for group bookings.

Please note that we are unable to offer refunds or transfers within the 15 working days notice period if you are having to self-isolate or develop Covid-19 unless someone can be found to replace you.