Wednesdays 10.00am to 12.30pm.
Thursdays 6pm to 8.30pm
Ceramics for Beginners
Pottery: Objects made of clay, shaped, dried and made hard and permanent by the action of heat.
The granite and quartz of Dartmoor feature in the composition of the clays that make the clay and pottery bodies developed in your classes. Quartz, felspar and mica have worked to produce the Ball Clay that has been historically associated with the ceramic and glass heritage of South Devon.
Feel
Begin by getting a “feel” of the clay as well as hand-control, touch and the co-ordination of hand and eye.
Shape
Experiment with shape and form. Explore the liveliness and plasticity of clay.
Form
Throw the clay farther from the centre, balancing the force of the potter with the physics of movement.
“You created a comfortable and enthusiastic atmosphere for all levels of competence. You were generous with materials, your time and knowledge.”
Course Overview
Handbuilding
Immersing your hands and forearms in clay prepares your brain for the process of play. Pinch, coil, pull and slab will shape the clay and prepare the mind for good times.
Throwing
Defy the laws of physics by throwing the clay using the restraining influence of the potter’s hands to balance and shape. Rise to the challenge of controlling the speed of the wheel, the ever-changing curve of the spinning pot from start to finish.
Decoration
With courage literally in both hands , dip into the world of glaze technology. Understanding the properties of glazing to achieve a finish that gives satisfaction and functionality.
Safe Practice, Expert Tuition, Sustainable Practice
The journey of clay starts in Dartmoor. As the earth moves along in its’ journey it acquires the minerals, the impurities, the textures that give us the opportunity to make and shape the ceramic form.