Understanding Clay

The aim of each course is to enable you to

  • Understand the properties and working characteristics of ceramic materials

  • Be able to investigate properties and working characteristics of ceramic materials safely

  • Be able to prepare, form, finish and store ceramic materials to meet specified requirements.

Key Learning

Properties of Ceramic Materials

Taking into account health and safety, you will gain an understanding of the properties of clay and the range of applications and techniques employed to develop your skills working with the material.

Producing Ceramic Outcomes

Using a range of hand-building and throwing techniques you will develop, test and refine your work to produce a form based on your own design ideas.

Developing and Realising Ideas

Employing key skills in the production of your work you will develop ideas further and be led by the unexpected to create original crafted hand-made pieces.

Feel an idea rise up and take shape. Allow the thought to break free and see what it does for itself.

Feel an idea rise up and take shape. Allow the thought to break free and see what it does for itself.

Broaden Your Understanding

Links and Wider Reading

On the Web

CTM Pottery Supplies
You can get pretty much anything you need for pottery making from CTM.

Kilnsmiths
Install, service and repair kilns covering from Lands End to Honiton.

GM Services Cornwall

Kiln Sales, Servicing and technical support

Bath Potters Supplies

Bath Potters Supplies is a family run company with a knowledgeable friendly team, they are passionate about delivering a first class service in everything for working with ceramics.

Potclays
Expert pottery suppliers since 1932, passionate about keeping the craft of ceramics alive.

National Suppliers

Scarva Pottery Supplies
We are the world's leading supplier of ceramic materials and equipment.

Bluematchbox Potter's Supplies
Bluematchbox has been in potter's supplies since 2003. They carry a great range of clays, glazes, raw materials and tools, and readily supply potters kilns, wheels,  machines and equipment from a range of well known manufacturers.

Digital Ceramics

Digital Ceramic Systems Ltd are  suppliers of digital ceramic printing technology.

Glazy

Glazy is a useful tool for those who mix their own glazes

Ceramics Wiki

A really useful mine of information

Ceramic Review Masterclass Videos

Several excellent videos of great potters showing us how it is done

Academic Publications


The Arts Council

The national development agency for creativity and culture.

The Craft Potters Association of Great Britain
The Craft Potters Association was formed in 1958 to promote the work of its members and to increase public awareness of contemporary studio pottery.

The Heritage Craft Association
The Heritage Crafts Association is the advocacy body for traditional heritage crafts.

Recommended Reading

Beard P – Resist and Masking Techniques (A&C Black, 1996) ISBN 978-0713637472

Birks T – The Complete Potter’s Companion (Conran Octopus Ltd, 1993) ISBN 978-1850294313

Blandino B – Coiled Pottery (A&C Black, 1997) ISBN 978-0713645231

Cowley D – Moulded and Slipcast Pottery and Ceramics (Batsford, 1984) ISBN 978-0713409727

Eden M and V – Slipware (A&C Black, 1999) ISBN 978-0713645156

Fraser H – Ceramic Skillbooks: Electric Kilns and Firings (Pitman, 1980) ISBN 978-0273013938

Hamer F – The Potters’ Dictionary of Materials and Techniques (A&C Black, 1997) ISBN 978-0713644180

Hamer F and Hamer J – Ceramic Skillbooks: Clays (Pitman, 1977) ISBN 978-0273010005

Hinchcliffe J and Barber W – Ceramic Style (Cassell, 1995) ISBN 978-0304347513

Mattison S – The Complete Potter: The Complete Reference to Tools, Materials and Techniques for all Potters and Ceramicists (Apple Press, 2003) ISBN 978-1840923636

Minogue C – Impressed and Incised Ceramics (A&C Black, 2002) ISBN 978-0713661187 Morley-Fletcher H – Techniques of the World’s Great Masters of Pottery and Ceramics (Phaidon, 1984)

ISBN 978-0714880105
Osterman M – The Ceramics Surface (A&C Black, 2009) ISBN 978-1408113394 Osterman M – The New Maiolica (A&C Black, 1999) ISBN 978-0713648782
Peterson S and J – Working with Clay (Laurence King, 2009) ISBN 978-1856696050 Scott P – Painted Clay (A&C Black, 2000) ISBN 978-0713647549
Wardell S – Slipcasting (A&C Black, 1998) ISBN 978-0713676723
Wickham M – Ceramic Skillbooks: Pottery Science (Pitman, 1978) ISBN 978-0273011897

The Clay Yard Story

Your riverside clay experience awaits The Clay Yard

A clean, fresh, inspiring spot, full of natural queues to influence your creative journey.