Hand building with Clay

Designed for individuals or small groups, including families. All levels of experience are very welcome

"The working spaces are well equipped and generously provisioned. I very much enjoyed working in the shade in the garden on one of the hottest days of the year! The activities were well thought through to allow for creative exploring of different making techniques, along with glazing and firing. Both of the tutors had heaps of knowledge which they shared with us."

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These courses are designed to give flexibility and so you can choose dates and times to suit you. The courses can be attended by adults and children, but all children must be accompanied by an adult. All levels of experience with ceramics are very welcome.

Hand building with clay remains my favourite way to work with ceramics. It is so versatile and allows for the creation of an infinite variety of forms, pots, boxes, tiles, jewellery and sculptures to be created.
A variety of hand building techniques such as coiling, pinch pots, slab building, using plaster molds, model making, tile, and plaque making will be taught, to enable you to make your own ceramic pieces. There will also be an introduction to different decoration techniques such as the use of stamps, sprigs, relief, burnishing, drawing and carving into the clay work.
Once you have completed your handmade work Garden Stream Pottery will biscuit fire the pieces and arrange a collection date. You can choose to paint these at home or choose to book a further workshop to glaze your ceramics.

Glazing and decorating
Glazing is a magical part of the ceramics process where your ceramics pieces are transformed through glaze. We have a wide variety of coloured glazes, underglazes, slips and oxides. If you choose to complete your hand-built ceramics with glaze I will guide you through different methods of applying glazes to reach the finish you would like.

We aim to create a relaxed, friendly, creative and supportive environment. The number of people (1 to 4 people) allows plenty of time for individual tuition to enable each person to feel confident to bring their own ideas and imagination into their ceramic work. This course will be facilitated by Ursula Wimhurst.

Option (A) - 2 hours hand building course. The price includes all tuition, materials and firing costs.
Tea/coffee/biscuits provided. Price £35 per adult and £25 per child.

Option (B) – 2 hours hand building course and 2 hours glazing course. The price includes the two courses, all tuition, materials and firing costs. Tea/coffee/biscuits provided. Price £70 per adult and £50 per child.

Option (C) – If you would like to attend further sessions to continue building your ceramic skills these can also be arranged. Price £35 per adult for 2 hours and £25 per child for 2 hours.

To book a course, or for further information please contact us by telephone 01341 422354 or by e mail: gardenstreampottery@yahoo.com