Classes

Clay for Beginners | Term Four, 2024

Make marvellous mugs, beautiful bowls or sinuous sculptures using clay. In this class you will learn some simple hand building techniques and effective ways to create decorative surfaces to add interest to your work.
An ideal class for beginners. If there are spaces on the class roll, students with some prior experience with clay and who wish to work independently are welcome to join this class.

Content

* Introductions and studio orientation
* Best practice guidelines explained
* Get to know the properties of clay and what we can do with it as it transitions through a variety of stages, from a wet dough to completely dry and ready to bisque fire and then glaze
* Create small vessels or sculptural forms following tutor demonstrations at the start of each class
* A weekly focus on one of the basic hand-building construction techniques - pinch pots, coiling and slab - with textural and decorative surface techniques incorporated into the classes throughout the term
* Weeks five to seven - explore your own project using the construction techniques you have learned as well as basic glazing techniques

Objectives

* Follow best practice guidelines
* Gain insight into different types of clay and firing techniques through experiential learning, verbal discussions and demonstrations
* Gain a working knowledge of hand-building techniques - pinch pots, coiling and slab building
* Begin exploration of surface treatment and embellishment using coloured slips, under glazes and basic glaze

Outcomes

* A working knowledge of some of the different types of clay and firing techniques as well as knowledge of a variety of basic hand-building techniques - pinch pots, coiling and slab
* An understanding of some finishing techniques
* Use of best practice guidelines
* A range of small fired/glazed works

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