4 Week Beginner Throwing Course
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at the potter’s wheel? Our 4 week beginner’s course is the perfect place to start. We’ll guide you from your very first lump of clay to beautiful, finished pieces of pottery. Week 1 focuses on the foundations, teaching you how to prepare clay, centre it on the wheel, and master basic throwing techniques. In Week 2, you’ll refine your skills, learning to create uniform bowls and mugs while improving your control. By Week 3, you’ll be trimming and polishing your pieces, adding handles, and giving them a professional finish. Finally, Week 4 is where the magic happens, as you learn to safely mix and apply glazes, turning your creations into vibrant, food-safe works of art. By the end of the course, you’ll have 4 of your very own handmade pottery pieces to take home and a solid foundation for a new creative passion.
February
Join us every Thursday in February for a month of learning, creating and relaxing. Week 1: Thursday February 5th – 11-2pm Week 2: Thursday February 12th – 11-2pm Week 3: Thursday February 19th – 11-2pm Week 4: Thursday February 26th – 11-1pm
Week 1- Learning the fundamentals (centering, wedging and basic forms)
The objectives for week 1 are to familiarise ourselves with the studio layout as well as preparing our clay and getting comfortable behind the wheel. We will start the day showing you how to utilise all of our tools and get comfortable with working in the studio. After learning the key techniques behind preparing our clay, we will begin focusing on the fundamentals of throwing. Centring, opening and basic pulling to form tall walls. All pieces made in week one will be sliced in half and looked at to help you build on your skills in week 2.
Week 2- Refining Skills (pulling and shaping)
In week 2 our main objectives are to focus on throwing. Improving on our control to create more uniform pieces and learning how to shape using flexible rib tools. We will begin by preparing our clay to work with before hoping on the wheel to create 4 pieces to trim and refine in week 3. This week we will be throwing on batt systems to help you keep your pottery from any warping when removing. What kind of pieces can I make? We will be focusing on bowls and mug shapes this week to allow you to flip the pieces upside down to trim and add handles. If you wish to make vases this is no problem. We can show you different ways of finishing your vases and smoothing your pieces that have quirky necks in week 3.
Week 3- Polishing your work (trimming, burnishing and adding handles)
Week 3 is all about refining each of your pieces by trimming thinner walls, adding shape and carving foot rings. After trimming we will move on to pulling and shaping handles to add to our pieces. We will also cover burnishing your clay to a smooth consistency to give your piece an extra shine. This stage is often overlooked in beginners pottery, but we cover everything to make your pieces pop. From what tools to use, how much pressure to apply, the correct angle to hold your tool and how to re-attach your piece to the wheel.
Week 4- Glazing (using combination glazes and underglazes)
Once bisque fired, it’s time to glaze your pieces! In week 4 we cover how to mix and use glazes safely. Creating different glazes to make combinations for creative glaze application. This week is a great way to finalise your pieces to make them colourful, food safe, watertight and dishwasher/ microwave safe.