Introduction to Pottery: Monday Afternoon

Mondays, 2pm-4.30pm

Suitable for complete beginners as well those new to ceramics, this step-by-step course will introduce you to hand-building and working with clay, giving students the confidence to start using this ancient and versatile medium. This introduction does not include wheel throwing.

More info about what you will do:

• Week 1: A playful exploration of clay and its physical properties. Learn how the ceramic studio works, feel comfortable in the environment and how to look after clay. Thoughts on the following weeks.
• Week 2: Think of a desired shape and construct a former for it from rolled out clay slabs, which will be used during the following weeks. Other making techniques.
• Week 3: Use the clay former to create shapes. The shapes can be manipulated, added to with extra rims or handles, or multiples joined together to make another shape.
• Weeks 4-6: Surface decoration and glazing.

What we provide
Tools, glaze and firing costs are included in the course costs but clay is purchased through the centre via card payments based on use (approx. £5 per ¼ bag). There will be some reclaimed clay to use for no cost, just ask your tutor about this material.

About the tutor
Sean Kingsley runs Butter Wynd Pottery with contributions from Christine and daughter Erin, with some clay digging muscle from son Lewis. Sean started working with clay at Edinburgh College of Art and went on to work for spells at Purcells Cove Pottery in Nova Scotia and the Banff Centre in the Rockies. Running studios as Sean Kingsley Ceramics at Royal Park Ceramics and El Paso, Morningside in Edinburgh preceded working in the Department of Ceramics at the University of Dundee. He established the current DJCAD Clay facility, and supported students and research staff in their clay endeavours.

Butter Wynd Pottery was established in October 2009, with the first local clay dig. The resulting pots show the influence of folk history and traditional craft. In the mix and less obvious are interwoven thoughts on contemporary domestic needs, environment, material provenance, digital technologies and well being.

Website www.butterwyndpottery.co.uk
Instagram www.instagram.com/butterwyndpottery/

We offer a 10% discount on weekly classes for students, people with disabilities, unemployed people and arts workers. Use code FAC175 at check out.