Hand-build something that’s just right for the purpose and make yourself happy.

Look around your house. Do you have disorder? Are your toothbrushes and combs all over the sink? Do you have an over-flowing junk drawer full rubber bands and paperclips? (Or do you just want to impress your guests with a stylish crisp bowl?)

Hooray! you can solve these problems in pottery class.

Step 1: Measure the offending disorder and make a sketch

Look sternly at the disorder. Ask yourself, what form can contain it? How wide and tall does it need to be? Is it better if it’s square? oval? round? Does it need a hole to hang on the wall? Would handles be handy?

Step 2: Make pattern pieces

What to avoid in your form

Wet coiling has some limitations. Firstly, it’s wet. This means it can slump easily. Avoid very wide or very narrow angles.

Also, wet coiling creates organic, soft forms and doesn’t like sharp corners.

Dimensions – restrictions and advice

The size of my kiln restricts the maximum size of your piece. Yet, it’s difficult to give hard and fast rules because the maximum changes depending on the shape of your form.

Here are some guidelines.

Decoration

We’ll also be working with texture and slips. I hope you’ll make handles or some other ornamental/functional feature. You can think about those but we’ll discuss in class.

Good luck!

Figurative forms can be a sculpture, a vase, candleholders, a pot…the possibilities are vast and the choice is yours.

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Preparation and Schedule for September 2024 Course Students

This is my grande scheme! I expect that working on your piece will take the entire class time. However, we all work at different paces. If you finish early, I have a few small projects you can do while the others keep working.

Before your next class: DESIGN

Find inspiration (see below) and come to class with a vision of what you want to make. Bring a picture on your phone or make a sketch.
Think about the building and decorating techniques you’ve learned. Consider how you’ll construct your form and then how you’ll decorate it.
It would be helpful if you know the final size* of your piece and make a paper template for your cylinder. (Or you can do it in class)

• *Maximum permitted size of your finished piece: 20 (height) x 15 x 15cm
• If you want to make a candle holder – make 2
• If figures just aren’t your thing, feel free to go off-piste

w/c16 Sept: BUILD YOUR FORM

I envision that we’ll discuss your design at the beginning of class and I’ll help you figure out how to make it and get you started.

w/c 23 Sept: DECORATE

Use one or all of the techniques from your practice piece; slips, wax resist, sgraffito, and slip trailing

w/c 30 Sept: APPLY UNDERGLAZES

Your piece will be bisque fired so you’ll be able to “colour in” the shapes you outlined with black underglaze.

Inspiration

As you look at these examples, try to think about how the form was constructed and the decorating techniques used by the potter.

In the September Course, two smaller projects will help you build a “toolbox” of pottery skills to equip you for making your main project

My autumn course schedule is now open. I hope you can come.

Figurative Forms
I’ve been in the US since June where I saw more corn than pottery in Nebraska. However, I did have time to make a small sculpture of a child wearing cowboy boots. It was a birthday gift for my brother. Making it was fun, absorbing and challenging – all desirable things when working with clay.

I’d like to do it again! So, one of the projects in the September course will be figurative forms. They’re  constructed with a variety of building techniques that you’ll first learn by making a few other projects.  Here are examples of what you could make. 

Taster Course

This term I am also offering a short taster course. If you’d just like to try out working with clay or can’t commit to a full course, this is for you! We’ll be making my ever-popular mugs. Made over two session, they are slab-built and decorated with stamps and glazes. It is a challenging project and great way to get to know clay.

Students in the May course built tiny (they are approx 4-6 inches long) shoes.  They were cut from a basic pattern (just like a cobbler would do) but then each student modified the pattern or added embellishments to create their own perfect footwear! (for a very small person). Have a look at the exhibition

Even when you’re practicing, you want to make something you like.

Next week, we will be practicing slip trailing on a small square tile. I know how it goes. I say, “just make something simple” and you think, “but I want to make something I like!” So, here are some examples of simple motifs you can use when you’re practicing. You won’t make exactly one of these designs, but they will give you a place to start.

I’m no Imelda Marcos, but I do like a pretty shoe. Recently I was wasting time on Pinterest and came across a book, “Shoes; The Complete Sourcebook” written by the delightfully named John Peacock. The book was advertised as the most comprehensive and detailed history of shoes ever published, including over 2000 specially drawn illustrations by Mr. Peacock.

Naturally I ordered the book and it has inspired one of our projects for the April course; little clay shoes. In addition, we’ll be making commemorative dishes with slipware, stamped stoneware mugs, (everybody loves those) and oxide rim tea lights.

If you haven’t already registered, please do so right away.

Base your design on a Favourite Roast Dinner from your past. This can be very broad and encompass people, places or an activity.

Watch the Great Pottery Throw down

Get some inspiration for your design by going back to the source. You can catch up on Channel 4. It is Series 7 Episode 1. You can also watch HERE online (though you have to register).

Make your design

Make some sketches or find ideas on the internet. If you don’t have time, at least come to class with a concept and you can develop it as you work.
We are using white clay. Your set will be decorated with coloured slips and underglazes. (I’ll discuss those with you in Class 2) but you can also add texture with stamps, carving, and modelling. Be creative and don’t be afraid to be silly and have fun!

Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through your build and the class will work on them at the same time.

5 piece Roast Dinner Set

Pinch pot salt and pepper shakers

You’ll join 2 pinch pots to make the hollow forms for your salt and pepper shakers. Remember, there will be a cork in the bottom and it will protrude approximately 1/2 cm. The base will need a foot or a hollowed out area. Be sure to include this in your design.

Coiled Mustard Pot with Lid

Have some fun with this – make a creative knob on your lid.

Slab-built Gravy Jug

Although you all will make the same basic form, it can be made your own with a creative handle, scalloped edges or modelling.

Hump mold dish

The dish is made on a hump mold. Clay is rolled out into a slab and then formed around the mold. You can add a decorative edge, stamps, handles or even some modelling like the little dog Dave added to his dish.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Have you been watching the Great Pottery Throwdown? It’s a good season. There are some very talented potters and (happily) not too many tears.

In one episode, the potters made a 6 piece Roast Dinner Set including a plate, a gravy boat, dish, salt and pepper pots and mustard pot. The forms and decoration were inspired by childhood memories of a favourite Roast Dinner. One potter’s theme was a day at the beach. Another’s was a walk on the Downs. They were great and really stimulated the potters’ creativity.

Call me a copy-cat, but that’s what we’ll be doing in my courses beginning w/c 26 February. It’s a lovely project for both beginners or more experienced potters. Every set will bring back memories and tell a story. 

 If you haven’t already registered, please do so now!

Candle Holders, Trophy Cups or Goblets

In this project, we’ll be making columnar pieces with a mix of building and decorating techniques. You can create as you go and really use your imagination. It’s a terrific project for those of you who love modelling, decorating, and building. Have a look here for inspiration and register for a course!

Bird Feeders

We’ll also be making bird feeders. These will primarily be made with coils but you can use other building techniques if you prefer. They can be as simple or as complicated as you like. They’ll be finished just as the birds start getting hungry and they’ll love them!