This practical one-day course provides an exciting hands-on introduction to Japanese pottery techniques.

You will discover how to make Japanese tableware. You will learn some simple techniques to create organic shape dishes by Tataratsukuri (slab making) and a tea bowl by Tamatsukuri (pinching). Each piece will be decorated by Japanese brush drawing or slip decoration techniques, such as Hakeme and Katagami. By doing this course, you will learn the basic Tebineri (Japanese hand building) techniques which can be developed and used for more advanced pieces of your own.

After the course, the pots will need to be dried out, biscuit fired, glazed and then fired again. You can either enrol on a glazing day (see details in the course search) if you would like to glaze your own pots, or your pots can be glazed for you at the College. In both cases, you will be contacted when your pots have been glazed fired and are ready for collection.

Included

All the materials and tools will be supplied for the course, including all clay, glazing and firing costs.

What students need to bring

• Work apron – preferably cotton
• Acquaint yourself with the tutor's profile on the West Dean College website. Recommended reading: The Japanese Pottery Handbook by Penny Simpson

Additional information

Firing and Glazing options:

1. Leave your most successful raw finished pieces (up to five), for biscuit firing, basic glazing and re-firing by the College, for collection within six months.
2. Leave up your most successful raw finished pieces (up to five), for biscuit firing at the College. You can then book a place on a Glazing Day and glaze your own work (allowing four weeks for your work to be biscuit fired). This work will be re-fired after glazing and available for collection within six months.
3. Take away your unfired pots for firing and glazing elsewhere.

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals, and safety boots, if specified.

Timetable

Student registration: 9am
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Lunch is included

Terms & Conditions