Challenge and transform your hand building and throwing skills by exploring dynamic and playful approaches to ceramic forms that can be both functional and sculptural. Taking inspiration from both the observed and imagined landscape, you will use a variety of materials and techniques that encourage expressive, intuitive and spontaneous form making that will inform new approaches to your making practice.

The course includes the following projects:

With playful investigations into making techniques, we will explore a new form each day: vase, bottle, cup, bowl, plate, although these are only serving suggestions.

Informed by West Dean’s association with Surrealism, we will look at chimera forms and disruptive function.

On completing the course, you will have experienced a playful and alternative approach to form making, gained confidence in working intuitively and an introduction to incorporating new techniques and approaches into your practice.

Included

On this course the College will supply most of the materials.

The cost of some glazing materials and firing of work may be charged extra.

What students need to bring

• Tools and brushes that you already have
• A sketchbook and pencil
• Some type of camera if you want to record work and processes
• Overall, apron, old towels
• Thin clean plastic for covering work
• Cardboard boxes – useful if taking raw pots away at the end of the course

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes). Possible equipment restrictions in tutor absence.

Firing and glazing options:

1. Leave a selection of your most successful raw finished pieces for biscuit firing, basic glazing and re-firing by the College, for collection within six months.

2. Leave a selection of your most successful raw finished pieces 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.

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

Terms & Conditions