An introduction to sculptural ceramics using hand-building techniques.

This 6-week course focuses on building and refining a sculptural form, with attention to surface, texture, and the physical qualities of clay.

Guided by Isabel, you’ll develop confidence in working with clay as a beginner, while discovering your own unique style in the process.

Week 1 – Introduction to Clay
– Warm-up and Introduction: Course overview and safety
– Clay Preparation: Discuss how to prepare clay for use (wedging)
– Technique Focus: Introduction to coil building (building up sculptural forms), also explore slab building and pinching techniques
– Practice Time: Create a simple exploratory form to get familiar with the material and techniques
– Wrap-up: Common issues and solutions (cracks, weak joins, uneven thickness)

Week 2 – Building Your Form
– Plan and Ideas: Bring in drawings, ideas, or inspiration for a sculptural piece
– Technique Focus: Expanding coil building (or other chosen technique) to begin a sculptural form
– Shaping Your Piece: Focus on balance, structure, and form
– Instructor Feedback: Individual check-ins on progress

Week 3 – Defining Your Form
– Review: Discuss drying stages and the importance of strong, smooth joins
– Technique Focus: Adding texture, refining surfaces, and defining form
– Practice Time: Continue refining by smoothing, shaping, and adding surface details

Week 4 – Drying, Smoothing, and Preparing for Firing
– Review: Drying work slowly and evenly to prevent cracking
– Technique Focus: Smoothing surfaces, correcting imperfections, strengthening forms
– Hands-on Time: Final refinements and checking for weak areas
– Preparation for Firing: Pieces ready for bisque firing

Week 5 – Bisque Firing and Preparing for Glazing
– Plan and Ideas: Bring in some ideas for glazing your form (colour, pattern, technique)
– Review: Overview of the firing process: bisque firing and glaze firing, temperatures
– Technique Focus: Glaze application techniques (dip, brush, pour)
– Hands-on Time: Experiment glazes on test pieces

Week 6 – Glazing and Final Firing
– Review: Discuss glaze firing process and temperatures, clay vs glaze interaction
– Technique Focus: Applying glaze to bisque fired sculptural form
– Wrap-up: Work ready for final firing
– Follow up: Final pieces fired, images shared with group & collection of work

Limited spaces available. No experience necessary.

Thursdays
25th June – 30th July
6pm – 8:30pm

6-week course: €270
Option to pay a deposit of €50 and remainder before course start date