Pottery Beginners
Have you ever wanted to work with clay, but not known where to start? Come and learn a range of skills that you can later adapt to fulfil your creative ideas. This course, designed for beginners or relative beginners, teaches hand building skills in a structured way. It is essential to attend the first two evening classes or the first weekend day to learn foundational skills. Read below dates for more information. All 2021 courses are now full.
Interested in attending any future dates of this course?
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Description
All courses for 2021 have been removed from the website as they are all full with long waiting lists. We expect our 2022 courses to be published on our website and available for bookings from late November 2021. Please check back then. Or, if you would like us to email you when new courses are available, please express your interest by clicking on the link above.
Course formats
Evening courses run over eight weekly sessions. Courses are available on either Tuesday or Wednesday evenings 7 - 9pm. Weekend courses run over two weekends. The first part of each course runs on a Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4:30pm. Then a follow-up class will run on a Saturday 10am to 1pm to glaze your pieces.
Course dates for 2021
- Evening course: Tuesdays 7 - 9pm starting 16 February for eight weeks FULL
- Evening course: Wednesdays 7 - 9pm starting 17 February for eight weeks FULL
- Weekend course: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February 10am - 4:30pm plus Saturday 20 March 10am - 1pm glazing workshop FULL
- Evening course: Tuesdays 7 - 9pm starting 4 May for eight weeks FULL
- Evening course: Wednesdays 7 - 9pm starting 5 May for eight weeks FULL
- Weekend course: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May 10am - 4:30pm plus Saturday 5 June 10am - 1pm glazing workshop FULL
- Evening course: Tuesdays 7 - 9pm starting 27 July for eight weeks FULL
- Evening course: Wednesdays 7 - 9pm starting 28 July for eight weeks FULL
- Weekend course: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August 10am - 4:30pm plus Saturday 28 August 10am - 1pm glazing workshop FULL
- Evening course: Tuesdays 7 - 9pm starting 19 October for eight weeks FULL
- Evening course: Wednesdays 7 - 9pm starting 20 October for eight weeks FULL
- Weekend course: Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October plus Saturday 20 November 10am - 1pm glazing workshop FULL
Matt will discuss dates and times for collecting fired pieces.
About Pottery Beginners
Ideal for beginners or those relatively new to pottery, this course introduces a range of clay forming and decorating techniques that will equip you to work independently at home. A range of hand building approaches, wheel throwing, slip trailing and press moulding are covered.
This course is focused on learning technical skills which Matt teaches in a systematic way - usually demonstration first, then group practice. For most students it takes a full course to acquire these basic skills and you will produce some simple pieces as part of your learning. Once you have mastered the basics you are encouraged to pursue your own creative direction (in either a second term of classes or at home). It is important to attend the first two classes of your course as foundational skills are covered in this classes. Please enrol at a time when your schedule will permit this.
Maximum class size 11 students. We have three wheels available for most classes. Your fee covers basic clay and glazes as well as firing. Matt will have some tools available to share with the group (cutting wires, smoothing tools, texture tools, shaping tools, sponges etc). You are welcome to share the use of these tools or buy your own (a cheap kit is available at The Warehouse and Matt will talk about this in the first class).
Matt is one of New Zealand's top award-winning potters, and is a dedicated and patient teacher.
Expected learning outcomes:
On completion of the course it is expected that you will be able to:
- use a range of hand-building techniques
- form a simple vessel on the wheel (if you choose to learn the wheel)
- decorate with slips, oxides and stains
- apply glazes
Who should attend?
Those new to pottery wishing to learn hand forming techniques in a structured setting. Matt encourages students to attend the course twice if possible to practise learned techniques in a supported environment before crafting at home.
Testimonials
From 2019: "Hi Please pass on my thanks to Matt-thoroughly enjoyed these evening classes and the tolerance, generosity and humour that Matt brings to the lessons. Highly recommended. Kind regards Cheryl"
Feedback from 2018:
- 'The course is good with reasonable price and suitable class size. It's great that more people can know and join. Great fun!'
- 'I liked that it is not too structured - you're free to make what interests you but other tools and ideas are available if you want to branch out'
- 'Matt is very knowledgeable, clear in his explanation, patient and helpful - and friendly! This is my second time taking this course, I am happy I returned'
- 'Enjoyed everything! I attended this course along with 2 friends last year - this yer we all cam back and brought 2 more friends. I like the combination of practical skills and freedom given my the tutor to experiment. The course covers a great range of techniques so beginners can accomplish a variety, rather than feeling restricted by their newbie-ness. Matt is a great tutor, gives lots of good instructions, and feedback when needed. He's very knowledgeable, and great at one-on-one and group instruction. I'll probably be back for a 3rd run soon'
