Continuing Clay – Surface Decoration Term 4 – Starts Wednesday 16 October

Discover the art of surface decoration

Discover the art of surface decoration in this nine-week course designed for potters looking to elevate their work with intricate and expressive techniques. Guided by experienced instructors, you'll explore a range of methods to add depth and personality to your ceramics, with each set of  3 weeks dedicated to learning specific techniques.

Weeks 1-3: Monoprinting and Carving with Jo Townsend Begin with an introduction to monoprinting on clay surfaces, where you'll learn how to create striking designs on prepared clay slabs. As you progress, you’ll delve into multi-layered monoprints and combine these with basic carving techniques to enhance your surface decoration. By the end of these three weeks, you'll have refined your skills and completed a piece that showcases both monoprinting and carving.

Weeks 4-6: Sgraffito and Slip Decoration with Maryke Henderson The course continues with a focus on sgraffito, a technique that allows you to create detailed patterns by scratching through a surface layer to reveal the contrasting clay beneath. You'll also explore slip decoration, experimenting with layering slip and sgraffito to produce complex designs. The culmination of these sessions will be a finished piece that highlights your newly developed sgraffito and slip decoration skills.

Weeks 7-9: Underglazes and Slip Trailing with Maricelle Olivier In the final weeks, you’ll be introduced to underglazes and slip trailing, two techniques that can transform your ceramics with vibrant colours and textures. Learn to apply underglazes to various clay bodies and practise slip trailing to create dynamic effects. The course will conclude with a project that integrates both underglaze and slip trailing techniques, ready for firing.

Join us for this comprehensive exploration of surface decoration and bring your ceramic creations to life with these advanced techniques. Suitable for those with some prior pottery experience, this course offers an opportunity to expand your artistic repertoire in a supportive and creative environment.

Important Details:

• Duration: Three hours per week for a nine-week term. Three weeks on each topic area.
• Fees: Includes tuition, studio access, and glazing services. Clay and additional firing costs are charged separately. You may wish to purchase additional underglazes as you progress through the course
• What to Bring: Please bring your basic pottery toolkit, a cleaning sponge, an apron, and clean towels. Some brushes and carving tools would be a useful additona to your toolbox. A journal and pencils would also be helpful. Wear sturdy, covered shoes, tie back long hair, and leave any precious jewellery at home for safety.
• Studio Clean-Up: To maintain a safe and healthy environment, it is a requirement of class attendance that participants clean their workspaces and assist with the general clean-up of the workshop at the end of each class.