Ceramics: six week evening course

Our studio is based in the creative bustling area of Leith, with lots of great local amenities including delis, cafes, bars and other studios. Public transport is good, with buses running along the street and the tram a short walk away. We are on the ground floor in our self contained studio.

Each class will run on Thursday evening from 6 til 8.30. Over the six weeks we will cover a variety of approaches to making ceramics. Run by both Fiona and Chris, you will be able to benefit from their varied approaches and expertise. As this is a longer course than some of the others, we will be able to include more techniques and spend longer on individual pieces.

I t will include handbuilding. Firstly, the traditional method of coil building which is ideal for making unique vessels or sculptures. Fiona, who mainly specialises in coil building, will take you through the different stages of making and refining your individual pieces over a few weeks. We will also be covering slab-building, another popular type of handbuilding where you create pieces out of sheets of clay (these will be prepared for you in advance so are at the right consistency). We have a selection of press moulds for you to use for dishes and plates as well.

Wheelthrowing will be taught by Chris; he will take you through the stages of centering, hollowing out and making a vessel starting with bowls. As you build on your skills and confidence at the wheel over the weeks you will be able to develop this further and try new forms.

Surface decoration is a big part of the course too - we will cover slip decoration (painting, monoprinting and stencilling for example), markmaking, and creating texture and pattern. We have a range of glazes for you to use.

Most of the practical demos will be shown in the first 4 weeks, with most sessions including a couple of different things so you can switch between pieces and processes as appropriate.

Host or Publisher Cyan Clayworks