Pottery
Overview
Pottery is the timeless craft of shaping clay into functional and artistic objects using a variety of hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques. It is a calming and meditative process that is perfect for expressing your creativity.
This course will take you through a range of pottery techniques and processes. You’ll explore both traditional and contemporary methods of construction and decoration while working with different clay bodies.
This course is suitable for beginners as well as those looking to expand their pottery practice.
What you’ll learn:
- Hand-building techniques – ancient craft techniques, including coiling, slab work, and sprigging.
- Wheel-throwing – an introduction to creating forms on the potter’s wheel
- Surface decoration – explore marbling, embossing, scraffito, slip decoration, mark-making, and resist techniques
- Glazing and finishing – experiment with metal oxides, various glazes, and surface finishes.
Each term lasts 10 weeks. After the 5 weeks of structured learning, you'll begin a personal ceramic project to develop your own unique style.
Throughout the course, you’ll be encouraged to enjoy the tactile experience of working with clay while gradually building confidence and technical skill. All materials are provided, and full health and safety guidance is included.
Key information
No previous experience necessary, just an interest in the subject area. Learners would benefit from attending each term to build skills in preparation for term two and term three courses, although this is not a barrier to attending each term as a standalone course.
This course is delivered in the art and design studios at our Llwyn y Bryn campus in Uplands, Swansea.
Each term lasts for 10 weeks. You'll find it beneficial to attend consecutive terms to progressively develop your skills, but you're also welcome to join any term as a complete standalone course.
Progression from any part-time course could offer a pathway to full-time courses in art and design. For adult learners considering a creative career, the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course could provide a progression route for this.