What’s it like to take our Beginners course? There’s a lot of laughter!

As our first courses of the year finish, teachers Casey and Rachel chat about the vibe of our bestselling Beginners course.

It’s a wrap! The Monday evening class at their last session.

So what kind of people are on the Beginners course?

Rachel: All sorts! Lots are complete beginners. Some signed up because they walked past the studio and decided to give it a try. Some got a course or a voucher as a Christmas gift. Some wanted to meet new people. Some have done a taster session. So there is a whole mix of reasons for people being there.

What’s the vibe like?

Rachel: It’s very lively – lots of chatting. Everyone gets along really well. There’s a nice mix. The more outgoing people pull out the quieter people a little bit. But it’s not overwhelming – if you want to just get on with your own stuff, you can do that too.

Casey: Each class takes on its own personality. But generally, it’s very chatty, with lots of laughing. I think when you learn something new, if you do it alongside other people, you feel really close to them. Because you’re challenging and pushing yourself – and so are they. And then you’re celebrating each other’s achievements. So, if somebody throws a pot, everybody’s like, “Woo, nice! Good pot!” 

“It’s very lively – lots of chatting and laughing. Everyone gets along really well. There’s a nice mix. The more outgoing people pull out the quieter people a little bit. But it’s never overwhelming.”

Are the sessions very different? What do people like best?

Casey: Each session is different because we’re learning a different technique. People might start a little nervous, but then with pinch potting, they’re like, “Oh, this is something that’s achievable.” And then each session builds on the others. A lot come in really excited about throwing on the wheel, but then they’ll discover that they love slab building – even though they might never have heard of it before. Generally, by the end of course, people have a pretty good idea of what they like.

So you get a sense of confidence building as the course goes on?

Casey: Definitely. Because the course takes you all the way from a bag of raw clay to a fired glazed piece. You get a lot of context for the whole process. And so, if someone wants to repeat the course, they’re like, “I got this. I’ve got a really good idea of what’s going on and what I want to achieve.”

Rachel: Ceramics provides a really low-pressure environment. You can try something out, and if it doesn’t work, that’s fine. You just try again. Making mistakes is part of the process: it’s a very supportive environment.

“The last session is glazing, but it’s also a bit of a celebration, with people bringing in treats to share. I baked some cookies and there was an incredible salted caramel banana cake!”

Any particularly favourite pots?

Rachel: One student made a giant wedge of multicoloured Swiss cheese that everyone loved. It’s a great example of how you can take a simple technique like slab building and make something unique. Another student, who paints as well as pots, made themself a palette with 30 or so little indentations for the different watercolours. Another one made a vase like a milk jug, with the face of a cow painted on one side and the bum on the other. Really cute!

Casey: There are so many pots that I could pick out. But the really interesting thing for me is discovering what everybody is going to do with their pots. Like the different ways that students under-glaze that I wouldn’t have even thought of, or the different glaze combinations that end up looking really amazing.

Rachel: Even in the first week, from the very first pinch pot, you can see how each person is going to be unique. How their different personalities and approach to the clay is going to result in very different work. That’s so fun. A lot of beginners will say, “Oh, I’m not a very creative person.” And then they start making these things that are inherently creative – but they don’t see it like that, because to them it’s really obvious. Everyone on this course has been really creative, even the ones who say, “Well, I don’t know what I’m doing…”

“I love discovering what everybody is going to do with their pots. Like the different ways that students under-glaze that I wouldn’t have even thought of that end up looking really amazing.”

What do the students want to do next?

Rachel: Nearly everyone is going on to do something else at the studio. A couple are going to repeat the class, but kind of do their own thing next time. Lots are moving on to the improvers course. One person has already asked whether they can volunteer, because they like the environment so much. I think everyone’s enjoying it, but there are definitely some who are really hooked: they’re going to be sticking with ceramics for a long time.

Casey: I think the main sentiment after every course is: “How do I do more of this?” It’s so great to watch the students come out of their shells after the first week, where everybody’s just figuring it out, to the last week, where they’re all really good friends, exchanging numbers and going out for coffee together. And they want to go on and do the next thing with clay together as well. It’s what we’re all about. We’re a pottery studio, but we’re really about community too. It’s great to see that in action.

“It’s fun to see how the different personalities and approach to the clay affects the work. Even in the first week, from the very first pinch pot, you can see how each person is going to be unique.”

We still have availability for our next round of Beginners courses, starting week commencing 24 February. Click to read more and/or book your place on Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings or Friday mornings. To see pictures of student work fresh from the kiln, follow us on Instagram.