Wheel Throwing Weekend

Service Description

Discover the joy of working with clay in this hands-on, two-day pottery throwing workshop designed especially for beginners (or improvers!). Whether you’ve never touched a wheel before or you’re looking to refresh the basics, this weekend workshop will guide you through the foundational techniques of wheel-thrown pottery in a relaxed, supportive environment. This workshop is from 10am - 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. Lunch will be provided on both days—please let us know in advance if you have any allergies or dietary requirements so we can accommodate you. Day 1: THROWING ON THE WHEEL Get your hands dirty and dive into the basics of throwing on the pottery wheel. You’ll learn how to prepare your clay, centre it on the wheel, and shape it into simple forms such as cylinders and bowls. Through guided demonstrations and plenty of practice time, you’ll build confidence in the essential techniques of wheel throwing. What you'll learn: - Clay preparation and wedging - Centring and opening techniques - Pulling walls to create forms - Basic shaping and refining Day 2: TRIMMING, HANDLES, AND DECORATION Return to your pieces from Day 1 and learn the next steps in the pottery process. You’ll be introduced to trimming your forms to refine their shape and add a professional finish. Then, explore how to attach handles and add decorative elements to personalise your work. By the end of the day, you’ll have a collection of your own handmade pottery ready for firing. What you'll learn: - Trimming techniques for leather-hard pots - Attaching handles (mugs, jugs, and more) - Surface decoration methods (texture, carving, slip) At the end of the workshop, you’ll get to choose your favourite 5 pieces to be glazed and fired, ready for collection a few weeks later. If you'd like to keep additional items, a small fee will apply to cover materials and firing costs. All materials, tools, and equipment are provided. Just bring your enthusiasm and clothes you don’t mind getting messy! No prior experience needed.