Course description

This course is a two-week immersion into wheel throwing for tableware design. During which you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the practice of ceramics and make a complete tableware set, while also enjoying the tranquil pleasures of Sicilian life.

In this course, you will have a chance to perfect your throwing skills: you will practise throwing bowls, plates, and cups, as well as tea pots and ceramic boxes. You will be guided to throw thinner and more even walls, as well as throw shapes that are new and challenging. You will have a unique chance to fully immerse yourself in the practice of wheel throwing, making progress that would be hard to achieve within the noise of everyday life.

Each student will also have a chance to design their own tableware set, then make it. 

During the first week, we will focus on strengthening and refining wheel throwing foundations. We will practice making cylinders, bowls and plates and a few techniques for making identical pieces. We will also practice throwing small pieces from the hump.

During the second week, we will continue building our tableware set. We will learn to make teapots as well as choose between a few available glaze formulations to glaze our chosen pieces.

Students will also be taught a few glaze recipes, and will have a chance to mix their own glazes and pick a colour for their set.

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to choose which pieces you would like fired, glazed and shipped to you. As pieces need approximately a week to dry out, this will be done for you once the retreat has concluded. The costs of shipping are not included in the course price.

Outcome

The course is focused on learning foundational skills for tableware design, but you will also be able to make and keep a full tableware set

• The course includes the firing and glazing of up to 6kg of dry clay (that’s a tableware set for 4 people)

• There is an extra charge of 20€/kg of clay for firing and glazing of more than 6kg of clay

• Each student will be able to pick one glaze for their set, and all their piece will be finished with that glaze, after the course is finished

• We do not ship unglazed bisque pieces, as the chances of them breaking during shipping are too high

• Shipping costs are charged separately (we’ll provide you with a shipping fee document closer to the date)

Who is the course right for?

This course is right for you if:

• you can already independently and autonomously centre +1.5kg of clay

• you are a ceramics student or practising ceramicist with wheel-throwing foundations and wish to perfect your skills 

• you want to practise throwing better, thinner, more regular pieces

• you already have intermediate experience on the wheel and you simply want a chance to spend two full weeks practising without worrying about anything else

Your teacher

Adele Williams is a potter with 9 years of teaching experience. She's developed a love for encouraging students to stretch their skills, making work that is both beautiful and functional. Bringing creativity into items that are part of your everyday.

Based in London, Adele works as Hackney Potter in the artist run studio Clay Collective. Concentrating on a love for materials she has developed a practice that produces functional ware with an experimental approach. Whether digging clay to make clay bodies and slips, creating ashes for glazing or experimenting with firing techniques. Her work follows a desire to experiment and understand.

IG @hackney_potter