Exploring Japanese pottery with Rie Tsuruta

Ref: SLW37825

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Places available

About this course

Explore simple Japanese pottery to make vases, bowls, mugs and plates. Techniques include spiral wedging, hand building (Tebineri), wet slab making (Katatsukuri) and leather hard slab building (Itatsukuri).

Course Description

Explore some simple Japanese techniques that are not commonly used in this country. You will experience how to do spiral wedging, make a vase or dishes by Himotsukuri (coiling), make a little box by Kurinuki (hollowing a lump of clay), a tea bowl or a cup by Tamatsukuri (thumb pot) and a plate by Tataratsukuri (slab making) on a hump/press mould or on coiled clay (wet slab). Then you will learn brush drawing or printing techniques to decorate your pieces.

Each piece will be decorated by Japanese brush drawing or slip decoration techniques, such as Hakeme, Mishima and Katagami. You will be encouraged to get inspiration from West Dean Gardens and design your patterns and drawings for the decoration.

By doing this course, you will learn Tebineri (the basic Japanese hand building) techniques, which can be developed and used for more advanced pieces of your own.

Course Materials

Included

  • All Clay, glazing and firing costs (Large work in size and quantity may be charged extra.)
  • basic tool kits are provided in the pottery for use during the course.

What students need to bring

  • overall/apron (preferably cotton or laminated fabric)
  • a Sketchbook, pencils and pens to do some drawings

Available to buy

Available from shop:

  • Pottery tools
  • Pottery knife
  • Rough paper or sketch pad and pencil
  • Natural sponge

Additional information

Firing and glazing options:

  1. Leave a selection of raw, finished pieces, which you wish to keep, for biscuit firing, basic glazing and re-firing by the College, for collection within six months.

  2. Leave a selection of raw, finished pieces for biscuit firing at the College. You can then book a place on a Glazing Day and glaze your own work (allowing four weeks for your work to be biscuit fired). This work will be re-fired after glazing and available for collection within six months.

  3. You take away your unfired pots for firing and glazing elsewhere.

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals, and safety boots, if specified.

Timetable

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
Students meet their tutor in the Bar at 7.30pm prompt to go to studios.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm
Teaching finishes: 3pm

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am. Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options

General Information

Tutors

Rie Tsuruta

Rie Tsuruta studied at the University of Brighton and the Royal College of Art. Her own work is made to be held, felt and used in the centre of people's lives, and to provoke a sense of intimacy and awareness of touch. She has exhibited at Flow Gallery, London, Ceramic Art London and was shortlisted for the 2014 British Ceramic Biennial FRESH Award.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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Further study options for art craft and design short courses

Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.