Ref: SLW40337
This course will introduce you to the wide variety of hand-building techniques. With an emphasis on form and texture, you will create a series of organic sculptures and vessels, incorporating the different methods together.
An experimental beginning will give you a chance to play - exploring and manipulating the clay, making shapes and finding new ways to add texture and pattern. These three-dimensional sketches will help to develop your ideas for your final pieces. Other artists work will be looked at and discussed throughout the course to offer inspiration and an insight to alternative ideas.
There will be group discussions and tutor demonstrations on pinching, coiling (three different ways), slabbing and press-moulding. You will learn to successfully join different shapes together to create one form. With a greater knowledge of the different hand-building skills, you will be able to develop and construct your own designs.
Within the course, you will also learn how to use colouring slips, underglaze colours and oxides to enhance the surface textures. Decorating finishes will include inlaying, brushing, layering and sgraffito.
By the end of the course, you will have several finished pieces of work, ready for firing.
The tutor will supply some of the materials, including textures and materials to experiment with and images and reference books of artists whose work relates to the course.
If you plan to take your unfired work away with you, please bring plenty of packaging material, boxes and bubble wrap to ensure its safe journey home.
Available from shop:
Firing and glazing options:
Firing and glazing options:
Leave your most successful raw, finished pieces (approximately eight), which you wish to keep, for biscuit firing, basic glazing and re-firing by the College for collection within six months.
Take away your unfired sculpture 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.
Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-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 (lunch included)
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 - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)
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.
Sue Mundy trained at North Staffordshire University and has over 30 years of teaching experience. Her work is exhibited through galleries and specialist craft and ceramic events across the UK. Currently she is Artist In Residence at The University of Reading.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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.
