Introduction to Hand Building Clay Class

A three project introduction to making in clay, your own dish, mug, and plate



3 hours Class size 1 to 4 guests

  £95 - £150 (£150 per guest when you book for 1 guest, £115/guest for 2 guests, £100/guest for 3 guests, £95/guest for 4 guests) (PayPal Pay in 3 available)
London Activities
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Craft
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Pottery
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Clay Sculpture & Hand Building Experience Gifts
Welcome to my studio

Welcome to My Studio

We will be working in my lovely pottery studio with studio grade materials and tools. You will have your own work bench, plenty or room and be able to understand how your work fits within the overall ceramic process, see the glazes, kiln, references and tools.


There will be demonstrations and follow along

There Will Be Demonstrations and Follow Along

I’ll explain the projects and show samples. You may have ideas of how you’d like to approach each one and we can discuss any additional tools I might find for you. They’ll be a demonstration of even rolling, shaping, and cutting before I guide you whilst you prepare your own clay.


Learning cutting, joins and construction

Learning Cutting, Joins and Construction

We’ll make the small dish first and then the mug. You’ll look through the stamps [there are masses] to find your own style. Bring your own if you like!


Fast marks on your plate

Fast Marks on Your Plate

We’ll move to a different way of using slabs, as a pre-dried surface [plate] that can be scratched with the traditional sgraffito technique. We’ll discuss the best techniques for achieving strong positive and negatives in a rotational design.


Collect fully glazed work after four weeks

Collect Fully Glazed Work After Four Weeks

No additional charge, this is included. Your beautiful work will be ready to use or gift. Collect from my studio or one of my markets.


Arrange your own small group of up to 4 people, and confirm a date and a time that suits. An ideal activity for couples or friends.
Come to my cosy and easily accessed studio and learn hand-building slab techniques for clay with plenty of space while building your own mug, dish, and plate.
Working with studio-grade stoneware, I promise your finished work will be satisfying and functional (as well as highly original) and food and dishwasher safe. I’ll explain the nature of clay as a material and how we work harmoniously with elements of shrinkage, clay memory, and moisture to construct with strength and durability. I’ll draw attention to the well-being benefits of using smooth, repetitive movements with this earthy and calming material.
Learn slab rolling, and create accurate cutting and strong mitred joins. We’ll explore how to harness stamping with an effective release agent as a decorative technique. No difficult blankness here; I will have loads of stamps, rollers, and letters to choose from to make your work really personal. Suitable for all levels of experience.
When you have completed your dish and mug, we will end with moving to a black stoneware plate, already made and prepared with white slip ready for the application of one of the most satisfying decorative techniques: sgraffito. This involves scratching through the top white layer to create black line work as the clay beneath is revealed. I’ll give an idea of how best to construct your design and encourage speedy, spontaneous mark-making; this is the time to let loose and create quick, fun images.
Collect your fired and glazed work around four weeks later (firing and glazing are included in the price).

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Save £70 when you book with a friend
What you'll get
Guests will each produce three finished stoneware items:
  • A dish suitable for soap, ketchup dipping, coins, or earrings
  • A 450ml mug, built completely from scratch with a template but completely personal
  • A decorative plate
These will be fired and glazed stoneware, making them functional, food-safe, and dishwasher-proof.
Knowledge required
No previous experience is necessary, and intermediate learners will enjoy broadening their skills and understanding of this versatile material.
What to bring
You won’t get hugely messy but you may like to bring an apron [or borrow one of mine]

FAQ

Will I get very dirty?
No, more dusty and it will easily brush off. You can borrow an apron or bring your own.
Is there an accessible toilet?
There is a toilet within my studio with level access.
Can I sit down?
This is a stood activity around work benches. I can create sat space if you can give me notice so I can reconfigure the space.
See more FAQs   
Will all of my work be glazed?
All three pieces per person will be fully fired and glazed at no extra cost and available to collect 4 weeks after your class from either the studio or one of my market locations. I use a natural coloured buff clay and a neutral white glaze, your stamped work will provide the decorative element.
Location

Studio 42, Thames-side Studios - Studio 42, Unit 4, Thames-side Studios, Warspite Road, London, SE185NR

Thames-side studios is situated near to the Thames barrier.

Introduction to Hand Building Clay Class location
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Your teacher

Fiona Veacock Ceramics
Fiona Veacock Ceramics

5.0 (6)
female Women-owned

I am an experienced and friendly full time potter with a lovely working space within a vibrant makers creative community right by the Thames. I combine teaching privately and in community spaces with making hand built stoneware homewares for local sale at markets and in prize winning retailers. My ten years’ of teaching has included welcoming many individuals to my studio but also included primary to university level students, whole school arts week projects, SEN students, reach out for adults, adult and young person homeless and carers’ groups. This year I have formalised my teaching with a level 3 qualification, and also I love it, I really enjoy teaching.
It’s brilliant sharing the joy of clay work and the excitement of producing something personal or functional, & that’s even before explaining the miracle that glazing can achieve. At the end of class it’s satisfying to show the kiln and how the clay will progress through the process. And while it is such a pleasure to teach clay skills it’s also important to acknowledge the the well-being benefits, my small group classes allow for peaceful and companionable immersion in making or for a fun group when booked out by friends.
Come and share the clay! #ClayIsOurWay
London Activities
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