Old Stables Studio

A full week to emerse yourself in clay!

This course isn’t for the complete novice, it is an improver course for those who would like a boost to progress more quickly or to enable potters to really advance their skills on the wheel in a shorter amount of time. Yo need to throw a lot if you really want to pot (If you are a complete beginner we would recommend booking our Weekend on the Wheel course in preparation to booking this one.)
If you already have a little experience but want some focused practice and tuition this pottery ‘Boot Camp’ will really bring you up to speed. We will completely focused on boosting your skill level and achieving results, increasing size, height and practicing repetition throwing. We consider the three main throwing shapes cylinders bowls and bottles. We will also practice at some of the essential skills making handles, lids and turning basses. We will even look at some tips and tricks to double the size of your pots, building some “Big Jugs” without spending hours at the gym. We might even check out how throwing off the hump a usful skill to add to your throwing skill bag of tricks. If all goes according to plan we will cut and join to make a classic potters teapots or coffee pourer. Thats a lot to do in a week but I hope to keep you on task and focused. There will be demonstrations and guided practice on offer via exercises specifically designed to hone your skills and discipline your hand eye coordination … hup two three four – keep it up two three four. Lots to learn and lots of Ideas to take back with you to your own studio.

It is important to note that this course is about a focus on technique rather than ‘rescuing flops’. The cost of the course covers clay & materials & tuition tools to learn and practice, and use of a designated potters wheel through the week. All Materials / pots that you might want to keep will be costed and charged by weight when at end of the week you can choose to take some the pots you have made away with you to glaze and fire yourself. This course does not include firing and glazing although,

The course includes lovely simple homemade vegetarian lunches (usually vegetable based soups, crusty bread, cheese and fruit) and endless cups of tea and coffee, but if you don’t fancy my soups you can bring your own lunches… We think you will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the studio and the quirky arty town of Hebden Bridge. Book into a local B&B and take a Pottery Bootcamp holiday.