Course description
NEW Pottery: Tile Making
In addition to general introduction to pottery construction and decoration techniques you will be taught basic and more advanced skills of pottery decoration including slip decoration before and after biscuit firing, using paper and wax resist, how to emphasise texture, how to use oxides, how to paint on an unfired glaze surface after biscuit firing and how to mix your own unusual glazes e.g. ash glazes.
As a special project there will be an opportunity to look at the history of tile making, e.g. Victorian, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese tiles as well as contemporary examples and you will be able to develop your own tile designs, from single tiles to the design of entire tile panels. The project will be introduced and accompanied by plenty of demos and handouts.
You will be encouraged to do some glaze experiments, e.g. overlapping glazes and to bring in work/tiles that inspire you.
The course is designed to be taken a term at a time, however, attending consecutive terms will enable you to build up and develop your own vocabulary of decoration as well as construction skills.
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Suitability - Who should attend?
Suitable for complete beginners as well as intermediate pottery students
Outcome / Qualification etc.
What will I achieve? You will learn basic and advanced construction and decoration pottery skills. You'll have been introduced to the history of tile making and a variety of ceramic decoration techniques before and after biscuit firing. You'll have an understanding of how to use slips and glazes to execute your own designs. The aim of the course is, apart from a general introduction to pottery, to help you to develop your own design and decoration skills and to build your confidence when using glazes and slips.
Course delivery details
Materials Required:
All materials (clay, slips, glazes etc.) are provided, essential pottery tools such as pottery knife, metal kidney, a selection of soft brushes can be bought in the school shop, you will be given a list of materials needed when you join the course.