Join Megan Elliott (she/her), founder of Clay Wild, for a 6-week hand-building pottery course at Sunflower Studio! The class will be focusing on traditional hand-building techniques using minimal tools and is suitable for all levels.
Dates: Wednesday evenings 6.30-8.30pm
Location: Sunflower Studio, 4B Upper Gardner Street, BN1 4AN
Sunflower Studio is an Arts & Events Studio for creativity & wellbeing in the heart of Brighton. It is on one level and wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit their Instagram here. Please note: Whilst the space is fully accessible, parking nearby is pay & display (8am-8pm) and there are limited spaces. The studio is centrally located, 7 minutes walk from Brighton Station and near many bus routes.
There will be chair seating and there may be background music playing during the workshop.
Price: £100 - £135. Limited low-income spaces at £100 and full price £135. Options to pay in instalments via Outsavvy - requires a 25% deposit.
About the course:
You will get a deep dive into all hand-building techniques starting from the basics and building up to larger, self-led projects. You'll also experiment with methods for surface decoration and texture. This course will give you all the fundamentals you need to kickstart your own pottery practice! For anyone who has been to my monthly classes before, this will be a chance to expand on your existing skills.
No experience necessary - suitable for all levels! This is a class prioritising joy, embodiment and creativity in a safe space.
A selection of herbal teas will be provided & boxes will be available for you to take your clay creations home in.
Weekly breakdown:
Week One - Introduction to clay & the pinch method
Learn the most basic, fundamental hand-building technique: the pinch method. This week, we will explore how to make and personalise a small pinch pot suitable for succulents and small plants as well as a dish which can be used for jewellery/ keys/coins etc or as a coaster. We will also go through the basics of working with clay.
Week Two: The coiling technique
Learn another fundamental hand-building technique: coiling. In this class, we will learn how to use coils to build up a form. The method can be adapted for participants to make a shape/object of their choosing.
Week Three: Learning how to slab
Finally, we will tackle slabbing, one of the trickier hand-building methods to master. In this class, we will use the slabbing method to create our own designs. We will go through how to create templates and how to use formers to support the build and avoid warping as the clay dries. Some pre-made templates will be available to choose from too.
Week Four: Sculpting, surface decoration, texture
This week, we will make some basic forms and the focus will be on how to alter the surface of the clay through sculpting, embossing, engraving and adding texture.
Week Five: Final project - own choice
Heading into week five, participants will use one or combine several of the techniques they have learnt to work on their own project, with technical advice and assistance on hand. Participants can perhaps revisit a previous task with newfound confidence, or they can let their creativity take them wherever they want to go to make a piece of their own design.
Week Six: Decorating
In the final week, we will begin painting and decorating our clay creations which should now be fully dry. We’ll go through the step-by-step process, techniques and tips. Potters will then be able to take their clay creations home to continue decorating after the class.
About Clay Wild:
Megan (she/her) is a queer artist and writer based in Brighton. She is trained in Fine Art and set up Clay Wild to facilitate inclusive and accessible pottery classes for all. Megan has facilitated pottery classes for a wide range of people in different settings: schools, community, corporate and private events.
Megan also sells her handbuilt creations on Etsy here.
Find Megan on Instagram at @claywildstudio.