Making stoneware by the sea: notes on the studio session

The studio is a small room with a wheel, a worktable and four stools. It is not a formal school. We describe what a session is planned to look like so that you can decide whether it is for you.

What the session involves

A session runs for about three hours in the morning. You start by handling the clay, which is stoneware, denser and more forgiving than porcelain, and a visiting local ceramicist shows the basic techniques before anyone sits at the wheel. Most beginners spend the first hour hand-building, which gives more reliable results than throwing. The wheel is there for anyone who wants to try, and some people spend most of the session on it.

By the end, each person has a piece they are reasonably happy with. The ceramicist chooses a glaze with you, based on what the piece is and what you want it to do. The choice is limited to a handful of glazes, which keeps the decision manageable.

After the session

The piece is fired in the ceramicist's own kiln, glazed, fired again and then posted to your home address. How long this takes depends on the kiln schedule, and we give you an estimate when the session is confirmed rather than a fixed date. Posted pieces can break, so we pack them carefully; if one arrives damaged, tell us promptly and we will talk about what can be done.

People who come back for a second session tend to use it differently: less time on the basics, more on one particular form they have been thinking about. The ceramicist adjusts to that without fuss.

Asking about a session

The group is small, no more than four people, so dates are agreed one by one by email. The fee is stated in our reply and not on this page, and nothing is booked until we confirm it in writing. Children aged twelve and over are welcome with a parent present. Clay and glaze are messy, so wear clothes you do not mind losing.

Some people ask whether the ceramicist takes private commissions. She does, and we can pass on your message if you ask.