Ceramics | Start Up for Beginners with Carol Hudson

This 4 week course with artist Carol Hudson, packs a wide range of ceramic hand-building techniques into 4 sessions. Designed to inspire, and ignite your creativity, this short course will give you the skills to get you started in making fabulous ceramics works.

Carol’s classes are social, fun and rich in ideas and possibilities. She will share her secrets of making refined, beautiful, elegant and simple functional ceramics.

What to expect

Week 1: Pinch pot method with texture  
Carol will guide you through making simple pinch pots into cups, vases, candle holders, lidded bowls...    your choices are infinite. In this class you will also explore a range of texture possibilities to use on your finished piece.

Week 2: Slump mold bowl and lid, joining and perforating

You will be guided you through making slump molds into bowls — perhaps for a tealight lamp, lidded serving bowl or something else that inspires you. You will also explore how to join clay, how to perforate your work, and using stamps to create pattern and texture for your finished item.

Week 3: Slab rolled platter, underglaze and pressings

You will explore making plates from rolled out clay using our slab roller. Carol will guide you through pressing flowers or other materials into your pieces and using coloured underglazes.

Week 4: Coil and sgraffito

In this final week you will make a simple coiled form — vase, bowl, cup or pot. You will then experiment with scraffito; a technique of drawing into a coloured clay surface to reveal the clay colour beneath. Something like lino cuts. This final class will give you a great starting point for more inspired making.

What will you achieve?

During this workshop, you will:

• Create at least 4 beautiful ceramic pieces
• Learn the 4 essential ceramics hand-building techniques — pinch pots, slumping, slab building and coil building
• Learn professional tips and tricks for hand-building with clay
• Learn how to add texture to clay surfaces
• Learn about under glazing, sgraffito, and surface decoration techniques
• Learn about the ceramics-making processes and how to ensure the success of your work.

Is this class right for me?

This class is suitable for anyone from absolute beginners to more experienced students who would like to learn other creative approaches to ceramics. You will have the scope to make each project your own.

What materials will be provided?
Included in the course fee 3kg of earthenware clay, a limited colour range of underglazes for use, and the bisque and glaze firing of your work. Additional clay can be purchased from Art Est as needed. Larger or additional pieces made in class will be fired at $12kg.

What materials do I need to bring?
The course includes a limited number of underglaze colours. If you would like more specialised colours for your work in weeks 2, 3, and 4 they are available at local suppliers and online . If you wish to use other specialty glazes or other items, Carol will recommend what and where to buy once the course is underway. All ceramics tools and supplies are available from keaneceramics.com.au

Please bring the following items:

• plastic bags to cover your projects as they dry
• a metal needle tool
• a fettling knife
• small hole-cutting tool
• Sgraffito tools or carving tools
• a case for your tools
• apron

You’re also welcome to bring along some drinks and nibbles and we’ll provide the glasses.

Will my vessels be fired?
Standard pieces made as part of your course program will be bisque and glaze-fired as part of your course fee. Your work will then be food and dishwasher-safe. Larger or additional pieces made in class will be fired at $12kg. Works made outside of the Art Est studio cannot be fired in our kilns.

What should I wear?
Clothes you feel comfortable in and don’t mind getting dirty. Clay, underglaze and glaze will wash out.

About studio classes

Our class sizes are small, ensuring you receive the individual tuition you need. We have a maximum of 12 students per class.

Unless otherwise noted, prices *exclude* art materials. Click here to see a list of local art supply retailers.

To learn about our studios, amenites and how to get there, click here.

Save on your art class

Art Est accepts Creative Kids vouchers and memberships to help you save on your art class, along with regular discounts for current students. To find out what you are eligible for and how to book with these, visit our special offers and discounts page:

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