Ceramics | Introduction to Clay Hand-building with Shinhee Ma
Explore the beauty of simple, functional ceramics with Korean-born ceramicist Shinhee Ma, whose philosophy encompasses clay as meditation and therapy for your hands and minds.
Ceramic is such an intimate and tactile object as it forms a special bond and connection with people as well as bringing happiness and pleasure to your home. By using basic and intermediate hand-building techniques such as pinching, coiling and slab building, students will work on their own project and learn to create their own unique vessel either decorative, functional or sculptural.
What to expect
- Week 1 & 2 - students will focus on sketching their ideas on paper and start building their forms using the basic hand-building techniques. They will learn to shape, create their form and join structures together.
- Week 3 - learn detailed surface decorating techniques such as creating textures by adding clay onto their vessel. They will use repetitive thin coils or slabs of clay and apply textures using slip and score method.
- Week 4 - In the final week, students will learn to glaze their own piece using different glaze techniques such as dipping, pouring, overlaying different glazes, flicking and bubbling.
Is this course right for me?
This class is suitable for anyone from absolute beginners to more experienced students who would like to learn creative approaches to ceramics.
Images : Shinhee Ma.
Materials
Included in the course fee is earthenware clay to complete several projects, a limited colour range of underglazes for use, and firing of your work. Additional clay can be purchased from Art Est as needed.
If you wish to use speciality clays, glazes or other colours, or decorative items, your tutor will recommend what to buy once the course is underway.
Basic sculpting tools are available for use in class. If you wish to purchase your own, you will need to bring the following which you could purchase online from keaneceramics.com.au:
- Wooden sculpting tools
- Kidneys - metal and rubber
- Wooden paddles
- Cutting wires
- Small cutting knives
- Paint brushes - Big and small
- Underglazes (check with your tutor first)
- Sponges
Will my vessels be fired?
Standard pieces made as part of your course program will be fired as part of your course fee. Larger or extra pieces made in class will be charged at $7/kg. Works made outside of Art Est. studios are not able to be fired in our kiln. Note that we don't have the capacity for excessively big pieces.
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: