This course is suitable for anyone with intermediate level throwing skills and some previous Raku firing experience. It is a chance to dive deeper into raku firing, with a master of the technique.
Tim only teaches one raku course at Coombe per year, places are limited to 7 people. This year we are accepting bookings on an application basis and we are particularly looking for participants who are seeking to learn the subtleties of raku firing - those potters with some previous experience of Raku who want to deepen their knowledge.
Once you have applied for the course, we will assess your application. If successful, we will contact you for registration, and to pay the course deposit. If you are unsuccessful this year, we would encourage you to apply in future years.
“Tim is a master, I learnt so much from him, he’s so generous with his knowledge, the course re-ignited my passion for raku and the food - oh the food during the week was incredible!”
PLEASE APPLY USING THE FORM BELOW
Tim is known internationally for his distinctive raku pottery and for his book ‘Raku‘* a comprehensive overview of raku, covering the history, clay types and firing of raku, as well as the glazes, techniques and reduction processes. Tim makes individual pieces - burnished, black and white or muted coloured slips with linear decoration - and some crackle glazed work. The pieces are usually thrown, although some work is hand-built
For the first two days of this exciting course you will concentrate on clay work, making, finishing and burnishing techniques. The second half of the pottery course will concentrate on glazing, decorating and firing techniques with particular emphasis on using the resist slip method (often known as naked raku)
During the week Tim will give a slide presentation and demonstrate some of his throwing techniques which you can also experiment with. Some of the processes you will be using are relatively slow: the burnishing techniques for example – and especially the ‘naked raku’ which requires more glazing time
You will have the first two days to make work that is then dried and bisque fired on the third day, ready to raku fire during the course. You can make as many pieces as you like and then you will be asked to select a maximum of 6 pieces to fire. Whilst waiting for those to come out of the bisque firing, and so that you have a chance to test fire some pieces with the glazes and technique introduced during the course, Tim will provide 3 bisque fired pieces for you to experiment with. You are also welcome, if able, to bring with you a maximum of 3 additional bisque fired pieces (no larger than about 15cm high or wide) to raku fire, giving you a total of 12 pots at the end of the week.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: This course is designed for anyone that already has experience of throwing on the wheel + Raku firing.
OUTLINE SCHEDULE: Sunday // 5-7pm // Welcome drinks 7pm followed by dinner.
Monday-Thursday // Breakfast 8.30am, tuition 9,30am -1pm // 1-2pm Lunch // 2-5pm tuition resumes 2-5pm.
Friday // Breakfast 8.30am, final tuition session runs 9.30am-1pm followed by final lunch 1-2pm
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: Residential NB residents are not required to share bedrooms, see accommodation for more info but bathrooms are shared (there are no ensuite options) LIMITED non residential spaces available if you wish to stay elsewhere or are local to the area.
COST: £829 + VAT [£995] for residential which covers all your tuition, firings, clay & glazes as well as accommodation and food from arrival on Sunday through to departure after lunch on Friday.
HOW TO GET HERE: Our address is TQ6 0JA [What3words: What3words: fulfilled.exploring.branching] and we have plenty of free onsite parking. Trains > nearest station is Totnes then we can arrange lift shares or send taxi details. We are about 20 minutes from the station
HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THE COURSE? Max 7 people to allow enough time for the firings.
SEASON: May is a gorgeous time of year at Coombe. Starting to get warm, flowers and greenery coming out. Good season for firing, we will be in the pottery when making and going outside for the firings which do have a covered area if the weather happens to be bad.
MATERIALS LIST FOR THIS COURSE
Please bring these items with you.
– A sketchbook.
– Any small lightweight pottery tools that you like to work with (if you have them)
– An apron
– Clothes for firing in that you don’t mind getting dirty/smoke filled from the firing including sturdy shoes (not sandals) and full arm and leg covering in natural fibres (NB We will provide gauntlets/gloves, masks and goggles for all participants)
– Small scale bisque work that you’d like to fire during the course (if you have it)
Tim Andrews’ works have been exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions throughout the UK and abroad, including: Japan. China. India. USA. Australia. The Netherlands. France. Italy. Germany. Belgium and Sweden. Works are in many public and private collections including: Stoke on Trent and Liverpool Museums. Ashmolean Museum. St John’s College, Oxford. Donna Karan, New York. Lord Chancellor Lord Irving. Imerys. The Royal Bank of Scotland (2006). Coutts Bank. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. He appeared as the Raku specialist on the Pottery Throwdown main make in 2015, is the recipient of several awards & has been featured in many books & publications on ceramics, he is the author of two books on ‘Raku’, the second published in 2005 by A&C Black. Tim also writes occasional reviews & articles for Ceramic Art & Perception & Ceramic Review and regularly curates exhibitions. He is a Fellow of the Craft Potters Association (CPA), a Member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and Honorary President of the West Country Potters Association.
