In this immersive weekend pottery course you will work in stoneware and focus on simple forms thrown on the wheel or made from slabs, moulds and coils. You’ll then spend time decorating using coloured slips and drawn lines.
Course description
This is an ideal course if you want to slow down and pay attention to the forms you are making, and to be introduced to, or develop, your skills in applying and experimenting with coloured slips and the use of oxides.
You will be guided by Laurel through active teaching and demonstration throughout the weekend. Laurel will pay particular attention to the relationship between form and decoration.
There will be a maximum of 9 people on the course, with a second dedicated tutor supporting you on the wheel for part of the course, if needed.
The techniques that Laurel uses includes the application of oxides once the work has been bisque fired, after it has fully dried. A weekend isn’t enough time for that process, but learning it is an important part of the course. Therefore large test tiles will be bisque fired for you prior to the course and you will have the opportunity to apply oxides to them and glaze them during the weekend. This will contribute to your overall understanding of Laurel’s particular techniques.
Post course care/firing management & costs.
After the weekend any work you wish to keep will be fired, oxides will be applied by Laurel and our technicians (as shown and explored during the course with the test tiles) glaze applied, and fired again. They can then be collected or couriered back to you. The cost of this process is additional to the course fees and dependant on size and weight of your work. Completed work will therefore be weighed and charged at £5 per kilo to include clay, slips, oxides and both firings. As an example of cost/size a fairly standard size mug would weigh approx 0.353kilo or cost £1.67 in materials and firings.
“What a wonderful course, Laurel is such a kind and generous tutor, so experienced and so generous in sharing her skills. An absolute gem of a weekend. I can’t wait to come back for more.”
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: All abilities oh so very welcome.
COST: Residential £592 + VAT Non residential: £422 + VAT
ACCOMMODATION: Residential and Non-residential spaces available. Residential option includes all your accommodation & food from Thursday evening through Sunday lunch. Non residential includes tuition, welcome drinks and lunches each day. For more information on our accommodation see here.
SCHEDULE: Thursday residents arrival between 5pm-7.00pm > Drinks and dinner from 7pm open to all participants / Friday & Saturday - Tuition 9.30am-5.00pm / Sunday - Tuition 9.,30am-1pm
MATERIALS LIST FOR THIS COURSE: All pottery tools and equipment will be provided. Please bring an apron, pencil/pen and a sketchbook. If you have your own tools that you like working wtih please feel free to bring them along. There will be a charge of £5 per kilo of clay for any work you wish to keep/fire.
TUTORED HOURS: Your tutor will be with you on Friday & Saturday teaching from 9.30am through to 5pm with an hour break for lunch and on Sunday from 9,30am-1.00pm. This represents 16.5hrs teaching time.
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.
“I now teach solely at Coombe Farm Studios in Devon, because the space and facilities there are exceptional and totally unique. The family run centre is located in a sheltered and quiet valley, which gives the peace and detachment from working lives that people so often need. Students come from across the UK, from around the world, and from the local village. Many return year after year.
I teach primarily the simple skills of hand building and decorative use of clay slips to all levels, from complete beginners to professional ceramicists who want to explore different techniques.
There’s a lot of laughter! It’s ceramics for the soul – come and join us.”
The total price for this residential course is £415 + VAT (£499) including lunch, accommodation and your tuition.
At the point of booking/adding to cart, you are asked to pay a non-refundable* deposit of £150.
The remaining balance (£349) is payable three weeks before the course starts (either by bank transfer, cheque or card over the phone)
*Non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please read our full Terms & Conditions including cancellations.
![POTTERY - Pottery - Exploring slips with Laurel Keeley. - RESIDENTIAL [£720 inc VAT]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8369cf32838066ecfc21b6/b453c3ef-0099-42e2-b4f1-b5c349e8221b/CoombeFarmStudios_2020-97+copy.jpg)
The total price for this residential course is £600 + VAT (£720) including all your food, accommodation and tuition.
At the point of booking/adding to cart, you are asked to pay a non-refundable* deposit of £150.
The remaining balance (£570) is payable three weeks before the course starts (either by bank transfer, cheque or card over the phone)
*Non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please read our full Terms & Conditions including cancellations.
