Production Throwing Course
Do you want to significantly advance your throwing skills?
This course is aimed at anyone that wants to learn how to throw consistently, accurately and efficiently, across a range of forms. If you have been attending general classes, or are self taught and want to move to the next level with your throwing, we have designed this course for you.
WHEN
Tuesdays > 9.30am - 2.30pm. Programme starts January 14th 2025. More details on schedule below.
STRUCTURE
An ongoing production throwing course focused on practice.
For x 5 people working on the wheel.
Taught by LAUREN NICHOLAS an experienced production thrower, with additional built in practice time to build up your hours on the wheel.
Phase One
When you start the course you will be throwing cylinders repetitively, and then to set dimensions, expect to throw a minimum of 50 cylinders before moving to different shapes.
Phase Two
Designing and reproducing your own shape
Phase three
Moving onto throwing smaller shapes off the hump, smaller bowls and/ or little jugs
Phase four
Recreating a shape given
NOTES: All participants will start at phase one and move into phase 2 when ready*
Each participant will move through each phase according to their own development/when ready
All work will be recycled each week by our in-house technicians / with the exception that at the end of each phase participants will throw 3 identical items which will be trimmed and can be glazed and fired to keep.
*when ready will be determined in discussion with your tutor.
GUESTS
In addition to the main tutor there will be 4 guest potter sessions per year. Guests will will come and join for lunch at points during your course for some facilitated group discussions and support.
TUTOR
This course is taught, during the tutored hours, by Lauren Nicholas, a potter with production throwing experience @lauren_nicholas_ceramics
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Participants on this course can also:
Join as paid Members The Hub to access the pottery during the rest of the week
Apply as Technician Apprentices to gain free Hub membership in return for technical support and training 8 hours per week.
Attend Immersive Courses at Coombe with 5% discount.
SCHEDULE
Tuesdays > Arrival 9.30am
Prep/wedge & weigh clay > 9.30am-10.00am
Tuition > 10am-12.30pm
Lunch & practice > 12.30pm -2.30pm. Select 2 pieces for review & trim following week.
First day introduction to Coombe and welcome to space from Lara Lloyd Coombe director.
Total programme = 36 weeks annually *
DATES
This programme opens on 14th January 2025 and is an ongoing/rolling programme that you can join anytime, if places available.
FIRST DAY 14th January, every week with break weeks as follows:
Feb Half term > 18th Feb
Easter > 8th & 15th April
May Half term > 27th May
June break > 24th June (because we’re running Adam Frew course)
Summer Break > July 22nd, 29th, August, 5, 12th, 19th, 26th, Sept 2nd
2.5 hrs tuition / 1.5hours practice
APPLICATION
This course is by application only. Participants will need to give details of previous experience to date and outline why they are interested in the course.
FEES
This is a subscription course. Fees are £50 per week on a rolling subscription (weekly payments) = 36 weeks = £1,800 annually
WHAT IF I MISS A WEEK
If you miss a week you can’t ‘make it up’ another time, it’s a missed week.
WHAT IF I WANT TO STOP/CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION
You can exit at anytime/during any phase, with one month’s notice.
APPLY HERE
FAQs
Can I book a term as a gift for someone else? ?
Yes of course, just purchase the term above and complete the form and in the section that asks about pottery experience tell us its a gift and we will contact you with all the details so you can share them.
Do you have a class for intermediate or advanced potters?
Yes we do, it is taught by Verran and takes place on a Monday evening, read about the class here
Will I have to wear a face mask/what Covid19 safety precautions will be in place?
We follow covid19 safety precautions in accordance with Government guidelines at any given time. Because they are subject to frequent change we update our precautions accordingly. If therefore mask wearing is advised indoors you will be required to do so.
What clay do you use in this class?
We use stoneware clays for this class, a smooth one for throwing and a heavier ‘gorged’ clay for hand- building.
Will I learn glazing techniques in this class?
The pottery is stocked with slips, stains and a selection of glazes. Glaze mixing isn’t taught during this class, however glazing techniques and the glazing of your work, with the glazes we hold in stock, is taught.
I would like to gain more experience in mixing glazes, recycling clay and general workshop management, do you run a technician apprentice programme?
Yes we do, have a look here
Do I have to come to a class or do you have a membership/pottery open access programme?
We run a membership programme, you can read all about what the membership includes here. However you do have to attend at least one term of a regular pottery class (either the Monday morning or the Monday evening class) before you can apply for membership. This is to ensure you are familiar with the pottery and its facilities before you start here
What is your cancellation policy?
All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable therefore if you pay a deposit and then decide not to come or you can’t come due to illness or for any other reason you will loose your deposit money. The full class term, once paid, is also non refundable. If you find you can’t attend for a whole term we will consider transferring it to another term.
Can I just drop in to have a look around?
Yes please feel free to drop by on a Monday, during term times.
I live miles away, do you do any residential courses?
Yes we do, we run residential five and three day courses year-round. Our tutors include Laurel Keeley, Adam Frew, Tim Andrews and Chris Taylor. They each teach a specific technique. Please see our tutors pages for more information here