Make your own beautiful ceramic art at our studio in Brighton
6 - week pottery course details
We run weekly pottery classes from our lovely loft studio. They are divided into 6-week terms, and our courses are suitable for total beginners as well as those with more experience.
We have small class sizes (no more than 7 students), which allows our experienced tutors to give you lots of individual attention. Our students produce high-quality work that they (and we) feel genuinely proud of.
The courses are focused on hand-building techniques, but all students will get the opportunity to book an optional extra throwing session on the pottery wheel if they wish.
We've timed all our courses so that there's free on-street parking available.
Hand-building offers complete flexibility - you can make something square, round, tall, chicken-shaped, or something that will exactly fit that space on your wall you've always wanted to decorate...
On our hand-building courses you will be taught the core techniques of coiling, pinch pots and soft and hard slabs. Master these skills and you can literally make anything you want to out of clay.
We know that when many people think 'pottery' they think of throwing on the wheel, and it looks really satisfying and fun. Which of course it is! But it really is only one (quite tricky) aspect of pottery.
In some ways throwing is a bit like driving; it's true that everyone can do it, but there's a knack and a feel, and while some people might learn quicker than others, everyone still needs hours of practice before they can do anything useful.
Have a look at this slide show to see images of the incredible hand-built work created by our students, and you will get an idea of the scope that these techniques can bring.
Gallery of hand-built student work
If you are a beginner, or are not confident to work more independently yet, we will take you through projects which will introduce you to the fundamental principles of hand-building. You will still have flexibility to make what you want and develop your own style.
You'll also get the opportunity to experiment with a range of glazes and decoration techniques. We can show you how to sgrafitto, underglaze, use textures and carving, as well as introduce you to our huge range of brush-on glazes. The possibilities are endless!
If you have some pottery experience already, then you can bring ideas for projects you would like to make, and we will support you to make them come to life! You can get some inspiration from our student gallery here.
Though we are confident that you will become a hand-building convert, we know that you might also like to try the wheel out too.
Therefore, if you do fancy getting mucky and having a go at throwing, there is the opportunity to extend your course and add an optional extra throwing session on the 7th week.
This 2.5 hour session will run at the same time as your normal class, and you and another student will share a wheel and have the opportunity to try throwing and learn from each other's mistakes!
The extra class costs £40 for 2.5 hours (a big discount on our normal throwing workshops), and if you get the throwing bug we can talk to you about having further tuition, and practice in our open studio.
You can re-book one make-up session per term if you miss a class for any reason.
These will be available during the times of another class (where space allows), or during the scheduled catch up session we will run towards the end of the course.
Time: 7.15 - 9.30pm
Dates: 29th April, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th May, 3rd June*
(the course will be running on bank holidays)
Time: 12 - 2.15pm
Dates: 30th April. 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th May, 4th June
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
Time: 7.15 - 9.30pm
Dates: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th May, 5th June
Time: 12 - 2.15pm
Dates: 24th June, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th July
Time: 7.15 - 9.30pm
Dates: 24th June, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th July
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
Time: 7.15 - 9.30pm
Dates: 26th June, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 14th. 31st July
Cost
£230 for 6 weeks
This price includes use of clay, a range of glazes, underglazes and slips. We allow one cach-up session if you miss a class.
Firing costs are charged at 90p per 100g of fired, finished work. (On average people pay £10 - 20, depending on what they make.)
Demand for the classes is high and spaces are limited to only 7 people per class, so book up soon to secure a place.
Payment online in full is preferred, but if you would like to discuss paying in two instalments, please email us as we are happy to consider this.
If you have any questions you can email contact@hotfoxpottery.com, or call Alice on 07733 028434.