Pottery: Ceramics mixed ability

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Course Description

Course Description
Whether you would like to learn new creative skills or to investigate the possibility of a new craft-based career, MAE Community Learning courses can provide you with a stepping stone to progress.

This 15-week course is a mixed ability course for complete beginners and those with some experience. Beginners will get a thorough introduction to hand-building and potters wheel and go onto create a series of work using the different techniques learnt. More experienced learners will continue to develop their own creativity and innovative abilities expanding personal boundaries and exploring new concepts.

The course aims to develop confidence and creativity through working on a broad variety of techniques which incorporate making and decoration.

You can expect, during this 15week course to improve and further your skills to enable you to develop your own personal projects whilst working with several different clays and types of surface decoration and colour.

About your tutor

Rachele has a fine art and teaching background with an expertise in sculpture and finds her inspiration from nature and her surroundings in the Kent countryside. Since 2017 Rachele has been a very valued member of the teaching staff at MAE, delivering a range of courses across all abilities. She runs classes on Tuesday and Wednesdays evenings and will inspire you with her range of garden ceramics
Prosp Description

Open What will I learn on this course?

Learners will:

1. Prepare clay for use by wedging.
2. Demonstrate at least 2 from a variety of ‘making’ techniques: pinching, coiling, slab building, using an extruder, plaster molds, sectional pots and throwing on a potter’s wheel.
3. Demonstrate comprehensive decorating techniques on at least 2 projects

Learners will also be supported to develop individual creative ideas and observe appropriate health & safety requirements in the pottery studio as set out in the MAE ground rules /learner contract
Prosp Learn

Open Is this course suitable for me?

For all abilities.
Prosp Suitable

Open Is there anything else I need to know about the course?

You will need to prepare the following tools and equipment (please do not buy until you know that the course will run).
Please bring to all sessions:

• An apron/protective clothing and sturdy footwear (no open toed shoes in the pottery) is essential for Health and Safety reasons. It is recommended that you do not wear anything you value highly. You may wish to bring household gloves to use when glazing.
• A pen / pencil - a sketchbook will be provided.
• Learners with previous experience should bring in an example of their own work / or photo of work to help in the initial assessment process.
Tools:
• A basic pottery tool kit (can be purchased online fairly cheaply)
• A steel kidney scraper (an old store card cut to shape can make an effective kidney scraper)
• A small sponge
Tools and equipment can not be left in the classroom, please take all personal items home.

The nearest supplier for specialist tools is The Clay Cellar at Brenchley,
https://www.claycellar.co.uk/tools
(Please check website for opening times and delivery details.)

Some of the guided learning hours will be used to set the group and individual learning targets for the course. Learners will then have time to revisit these targets with the tutor to assess progress.
Prosp Anything Else

Open Will there be additional costs?

An amount of clay is included within the course fees. Learners will weigh and record weight / price with the aid of the tutor before firing. Once the set amount has been reached, learners will need to weigh, record, pay and show proof or payment before items are fired.

The cost of clay includes:
Clay ordering, processing, and delivery.
Cost of glazes and finishing materials.
Cost of firing (electricity and upkeep of kilns)
Technician costs

As such, the cost per Kg. is greater than sold at wholesale price.
Prosp Additional Costs

Open What could I go on to do after this course?


There are many other arts and craft courses on offer at Medway Adult Education. You may wish to concentrate or develop your skills with a particular medium such as painting in oils, pottery, stained glass or advanced watercolour for example. We also have a BTEC Art and Design Skills course that you could progress towards.

Medway Adult Education works with many partners locally such as Mid Kent Medway School of Art and the University of Kent; information about their courses can be found in our studios, café and on Moodle. Medway has an exciting and wide-range of events, exhibitions, and activities to inspire and help you make further progress - please see the community noticeboards in the Rochester Centre and again on Moodle. Your tutor will be able to talk through with your individual progression options.

Your tutor will be happy to advise you about progression courses, including those offered by other providers.

If you wish to explore your learning, work, or career options, you can speak to a fully trained careers advisor on 0800 100 900. https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

If you need further advice, please telephone 01634 338400.
Prosp After

Open What is the attendance policy?

In order to get the most out of your course you will need to attend as many sessions as possible. We recommend at least 85%. If you do have a holiday booked during term time please let the tutor know in advance so that we can help you catch up on missed sessions and ensure that you still achieve the course outcomes. If you are unavoidably ill or unable to attend please contact 01634 338400 so that we can let your tutor know, and so they can send you any work you may have missed
Prosp Attendance

Open How are IT/Digital skills used and enhanced on this course?

Learners will be encouraged to use Moodle. Information will be provided to introduce skills, techniques, and the work of other ceramicists along with safe internet usage.
Prosp Ictskills

Open Health & Safety

Health and Safety Disclaimer
By participating in the live or online class you accept that you understand that pottery involves potentially hazardous tools and equipment and that such activity carries the risk of injury. You understand that it is your responsibility to judge your motor skills and physical ability.
It is your responsibility to ensure that by participating in classes and activities from Medway Adult Education, you will not exceed your limits while performing such activity, and you will select the appropriate level of task for your skills and abilities.
You understand that this is pottery activity and you will need to be suitably dressed, you will need protect your work surface and be mindful of the correct Health & Safety processes when working with clay and glazes. MAE is not responsible for damage to items in your house / home or person.
The creators, owners and distributors of this site and the material available MAE are not responsible for any injuries you may experience as a result of your use of this site and the material contained here on. By remaining on this site and/or accessing and / or using any material, you are accepting that you have read, understood and agreed to follow these basic instructions.
Prosp Health

Open For e-learning courses - etiquette and safe learning

Q000007A
24/09/2024
21/01/2025
Tuesday
18:30
20:30
2.00 hrs per session
15 session(s)
263.00
Rochester Adult Education Centre