Rugged, Regulated and Refined:
Exploring materiality through throwing, trimming and slipping textured stoneware clays
Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th May 2025
Summary
Within this four-day workshop, Bert Jones will provide students with the skills to improve the fundamentals of their throwing practice. Students will throw various types of vessels, but with a focus on throwing bowls. The workshop aims to improve making skills using very coarse grogged stoneware, and to explore and improve slip decoration in relation to stoneware clay bodies.
the course in detail
Through demonstrations, group discussions and one-to-ones, Bert will share his knowledge and experience with students to help them develop their skills and techniques in throwing.
The workshop will see students using three types of stoneware; a smooth, a grogged and a very coarse grogged stoneware.
Students will improve their throwing skills through practice and repetition and one-to-one tuition from Bert. Students will also learn new techniques for applying slip and decoration with the different types of clay.
course breakdown
DAY 1: Short introduction talk covering some simple ideas around making as 'correspondence' (from Tim Ingold's Making (2013)) and the refinement myth.
Introducing the clays:
V9A (smooth)
Original raku (groggy)
Coarse raku (VERY groggy)
Demo:
some throwing fundamentals
approaches to bowl throwing in each body with the rugged Vs regulated dichotomy in mind
demonstrating both rugged and regulated bowls in each stoneware body
discussion of various hand positions and technical approaches for throwing the grogged bodies
Short group discussion regarding what people want to throw
Workshop: remainder of the day spent throwing forms, focussing on refining technique and confidence on the wheel
Alongside bowl forms, we will look at small jars and footed cups and throw chucks for the following day's trimming
DAY 2:
AM
Larger throwing demo continuing the previous day's themes. Working at the limits of student skill, throwing some large bowl and jar forms
For those that are keen, some sectional or two part throwing. Sections will be joined the following day
PM
Demo approaches to trimming: chucks, tool selection and moisture content (stages of leather hard)
Workshop: trimming the previous day's work
DAY 3:
AM
Trimming the previous day's larger work. Again looking at the uses of chucks for larger forms, alongside different techniques of attaching pots to the wheel
Assembling sectional work
PM
Any additional throwing
Planning and preparing for the final day of decorating
DAY 4:
Finishing and decorating all day
Greenware exhibition and group discussion to finish
FIRING
This is an intensive making and refining course and there will be no specific kiln firing during the week, however, we will encourage students to keep, and finish, just a few carefully selected pieces. Any pieces students choose to keep will be fired following the workshop and ready for collection at a later date.
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract.
Please read our Student Contract here.
Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
About Bert
Bert Jones is a potter based in South Wales making reduction fired functional and sculptural pots. All of Bert's work is focussed on creating contemporary pieces that have a paired back, natural aesthetic, exploring the boundaries between function and sculpture. Working in a variety of stoneware bodies that range from smooth grey clays to rugged, coarse iron rich ones, Bert's practice aims to bring materiality and form to the forefront of his pieces. All of his work is thrown on the potter's wheel, some very heavily trimmed and some left freshly thrown, creating dynamism and variety within a tight and minimal collection of forms.
Bert studied the Artist, Designer: Maker course at the Cardiff School of Art and Design, graduating in 2015. Bert continued his studies, going on to undertake a part time practice based PhD which explores the relationship between functional craft objects and fine art. His areas of research are craft, art, anthropology, materiality and the philosophies that underpin them. This research has an overarching theme of how we value material culture and the hierarchies and theories that underpin these values.
Bert has been a professionally established potter and artist for 9 years.
THE SCHEDULE
DAY 1 - Arrive 9am Tuesday 27th May
Welcome Breakfast (from 9am - 10am). The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
DAY 2 - Arrive 9:30am Wednesday 28th May
On the second day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
DAY 3 - Arrive 9:30am Thursday 29th May
On the third day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
DAY 4 - Arrive 9:30am Friday 30th May
On the final day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 4pm.
A two-course lunch is provided every day. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Cost
The cost for this four-day course is £880. This cost includes all necessary materials, tools, refreshments and a superb two-course lunch every day. Also included is a Welcome breakfast which will be provided on the first day of the course.
You can pay in full or pay a deposit by clicking on the ‘Book Now’ button above. If you choose to pay a deposit we will contact you to arrange paying the remainder of your balance in instalments.
Before you book a Guest Potter Course, please read our terms and conditions page here.
Please also read our Student Contract here.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION
The Ceramic Studio is located on a beautiful orchard in Brenchley, and there are lots of lovely surrounding towns and villages offering numerous places to stay.
We are happy to arrange transits to and from your accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. Please get in touch to arrange this. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.co.uk. To see examples of local accomodation, click here.
Date: Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th May 2025
Venue: The Ceramic Studio (Brenchley)
Class Size: Maximum 10 students
Level: Some throwing experience would be helpful
Clay Type: Smooth, Grogged and very Grogged Stoneware
Cost: £880 (pay in full or in instalments)
