Throwing & Altering Porcelain Forms
Monday 6th - Friday 10th October 2025
Summary
This five-day workshop will explore throwing a variety of porcelain pieces in various shapes and sizes, then altering these thrown forms.
The Course in Detail
Throughout this workshop students will be using the pottery wheel to create a variety of thrown porcelain forms, as well as exploring how to make shape alterations to these vessels.
Students will gain confidence in using porcelain and will improve their throwing technique, learning to create unusual shapes and ambitious pieces. There will be regular demonstrations to show students a variety of different techniques for altering forms and Katharina will tutor students on a group and an individual basis to inspire, encourage and build confidence.
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, a few carefully selected pieces. These will be fired and be ready for collection a few weeks later.
Each student will have their own wheel and will receive plenty of individual attention.
Course Breakdown
Each day will start with a quick yoga warm-up session led by Katharina (for those who are happy to take part).
Day 1: AM - Katharina will give detailed demonstrations on throwing and pulling up as thin and high as possible using 500g of porcelain. Students will start to practice creating thin cylinders with bottle necks.
PM - Students will throw bottle and vase forms. Katharina will demonstrate how to make oval flasks out of the cylinders – attaching base and top to create the shape.
Day 2: AM - Katharina will demonstrate how to create Gourd Vases / Friends Vases using 500g-1kg of porcelain. This will involve throwing a form with a narrow middle to develop the top and bottom separately on the same piece. Students will practice.
PM - Students will continue to throw vase and bottle shapes and Katharina will analyse students individually and coach each participant in their techniques.
Day 3: AM - Katharina will give a presentation with Q&A about her own practice. This will be followed by a detail demonstration on turning. Katharina will show students how to use chucks as well as other porcelain turning tools.
PM - Katharina will guide students in turning their work.
Day 4: AM - Katharina will give demonstrations on throwing Moon Jars in two parts. Students will throw bowls on bats using 1-1.5kg of porcelain and Katharina will guide students in centring large amounts of clay and using the multiple ball method. Students will learn how to create two pieces of the same size and shape, measuring for accuracy.
PM - Students will learn how to attached the two halves to create the moon jar and will continue onto throwing the neck.
Day 5: AM - Katharina will demonstrate throwing Tea bowls using 300g/400g of porcelain each. Students will play with forms, creating squares, triangles etc.
PM - Students will finish off all their pieces and complete their turning.
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.
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 Katharina
Katharina is now based in Cambridge, but she was raised in an Austrian pottery and has had a fascination for clay since she was a child. Shape, pattern and colour are all integral to her practice; her beautiful porcelain vessels feature patterns inspired by observations from her environment and glossy versus matt are central themes throughout her work.
The schedule
DAY 1 - Arrive 9am Monday 6th October
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 Tuesday 7th October
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 Wednesday 8th October
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 Thursday 9th October
On the fourth day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
DAY 5 - Arrive 9:30am Friday 10th October
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
This cost for this five-day course is £1,200. 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 course, please make sure you read our terms and conditions page here.
Please also read our Student Contract here.
Travel & Accommodation
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 accommodation, click here.
Date: Monday 6th - Friday 10th October 2025
Duration: Five-day workshop
Venue: The Ceramic Studio (Brenchley)
Class Size: Maximum 10 students
Level: Some knowledge of throwing would be helpful, but is not essential
Clay Type: Porcelain
Cost: £1,200 (pay in full or in instalments)
“My work focuses primarily on the exploration of shapes on the pottery wheel. This tool allows me to find endless variations on an old theme: the vessel.”
