Throwing Loosely with Porcelain

Porcelain is characterised by its bright white colour, smooth texture, and elegant translucency. It has a lot to offer and keeps people coming back for more.

Whether you prefer refined or loose forms, your tutor Maya will guide you through your making and share with you all her tips on her to treat porcelain when throwing.
Suitable for: Anyone who has completed one of our Beginner or Improver Throwing Courses or similar and wants to further explore techniques.

Our guest tutor for this workshop is Maya Hughes.

Maya describes her practise: "A considerable goal in my work is to create a marriage between clay, surface decoration, glaze and firing which incorporates the use of found materials, connecting the work back to the earth in this highly processed age.

Form, function and use are important to me. I want the pots to be held in hand, encouraging people to notice the variations built up through the subtle layering of chosen materials and firings. I am learning to see how I must allow the pot to speak for itself and not overwork it, to have as little contact as possible so as to keep the piece “alive”; an entity of its own, with personality and a story of what it is made from."

Workshop outline

In this workshop Maya will demonstrate a variety of forms which encompass the technical element of how porcelain likes to be treated, both in a refined manner and in a more loose way leaving throwing marks and creating aesthetic distortions whilst maintaining control of the clay.

We will discuss what it is that people find appealing about porcelain and why we are drawn to it. I will demonstrate some of my most commonly thrown forms such as mug bodies, teacups, egg cups and lidded jars. You will then practice lifting the porcelain as evenly as possible in a warm up cylinder and after that you can take whichever direction you wish with my facilitation.

Further details

Our throwing workshops are open to adults (16+), with a maximum of nine attendees. Drinks and refreshments included.

You can keep a maximum of three pots* and we will recycle any other ones you make on the day.  These three pots will be glazed for you and you can pick them up a few weeks later once fired.

Please bring an apron if you have one, wear old clothes and shoes (no sandals) you don't mind getting a little mucky.

*For current students at The Clay Studio: If you wish to keep more than three pots, you can turn and glaze these extra pots in your weekly class. Please weigh and pay as usual.