Tuition
Studio days and Raku workshops
Creativity in a productive and relaxed environment
- Well established weekend courses organised throughout the year in Private Studio.
- Comprehensive range of pottery tuition available.
- Complete beginners and experienced students welcome.
- Maximum of four students to ensure one-to-one tuition.
- Course Day: 10am to 4pm. Ask for next course dates.
- Bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee are provided.
- Ideal Birthday or Christmas present. Personalised course vouchers available.
To enrol, telephone 01903 815709 or email ben-barker@talktalk.net
Studio days
One-day course
A one day pottery course offering students the opportunity to work with clay: hand build a pot, model a figure, create a sculpture, use the potter's wheel. Students can either work on a suggested project or pursue their own ideas with Ben's support.
Various clays including porcelain, stoneware and crank bodies are available depending on the work being made. Clay slips and metal oxides are used to decorate the work which is glazed and reduction fired to stoneware. Finished pieces are available to collect (or can be despatched) about three weeks later.
COURSE FEE
£75.00 excluding materials
Raku workshops
Two-day course
Raku is a specific type of pottery which has its origins in the Japanese Tea Ceremony and has evolved to find a Western style. Typically biscuit fired work is decorated and glazed and placed directly into a red hot kiln. After a short firing the work is removed from the hot kiln with metal tongs and often 'smoked' in sawdust or grass before cooling in water and final cleaning. The finished pieces can result in fascinating colours and glaze textures which while unpredictable are often very expressive. The work is made in coarse clay to withstand the dramatic heating and cooling changes it has to survive.
The workshop
The workshop requires two days attendance and divides into two sessions over two weekends. Initially students spend the first Studio day making several pieces such as models, tiles, pots, masks and sculpture. When dry, the work is biscuit fired ready for the second weekend. The final Raku day involves decorating and glazing the work and includes the firing which takes place outdoors using a 'Top Hat' gas kiln. Various post fire reduction processes are experimented with.
COURSE FEE
£185.00 inclusive of all materials and firing costs.
Bespoke ceramic workshops
Ceramic workshops are undertaken for various clubs and societies and also for children and adults for birthdays and other special occasions.
Workshops can accommodate from 4 to 20 people and run for 2 to 6 hours. Clay, colour and tools to facilitate making are all provided.
The nature of the workshops is negotiable and have previously been based on themes such as The Teapot, The Decorated Bowl, Tile Design, Ceramic Masks and Animals but can also be more open in structure. Workshops commence with a short introductory talk and demonstration of relevant skills before clay work begins and individual tuition is given throughout. Completed work is ready for collection or despatch about 3 weeks later.
FEE: Varies
Please contact Ben Barker to discuss your requirements and request a quotation as the cost of workshops inevitably varies depending on location, venue, numbers participating and duration.
Adult education classes
Weekly classes and Saturday courses
Full range of pottery tuition including ceramic sculpture, hand building and the potter’s wheel.
Contact Portslade Community College for course details, tel: 01273 422632
Demonstrations and Talks
Demonstrations of making my own ceramics and talks on different aspects of clay work and my approach to creativity are given to Societies, Clubs and Art groups.
FEE: Varies
Please contact Ben Barker to discuss your requirements and request a quotation.