Short courses I recommend for part-time potters

Written By Jo Minnitt

I've not had a formal education in ceramics, but over the years I’ve done a number of short courses, which have hugely benefited me - learning much quicker than I would with just a book or practice. I’ve tried to build my own “curriculum”, focusing on learning different skills over the years.

I thought it might be useful to share these courses - what I found useful and how I balance work and pottery. Taking part in wood firings has me chatting to more potters, and I'm realising that there's really no clear route into clay - everyone works it out their own way, so here's mine.

 

Courses and classes

Timeline of my (independently-led) studies

I’ve been hooked on clay since 2010, when I took a random evening class to get away from my desk as a web designer. I’d been hitchhiking to Morocco, and wanted to build my own tagine because I couldn’t carry one home! Morley College had some incredible teachers who got me into the basics of handbuilding. After a couple of years, I found Kayleigh at the Islington Arts Factory which was less hands-on teaching and more self practice.

In 2015, my partner and I travelled to the US for his work, and I signed up to a class at the Multnomah Arts Center - Advanced Glazing.

Returning to the UK in 2016, I realised I wanted to find a way to be in the studio more often, so I made the leap to Turning Earth, an open-access community studio, where I could pop in most days, and spend Fridays there. I started with an 8 week evening throwing course, and then joined as a member. The space is so serene - a plant filled railway arch - and the shelves were filled with beautiful work from very talented makers, it was very inspiring.

In 2018 we moved out of London, and I had to decide whether to set up my own studio in Brighton. It seemed like a big commitment, paying rent on my own private space and kitting it out with all the equipment. I was lucky to find Coachwerks - there was a studio space previously used by a potter who was happy to lend me her wheel. Turning Earth had generously given me the recipe of two of the glazes that I used most, so I jumped in to the world of glaze making.

I had very inconsistent glaze results when layering - my goal was a floating blue. I signed up to the famous Ceramic Materials Workshop course - Understanding Glazes in Summer 2019. The course is hard, but really rewarding. It’s a proper university level course and gives great clear advice for improving glazes. So useful, that I signed up straight to the Advanced Glazes course - this time with labs. I’d highly recommend this course for all wanting to learn more about glaze chemistry!

I had returned to making mugs as a way to test my glazes, and during 2020 I developed the form of my mugs - the teacup shape. I experimented with handles, feeling them in use and iterating version after version.

Oxford University Kilns

Out in the US again in 2021, I met Sam (@Suayceramics) through the Community Studio I signed up to, Morning Ceramics. When Sam and Maya (@Maya.Elin.1) set up a glaze course out at the wood fired soda kiln in East Creek, I signed up. We fired from early morning Saturday until Sunday afternoon in six hour shifts - but with so many of us it was actually quite busy! I got some beautiful results.

Back in the UK in 2022, I managed to join a group firing with Dan and Symy at the last minute in October at the Oxford University Kilns. We did a reduction cool - which meant throwing in bits of bushes and wet wood after top temperature. It was so much fun and I hope to do many more wood and soda firings!

Jo Minnitt
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