Pottery Classes
Pottery Lessons in Bicester, Oxfordshire
Discover the joy of working with clay with private pottery lessons at Hobbs Ceramics in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Whether you're completely new to pottery, looking to try the pottery wheel for the first time, or hoping to develop your existing skills, there's an option to suit you. Choose a relaxed two-hour pottery taster, book an individual one-to-one lesson tailored to your interests, or take a deeper dive into wheel throwing with a five-week beginner course. All sessions are one to one and offer personal guidance in my home studio, giving you the opportunity to learn at your own pace, get hands-on with clay and explore the process of making your own pottery.
Choose Your Pottery Lesson
| Lesson | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pottery Taster | 2 hours | £120 |
| Private One-to-One Lesson | 2 hours | £110 |
| Five-Week Beginner Course | 5 × 2 hours | £450 |
All lessons are individually taught, with clay and tools included. Glazing and firing are included in the private one-to-one lessons and five-week beginner course, subject to the agreed number of finished pieces and the course terms. The pottery taster focuses on exploring clay and does not include finished pieces; finishing and firing are available for a small additional fee if you'd like to keep your creations.
Pottery Taster: £120
A friendly introduction to pottery for complete beginners, focused on exploring clay and enjoying the experience of making. Get hands-on with clay, learn the basics of preparing and centring it on the wheel, and have a go at throwing your own pots. It's a great way to try something new, enjoy a creative experience and discover whether pottery is for you.
The taster does not include finished pieces. If you'd like to keep your creations, they can be finished and fired for a small additional fee.
Private One-to-One Lesson: £110
Already tried pottery? or have a particular skill you'd like to work on after experiencing the taster session? Private lessons can be tailored to your interests and experience. Sessions might focus on improving your centring, developing your throwing technique, exploring different forms or getting help with a specific part of the pottery process such as glazing and finishing. Get in touch to discuss what you'd like to learn.
Five-Week Beginner Course: £450
Build your skills over five private, two-hour sessions. This course takes you from the fundamentals of working with clay through wedging, throwing, shaping, decorating and glazing your own pieces. With individual tuition and time to practise, you'll gain a better understanding of the pottery process and work towards creating a small collection of finished ceramics.
Five-Week Pottery Course: What You'll Learn
Each session builds on the previous one, helping you develop confidence at the pottery wheel while exploring the different stages involved in making ceramics.
Week 1: Introduction to Clay and the Pottery Wheel
We'll begin by getting familiar with clay, the tools and the pottery studio. You'll learn about preparing and wedging clay, followed by an introduction to centring clay on the wheel. We'll explore the basics of opening up the clay and beginning to pull the walls of a pot, giving you the foundations for future sessions.
Week 2: Learning to Throw
With the basics in place, we'll focus on developing your wheel-throwing technique. You'll practise centering, opening and pulling the walls of the clay to begin creating simple forms such as small cylinders and tumblers. The emphasis is on building consistency, improving control and becoming more comfortable working with the wheel.
Week 3: Developing Your Forms
This session is about exploring different shapes and refining your technique. We'll work towards creating forms such as bowls and other simple vessels, looking at proportions, rims and the overall shape of your pots. Where your work has dried to the right stage, we'll also explore trimming and refining the bases of your pieces.
Week 4: Decoration and Surface Design
Once your pieces are ready, we'll explore ways to add character and individuality to your pottery. You'll be introduced to surface decoration techniques, which may include underglaze, simple patterns, texture and sgraffito. We'll discuss how decoration works with the shape and finish of a piece and prepare suitable work for its first firing.
Week 5: Glazing and Finishing
In the final session, we'll explore glazing and how it transforms your pottery into finished ceramic pieces. You'll learn about choosing and applying glazes, preparing your work for its final firing and the importance of firing temperatures and finishes. Depending on the stage your pieces have reached, we'll glaze suitable bisque-fired work or use the session to practise techniques and prepare your pieces for glazing.
Your Finished Pottery
Pottery takes time, and each piece needs to dry fully before it can be fired. Your work will usually go through a bisque firing and a final glaze firing before it's ready to use. This means your finished pieces may not be ready to collect at the end of your final lesson.
The course is designed to help you work towards creating a small selection of your own pots, with the number of finished pieces depending on your progress and the work that survives drying and firing. I'll explain the collection arrangements and expected timescale during your sessions.
Book Your Pottery Lesson
Whether you'd like to try the wheel for an afternoon, work on a particular skill or spend five weeks developing your pottery, get in touch to discuss your lesson and availability.