Introduction to Pottery Handbuilding

Part one: Coiling & Pinching

We'll begin by exploring two of the oldest pottery techniques—coiling and pinching. You'll learn how to build strong, sculptural forms by hand, with guidance on shaping, joining, and refining your work. You're welcome to create individual pieces or begin a larger project that you'll continue in the second half of the session.

Part two: Slab Building In the second part of the class, you'll learn slab-building techniques, using rolled clay to construct functional or decorative forms. This session is a great opportunity to combine techniques—for example, creating a coiled lampshade with a slab-built base, or incorporating slab elements into a project started in the portion.

Throughout the day, you'll decorate your work using underglazes, carving, texture, and other surface decoration techniques, so your pieces are ready for their first kiln firing.If you'd like to give your finished work an extra level of depth and colour, you can choose to come back and glaze during a Tuesday evening session.

During this session, you'll apply professional reactive glazes before your work receives its final firing. Whether you're completely new to pottery or looking to expand your hand-building skills, this course offers a fun, supportive environment to learn, experiment, and create beautiful handmade ceramics.