Useful Makes
Overview
A collection of relaxed, one-off clay workshops for adults. No experience needed — just time to make.
Useful Makes is a series of one-off 2 hour workshops for adults to make with clay. Each workshop focuses on a particular form and, through hand-building techniques, participants make one of their own. Outcomes will be fired and glazed and made for everyday use! Workshops are planned with beginners in mind and all skill levels are welcome.
Location: Leach Pottery Community space
Cost: £30 per adult.
Workshops across the year…
Date & Time:
Tiny Pots: Sgraffito Decoration
Take inspiration from the surface decoration techniques of traditional harvest jugs which informed much of the decorative approaches seen at the Lecah Pottery. From a collection of tiny pots thrown specially for the workshop, choose a group of up to 5 vessels to paint with slip and carve away your designs into the surface. The resulting pots will be glazed and fired and ready for collection within 12 weeks after the workshop.
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Bud Vase: Pinch & Coil
Consider the bud vase forms of Bernard Leach, dainty and balanced. Take simple handling approaches such as pinching or coiling to make two bud vases of your own design. While making these modest and beautiful forms attention is given to balance, utility and hand-made quirks! The resulting two vases will be glazed and fired and ready for collection within 12 weeks after the workshop.
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Kurinuki: Carving
This workshop introduces participants to kurinuki — the Japanese method of carving a vessel from a solid block of clay. Outcomes are often unregimented, rough and always full of life! Participants will begin with a simple mass and gradually hollow and refine it by hand. The process values irregularity, and the marks left by tools, allowing the character of the clay to remain visible. The final vessel could be a vase or bowl. The resulting piece will be glazed and fired and ready for collection within 12 weeks after the workshop.
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Egg Cups: Pinching & Coiling
Did you know that in the Leach Pottery’s production studio an Apprentice has to make 600 identical egg cups? Don’t worry, in this workshop participants will make a set of 4 eggs cups using hand building methods. Surface decoration through texture and simple slip decoration, feet and embellishments will all be considered. The resulting four egg cups will be glazed and fired and ready for collection within 12 weeks after the workshop.
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Tealight Holders: Hand-building
This workshop focuses on creating small vessels designed to hold light. Participants will explore thickness, piercing, and surface texture, considering how light interacts with clay. The session encourages simple forms that allow warmth and shadow to play a quiet role in the finished piece. The resulting tealights (up to 4) will be glazed and fired and ready for collection within 12 weeks after the workshop.
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Bowl in a Bowl in a Bowl: Pinching
Participants will make a series of three nested bowls. The workshop looks at repetition, variation, and proportion, allowing each bowl to respond to the one before it. Attention is given to rhythm in making and to how sets of functional objects can work together using the pinching method. The resulting three bowls will be glazed and fired and ready for collection within 12 weeks after the workshop.
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Soup Bowl & Spoon: Pinching & Building
This session brings together two related forms: a bowl and a simple spoon. Participants will consider use, comfort, and balance, thinking about how the two pieces relate to one another. The natural imperfections of the handmade are encouraged! The resulting bowl and spoon will be glazed and fired and ready for collection within 12 weeks after the workshop.
Ability & Skill Level
These workshops are suitable for beginners – if you’ve never touched clay before or perhaps you’ve done a few workshops previously, this is for you!
Equipment & materials: clay and a basic tool kit is provided. We focus on building core skills and working directly with the clay to get the most from a core selection of tools. Please bring additional tools if you wish to use them along with an apron and hand towel.
*if the address that you would like your work posting to is non-UK, extra postage will apply.
We are delighted to offer one 10% discount in our Shop during your course.
Any questions? Please visit out FAQ — The Leach Pottery
Please be aware, only assistance dogs are allowed in the Learning spaces.
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