This 9-week evening course is designed to provide beginners with the basic skills required to hand build with clay. Throughout the duration of the course, you will focus on a number of different processes that will provide you with the basic skills required to construct your own three- dimensional form.
Throughout the duration of the course, you will be taught a number of basic hand building skills these involve: wedging clay, forming a pinch pot and hand building a coil pot. You will also be taught the process of rolling and cutting slabs of clay along with the basic skills required to construct of a 3D form. In addition to this you will be guided through the process of slump/hump moulding and will learn how to construct slab pots and learn how to form a 3D pot with base.
Whilst gaining an understanding of why clay is wedged you will also be taught how to apply texture and you will be introduced to the use of coloured slips as decoration.
Additionally, you will learn how to prepare your work, ready for bisque firing - a fundamental step that essentially turns clay into ceramic ware. This is achieved using the kiln located in our purpose-built ceramics workshop. Following this you will learn how to apply a clear glaze to your work ready for a second firing called glaze firing.
Furthermore, you will be introduced to a variety of advanced decorating techniques and skills involving ceramic pencils, sponge application and resists.
Through the skills learnt you will create several small pieces before designing and constructing your own three-dimensional form.
Learning Methods
This course will be delivered on campus from 18:30 – 21:00 every Monday for 9 weeks.
Activity Summary
- Minimum of 8 students, maximum of 10 in the group
- 22.5 hours of teaching in total over 9 evenings, 18:30 – 21:00
Timetable
- Week 1: 8 September 2025 - workshops start
- Week 2: 15 September
- 22 September - no class
- Week 3: 29 September
- Week 4: 6 October
- 13 October - no class
- 20 October - no class
- Week 5: 27 October
- Week 6: 3 November
- Week 7: 10 November
- Week 8: 17 November
- Week 9: 24 November – last workshop
Independent Study
Students are encouraged to create and maintain a personal sketchbook which reflects their own creative practice involving the documentation of processes, inspirations, learnings and basic sketches.
Participants are asked to conduct research into shapes and decoration in particular to inform their own final piece. A collection of ceramics focussed books are provided to use during each class as a means of research.
Assessment
This course is not formally assessed.
Staff Delivering on this Course
Ceramicist Mags Gray hand builds her work and takes inspiration from new sources each year. An alumnus of Gray’s School of Art, the ceramicist spent two years as a ‘Maker in Residence’ within the ceramics department at Gray’s where she has since taught short courses following her graduation.
Mags Gray Ceramics creates both contemporary and functional pieces that involve quirky surface designs. The artist also creates social and political statement pieces that ultimately reflect hard hitting narratives whilst retaining an aesthetically pleasing quality. The Artist’s work can be found as part of RGU Art and Heritage Collections and is also part of the collection at Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums.
Edit
Mags' work is currently exhibited and can be purchased from Edit in the Bon Accord Centre in Aberdeen.
Edit is an independent lifestyle store celebrating designers, artists and makers from North East Scotland, delivered by Sally Reaper and Claire Bruce from the Look Again team, Gray’s School of Art and Deemouth Artist Studios in Partnership with Bon Accord.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course.
This course is suitable for beginners.
Required Age
All students are required to be at least 16 years of age on the commencement of the course.
For Academic Year 2025/2026
Course fee: £280 per person
The fee is to be paid as part of sign up process and prior to the first session.
After completing the registration form, you will be directed to the payment page. Your place on the course is not confirmed until payment has been received. If you have any difficulties locating the payment link or if you have registered for this course but have not completed the payment form, please contact us for a direct link to pay which will bypass registration.
Additional Costs
Essential core materials are provided.
The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees:
Course Cancellation
If minimum participant numbers for this course are not met, the course will be cancelled and participants will receive a full refund.
If you have registered and paid for your place on the course, but now wish to cancel, please email engage@rgu.ac.uk at least 48 hours prior to the first evening session commencing.
Disclaimer
For new intakes course fees are reviewed and published annually for each mode of delivery. Tuition fees are fixed for the duration of a course at the rate confirmed in advance. For further information see:
Any questions?
Get in touch with the Engage Team and we'll do our best to help.