Pottery courses?

I've been thinking for a while now that I'd like to have a go at making bonsai pots, looking at all your work on here is very inspirational.

However, I'm not entirely sure how to go about this. Are there any pottery courses or similar that anyone can recommend? Local to me would be ideal but a stay away course somewhere would be good as well. Should I just get some basic kit and give it a go?

How do you get into making pots?

Thanks, Jonny.

I don't know about the UK, but in the US, some community colleges offer courses in ceramics work which include access to glazes and firing. They won't have something specific to bonsai pots, but based on my experience, even following a course syllabus will offer opportunity to make a few pots. And many of the techniques and methods are relatively generic, it's what you do with them. Here in the greater Philadelphia area there are various community art centers with ceramic programs also. Some universities offer studio time and firing as part of "continuing education" programs too.

There's a few ideas,

DaveT

Jonny

Come up to "Shohin Off" at Willowbog Bonsai in Hexham over the weekend of the 18th & 19th March. Both David Jones from Walsall Studio Ceramics and myself are doing pottery workshops over the weekend. You can try your hand there and make a bonsai pot. See here for more details

http://www.willowbog-bonsai.co.uk/BSA/shohinoff.asp

Regards

Andy

Hi Dave - yeah I think that might be a good idea to investigate further - i think there are similar course that are run here and i suppose what i put into them is what i'll get out, if i inform the teacher of why i'm doing it i'm sure they'll help me to tailor it to bonsai pots a bit. Thanks.

Hi Andy, I might just do that, thanks for the heads up on that one. I was probably going to Shohin Off anyway so makes a lot of sense.

Jonny.

question for making pots, do glaze both the outside and the inside? also high fire or low fire clay, or does it matter. im in a clay class and we basically can do what ever we want int he class.

Low fired clay is too porous and doesn't hold up well, especially through freeze/thaw cycles. I usually don't glaze the bottoms or interiors, which seems to be somewhat traditional -- I'm not sure if there is a real reason for it, other than it saves glaze!

Dave Jones of Walsall Ceramics does practical pot making sessions for clubs. He has done one for ours and is coming back to do two full days later in the year. I have attended pottery courses at night school and the amount you learn is very little compared to a dedicated session, like the one that Dave does.

Night classes are cheaper and you learn the basics of working with clay but they mostly concentrate on wheel work and modelling. Firing and glazing is also always a bit hit and miss.

As the old adage goes, "you pays your money and you takes your choice".