Ceramic Short Courses

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Introduction to
Wheel Throwing

Designed for complete beginners, this course will introduce you to the skills and techniques required to throw clay on a potter’s wheel. Participants will be guided through various stages of the wheel-throwing process from centering and shaping clay on the wheel, trimming and glazing.

All required materials are supplied including clay, shaping tools and a variety of glazes to select from; students can expect to take home 8-9 finished pieces in a range of cylindrical forms such as cups, bowls, small planters and vessels. Suitable for beginners and participants who are familiar with wheel work but would like to further develop their skills.

COST: $475

Students will need to bring a towel and apron. All other materials supplied.
Ages 18+
Location: JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Teaching Studio 3, Level 2, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Duration: 8 week course

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Intermediate
Wheel Throwing

Designed for practiced throwers who would like to further develop their skills; this course will expand your throwing repertoire with new techniques and forms such as throwing bowls and plates with a larger base, adding handles, creating matching sets and lidded vessels. 

Please note that students must have completed at least 2 terms of beginner’s wheel-throwing classes and have confirmed with their teacher that this is the appropriate class for them. Participants must be comfortable and consistent with centering, opening up, pulling sides and trimming, and able to throw cylindrical forms of different proportions with intention.

All required materials are supplied including clay, shaping tools and a variety of glazes to select from; students can expect to take home 8-9 finished pieces in a range of forms such as mugs with handles, bowls, plates and lidded vessels. 

COST: $475

Students will need to bring a towel and apron. All other materials supplied.
Ages 18+
Location: JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Teaching Studio 3, Level 2, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Duration: 8 week course

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Introduction to Hand Building
and Surface Decoration

This course will introduce you to a range of construction and surface decoration techniques in hand built ceramics. Students will learn coiling, pinching and various slab construction methods before being guided through surface treatment techniques to apply texture and decorative elements to their pieces, and then glaze all finished work.

All required materials are supplied including clay, shaping tools, plaster moulds and a variety of glazes to select from; students can expect to take home 8-9 finished pieces in a range of sculptural and practical forms such as mugs, jugs, vases and flat slab-ware pieces such as plates or trays. Suitable for beginners and participants who are familiar with hand building techniques but would like to further develop their skills.

COST: $475

All materials supplied.
Ages 18+
Location: JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Teaching Studio 2, Level 2, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Duration: 8 week course

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Introduction to Ceramics Studio Practice

Receive an introduction to a broad range of fundamental ceramic processes, skills and principles required to run a ceramic studio practice in this eight-week course led by JamFactory Ceramics Studio Manager Phoebe Kretschmer.

Each week will cover different practical aspects of running a studio. Participants will explore the individual characteristics and use of different clay bodies, learn basic slip casting techniques, experiment with various decorative applications (including sgraffito, engobe, and colouring with stains and oxides), mix mid-fire and high-fire glazes whilst uncovering the chemistry behind glaze development and composition, learn about kiln technology and efficient firing procedures, and gain an understanding of the principles and processes involved with clay recycling.

This comprehensive introductory course is ideal for ceramicists looking to upscale or incorporate new techniques into their practice, or setting up their own studio space. All ceramic tools and materials are supplied; participants will need to bring a notebook and pen for taking notes. Basic experience required (completion of a JamFactory introduction-level ceramics course or equivalent).

COST: $655

All materials supplied.
Ages 18+ 
Location: JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Level 2, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Duration: 8 week course


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Advanced Wheel Throwing: Servingware Masterclass

In this intensive four-day masterclass designed for intermediate to advanced throwers, participants will be directed through the tools and techniques required to throw larger amounts of clay to produce a variety of objects of more substantial size, including but not limited to, larger bowls, serving platters, lidded pots and jugs.

Under the guidance of highly-experienced ceramicist Peter Andersson, students will learn how to use bats to throw pieces with a larger base, create spouts, pull handles off the pot for jugs and mugs and receive demonstrations in different techniques for trimming their work in order to refine pieces to their desired form.

All required materials are supplied including clay and shaping tools, however students are encouraged to bring their own tools if they have them. Participants can expect to complete 8-12 finished pieces, which will be bisque fired in JamFactory's ceramics studio for students to transport home to complete glazing and firing in their own kiln, or work can be glazed and fired by JamFactory at an additional cost.

Prior throwing experience essential. This course is suitable for participants who have completed at least two terms of JamFactory's Intermediate Wheel Throwing course or who have equivalent experience in wheel throwing.  

COST: $575

All materials supplied.
Suitable for participants aged 18+
Location: JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Teaching Studio 3, Level 2, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Duration: 4 day intensive


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Build Your Own Dinnerware

Hand build your own 12-piece dinner set (4 plates, 4 side plates and 4 pasta bowls) in this two-session weekend course. Participants will learn the process of building ceramic pieces with slump moulds; using a rolled-out clay slab which is draped and formed over a plaster mould to create pieces of consistent size and shape which can then be individualised through surface texture.

This workshop is suitable for complete beginners. All materials are supplied; your finished pieces will be glazed and fired in JamFactory's Ceramics Studio, to be collected 2-3 weeks after the workshop date.

COST: $400

All materials supplied. 
Ages 18+ 
Location: JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Teaching Studio 2, Level 2, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Duration: 2 x 4 hour sessions

TERM 1 2025 COMING SOON