Wheel Works: Pottery on the Wheel for Beginners

Course details

Time: Sundays, 2pm-5pm 
Dates: Oct 26th and Nov 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th.
Skill Level: Absolute beginners & returning learners
Materials: All clay, tools, and glazes provided

A Six-Part Sunday Afternoon Series

If you’ve ever dreamed of throwing clay on a pottery wheel, if you are a hand-builder wanting to extend clay-making skills to the wheel; or, if you learned years ago and need a refresher, this beginner-friendly course is the perfect way to get the fundamentals of making functional pottery on the wheel.

What You’ll Learn

Over six Sunday afternoons, students will build confidence and gain essential skills.

For the first four sessions you’ll focus on:

• Placing and centering clay on the pottery wheel - a foundational skill for successful “throwing” aka making pots on the wheel
• Forming (“pulling”) basic cylindrical shapes, which serve as the basis for making mugs, cups, bowls, jugs, vases, and lidded containers
• Discovering your own approach to wheel work - there’s no single "correct" way, and the tutor will introduce various styles to help you find the technique that suits you. 

In the final two Sundays, you’ll refine and complete your pieces. You will:

• Explore underglazing and glazing methods
• Glaze and decorate your pots
• Prepare pieces for final firing, ready for collection after the course

Meet Your Tutor

Leading this course is Mark Cole. Mark trained as a production thrower in the 1970s and has a deep love for slab-built and wheel-thrown forms, drawing inspiration from traditional East Asian ceramics.

An experienced teacher and mentor in Alice Springs, Mark has taught over 100 students in the past two years, guiding beginner, continuing, and advanced students in the art of wheel throwing. His approachable teaching style ensures a relaxed and supportive learning environment, making this course ideal for both first-time and returning potters.