Short Term Pottery Courses in London
6-Week Wheel Throwing Course:
Beginner
£280
Discover the joy of pottery with our 6-week wheel-throwing course at Blanc Ceramic, located in Park Royal, London. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, this hands-on course will guide you through the essentials of pottery making, from centering clay to glazing your final masterpiece.​
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​(More professionally structured, technically focused, and designed for students who want real skill progression, not just a fun taster.)
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Thursday Night
7pm
Saturday morning
10am
* ** Please note: for the 6-week classes starting in January, the sessions scheduled on 14th & 15th February will be postponed to the following week.
Class Breakdown
Week 1: Introduction to the Wheel
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Overview: Studio tour, tools, and safety essentials.
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Learn: Clay preparation, wedging techniques, and centering clay.
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Practice: Throwing simple cylinder forms to develop control and confidence.
Week 2: Shaping Bowls
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Focus: Opening and pulling walls to create bowl shapes.
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Challenge: Mastering bowl thickness and shaping techniques.
Week 3: Throwing Cylinders for Mugs
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Learn: Refining cylinders for mug forms.
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Bonus: Handle pulling techniques to complete your mugs.
Week 4: Plates and Functional Forms
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Focus: Creating plates, shallow dishes, and other wide forms.
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Learn: Managing clay thickness and preventing cracks during drying.
Week 5: Trimming, Refining, and Decorating
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Techniques: Trimming foot rings, smoothing surfaces, and refining forms.
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Decoration: Exploring underglazing, carving, and texturing techniques.
Week 6: Glazing & Finishing Touches
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Learn: Dipping, brushing, and layering glazes for a professional finish.
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Practice: Glazing your pieces using a selection of studio glazes.
What’s Included?
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All materials (clay, tools, glazes)
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Firing of finished pieces (up to 5 items per student)
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Expert instruction with hands-on guidance
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Extra Items: Additional pieces can be glazed and fired for £5-£15 per item.
Drop in session: £10 per hour
6-Week Wheel Throwing Course: Intermediate A/B
£360
A:
This course focuses on form control and functional techniques that commonly block students at the intermediate stage.
You will learn how to throw taller forms, narrow necks, and functional lidded vessels through step-by-step methods, rather than repeated guessing.
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B:
This course focuses on working at larger scale and with different materials, while introducing surface techniques in a controlled and practical way.
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You will learn how to handle larger forms, understand crackle effects, apply slip decoration, and throw porcelain with guidance on risks and limitations.
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Intermediate
A
Sunday morning
9:30 AM
Intermediate
B
Sunday afternoon
12:30 PM
* ** Please note: for the 6-week classes starting in January, the sessions scheduled on 14th & 15th February will be postponed to the following week.
A
Height, Form & Lidded Skills
Week 1 – Throwing Taller Forms (~18cm)
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Learn how to throw taller vessels with stability.
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Controlling height without thinning walls excessively
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Managing water, pressure, and timing
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Understanding why tall forms collapse or twist
Outcome:
At least one stable tall form reaching approximately 18cm.
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Week 2 – Narrow-Neck Vase Techniques
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Learn controlled narrowing and vase shaping.
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Correct timing for closing forms
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Preventing distortion and cracking
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Structural differences between vases and open forms
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Outcome:
A successfully narrowed vase form with stable structure.
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Week 3 – Hump Throwing for Lids
Learn efficient lid-making techniques.
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When and why to use hump throwing
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Controlling lid size and consistency
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Understanding common lid failures
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Outcome:
Multiple usable lids with consistent sizing.​​
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Week 4 – Making the Pot for the Lid
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Learn how to design pots that actually fit their lids.
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Measuring and planning for shrinkage
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Creating proper lid seats
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Understanding tolerance and fit
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Outcome:
A lidded pot with correct proportions and realistic fit potential.
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Week 5 – Trimming for Fit & Function
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Refine work for usability.
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Trimming lids and pots together
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Improving balance and foot-ring proportion
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Avoiding over-trimming mistakes
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Outcome:
A refined lidded form ready for finishing.
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Week 6 – Colour & Glazing
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Learn safe and effective glazing for functional work.
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Glazing strategies for lidded forms
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Preventing lids from sticking during firing
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Selecting pieces suitable for firing
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Outcome:
Up to 4 finished pieces fired after the course.
B
Scale, Surface & Material Techniques
Week 1 – Throwing Larger Bowls (e.g. Ramen Bowls)
Learn how to throw wide, open forms with stability.
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Supporting larger forms during opening and pulling
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Preventing base collapse and distortion
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Understanding why large bowls fail
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Outcome:
One structurally sound large bowl.
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Week 2 – Controlled Crackle Techniques
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Learn how to create crackle effects intentionally.
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Causes of cracking: thickness, stress, drying speed
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Controlling crack placement and scale
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Identifying unacceptable structural cracks
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Outcome:
One or more crackle-effect test pieces, or a clear understanding of why cracking occurred.
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Week 3 – Slip Decoration & Marbling
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Learn surface decoration using slip.
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Correct slip consistency and timing
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Clean marbling techniques without muddy results
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Knowing when to stop adding surface detail
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Outcome:
One decorated piece with controlled surface patterns.
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Week 4 – Porcelain Throwing
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Learn how to work with porcelain.
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Differences between porcelain and stoneware
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Adjusting pressure, water use, and timing
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Preventing collapse and cracking
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Outcome:
At least one successfully thrown porcelain form.
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Week 5 – Trimming for Surface
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Refine work while preserving surface quality.
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Trimming without damaging surface effects
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Foot-ring proportion for larger or expressive forms
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Understanding when trimming improves or harms a piece
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Outcome:
Refined forms ready for glazing.
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Week 6 – Colour & Glazing
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Finish surface-led work safely.
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Choosing glazes that support surface texture
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Thin glazing, partial glazing, and restraint
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Selecting pieces suitable for firing
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Outcome:
Up to 4 finished pieces fired after the course.
Weekly Breakdown
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How the Two Courses Work Together？
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Intermediate A builds technical confidence and structural control
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Intermediate B expands material understanding and surface possibilities
Together, they provide a complete intermediate foundation for further development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Join Our Pottery Classes in Park Royal?
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Learn from an expert: Over 9 years of pottery teaching experience.
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Small, intimate classes: More hands-on guidance for better learning.
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A fully equipped studio: Based in Park Royal, London, easily accessible by tube (North Acton).
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Relax and unwind: Experience the calming and therapeutic benefits of working with clay.
Secure Your Spot Today!
Spaces are limited, so book now to join our next 6-week ceramics course in London. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your skills, this course is the perfect creative escape.
For any questions, feel free to contact us—we’d love to welcome you to our pottery community!
