Pottery Courses: Learn Pottery

Considering a Pottery Course? 

Would you like to learn the art of pottery making in a pottery course? Pottery making can be an excellent hobby that allows you to get creative all the while giving your mind a good mental break. It’s lots of fun and provides the opportunity to meet new people. If all of that excites you, a pottery course may be a perfect option for you. The good news is there are plenty of pottery courses available currently. They are very flexible too in that they offer part-time, evening class and online class options.  

What is Pottery? 

The term pottery is rather vague and has numerous meanings. In this instance, it refers to functional vessels that are made by hand out of clay that must be fired.  

A Brief History of Pottery Making 

The oldest known body of pottery dates back 10,000 years, during the Neolithic revolution. Lifestyles in Africa and the Middle East were transitioning from nomadic hunters and gatherers to farms who put down roots and planted crops.  

Baskets were useful handicrafts used for gathering. However, they cannot hold liquids. Necessity dictated that it was vital to find a material that was readily available and inexpensive, pliable enough to shape and light enough to carry.  

Clay fit the criteria here and was an abundance resource in the region. Early pots were built by stacking rings of clay, which were then smoothed out and fired in a hole in the ground, under a bonfire.  

These pots were expendable and undecorated. They were created for the purpose of transporting liquids. Today, pottery is a popular craft and hobby. Lots of people are excited to give pottery a go.  

What Will I Learn? 

Each pottery course varies due to the course provider and the level of the pottery course. However, there are some universal topics that you can expect to learn in just about any pottery course. Therefore, you can expect to explore, the different kinds of clay and other relevant materials and the history of pottery. In addition, you should expect to explore sculptural techniques, how to pinch, slab, press, mold and coil and about firing and kilns. You will also learn about glazes and wheel work. You may learn more than you read here. If you would like an exact list of topics, do not hesitate to contact your course provider. They will be happy to hear you are interested in their course and happy to help you answer your questions.  

Career Opportunities 

After completing your pottery course, you can work in a variety of roles. For example, you could work as a teacher of a pottery course or work as a freelance pottery maker. Alternatively, if you don’t want to work in pottery, you could just do it as a hobby to relieve your mind in the evenings and on the weekends. It can be a very relaxing and rewarding hobby.  

If you’re serious about doing a pottery course, check out courses near you in the Nightcourses.co.uk national course finder.