7 week course: The Way of Clay - Camden Art Centre

Ceramics for beginners & improvers

The Way of Clay: Ceramics for beginners and improvers is a 7 week course led by Claire Bevacqua. The course will guide students through 3 short projects covering pinching, soft slabbing using templates, coiling, spring and relief work. Students will also learn about surface decoration such as impressing texture into clay, sgraffito, decorating with slips, underglazes and glazes. 

During the course, students will build up their knowledge of ceramics practice by taking part in a series of short projects, each one building on the skills and techniques acquired the previous week. For the second half of the course students will then have the opportunity to develop their own projects with guidance and support.

The projects will give students an understanding of the clays and materials Camden Art Centre has on offer and an understanding of decorative techniques and firing temperatures. Students will also be shown what is ‘good practice’ in a ceramics studio including health and safety guidelines, how to prepare clay for projects and clay recycling. 

This course will cover:

  • Pinching, coiling, soft slabbing using templates
  • Sprigg and relief work
  • Surface decoration inc. impressing texture in to clay, sgraffito, decorating with slips, underglazes and glazes.
Additional information The Artist Share this page

Additional information

The building is fully wheelchair accessible. Please visit our access page on our website for more information on getting here, parking and facilities.

Adults’ courses are 18+ unless otherwise stated.

Evidence of concessionary status must be shown on the first day of the course.

Booking on a course at Camden Art Centre signifies your agreement to our terms and conditions as stated in our Learning Agreement.

All materials and firing costs are included. Size restrictions apply.

Bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable, unless the course is cancelled by the Centre. See Learning Agreement for details.

For the safety and comfort of our course attendees and staff, and to ensure we are accessible to the most vulnerable we
encourage:

  • Wearing a face covering in the building unless exempt.
  • Social distancing.
  • Following instructions given by a member of staff.
  • Please stay at home if you are feeling unwell.

The Artist

Claire Bevacqua studied Ceramics and Metalwork at Camberwell College of Art, after graduating in 2000 she completed an apprenticeship with Kate Malone and then continued her research in Faenza, Italy and Paterno, Sicily. On returning to the U.K she set up her own studio where she makes and sells her own sculptural work and teaches privately. Claire ran a successful artist residency program ‘Artigiana’ in Sicily in 2013-2016 and has been involved with teaching art and ceramics in the community since 2002.