Throwing for Beginners

Starting:  Late March/ Early April 2012

Times: 7pm - 9pm

Duration: 7 weeks

Class dates: To be determined

Cost: £120 per person (all materials and firings included)

Teacher: Emilka Radlinska

Contact: emilka (dot) radlinska (at) gmail (dot) com or 07748 268 275

Throwing is the ceramic artists' term for working on the potter's wheel. This class will concentrate on building a solid foundation in basic techniques, including centering, throwing basic forms to create mugs, cups or simple vases, turning, making and attaching handles, decorating using inlay and sgraffito techniques, glazing and applying transfers.

Throwing is a very calming and meditative process. It develops and hones your sense of touch, as the work is formed by guiding and shaping the clay with your hands and fingers. Sight only plays a secondary role in this process. If you spend your entire day staring at a computer screen, consider working on the potter's wheel as a way to re-awaken your senses.

Everything you make is yours to take home with you at the end of the course and there is no limit on the number of pieces you can create. The cost of the classes includes all materials and firings. All equipment and tools provided. 

If you have any questions please contact Emilka on 07748 268 275 or (0141) 550 8030 or by email on emilka (dot) radlinska (at) gmail (dot) com. Gift vouchers for upcoming classes are also available. 

Private classes and workshops are also open for bookings. Private classes usually run after business hours, that is from 5pm on weekdays and any time on the weekend. Contact the studio on 0141 550 8030 or email Emilka on emilka (dot) radlinska (at) gmail (dot) com to make a booking.

If you are interested in joining a class in the future or would like to be placed on the Throwing for Beginners email list, please feel free to contact me and I'll advise you of any further starting dates as soon as they are scheduled. The classes run regularly. New courses start every 8 to 10 weeks.

 Left: class participants Rachel Mooney (foreground) and Allison MacWhirter (background) throwing on the potter's wheel.
Right: class participant Karen Elliott decorating her work.

Private lessons for individuals and groups:

Would you like your own private throwing class? Private lessons are available for individuals at £25 p/h and for couples at £30 p/h. The cost for each additional person after that is £15 for two hours. Prices include all materials and firings. All tools and equipment provided. Private classes are individually tailored to fit personal schedules and skill levels.

Classes are usually 2 hours long and can be taken as a taster session, which is when you come in just the once, or as a series of classes.

In the taster session, you would get a chance to make work on the potter's wheel, which will later be glazed for you in the colour of your choice. If you would like to follow the making process from start to finish yourself, and learn about turning, decorating, firing and glazing your work yourself, a minimum of four classes is recommended. 

Glazing classes:

Private lessons are also available for groups and individuals interested in acquiring some extra skills in glazing. Glazing classes are designed to appeal to anyone who would like to learn more about glazing techniques, glaze chemistry, how to choose and order suitable glazes or even about how to make your own glazes and how to go about glaze testing. Prices vary depending on whether the class is to be theoretical (glaze chemistry) or practical (making your own glazes).

Emilka Radlinska, Water Eddies series, porcelain, 2010

About the teacher:

Emilka Radlinska is a Polish born Australian artist, who completed her Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours degree at the Canberra School of Art, Australian National University in 2002 and moved to Scotland in 2006. Emilka works as a professional ceramic artist and has exhibited her work nationally and internationally.

She has experience teaching ceramics at undergraduate level as well as Continuing Adult Education classes at the Australian National University. In addition to her studio based practice, running regular evening classes, workshops and commission work, Emilka works as a sessional artist teaching ceramics workshops for Artlink Central, a charitable arts organisation based in Stirling.

To see images of Emilka's work, choose her name from the list under Meet the Makers in the menu on the left hand side.  

How to reserve your place in a class:

To secure your place all you need to do is contact Emilka by email (emilka dot radlinska at gmail dot com) with your request, name and contact details and pay a £30 deposit. To pay the deposit, send a cheque for the amount, dated for the start date of the classes, to Mrs E. Radlinska, Glasgow Ceramics Studio (#11), Wasps Artists Studios, 77 Hanson Street, G31 2HF.  You can change your mind up to a week before the classes are due to start and the cheque will be returned to you. Your cheque will not be banked until the course start date. You are also most welcome to make an appointment to view the studio and meet the teacher prior to the start of the classes. 

The deposit can also be paid in cash or by bank transfer. If you would like to use either of those options please get in touch by phone or email for further details. 

If no start date is available online, please contact Emilka by email to put your name down on our email list. You will receive an email as soon as the next class start dates and times are announced.

Throwing for Continuing Beginners:

A Throwing for Continuing Beginners course is also available. This course is meant as a continuation of the Throwing for Beginners class. It is a further seven week course of two hour long evening classes which gives you time to enjoy and practice your new found skills. The cost of the course is the same as the Throwing for Beginners course.

This class will give you time to hone your skills and spend more time concentrating on whatever aspect of the earlier Throwing for Beginners class you enjoyed best. Techniques such as throwing forms in sections, working off the hump and using a chuck for turning will be introduced, as will decorating with underglazes. New forms will be demonstrated on request and developing consistency and refinement of form through throwing multiples will be encouraged. This class is only available to those who have completed the Throwing for Beginners class and will only be run numbers permitting.

If you are interested in the Continuing Beginners class, please mention it during or at the completion of the Throwing for Beginners course.

The January/ February 2012 Throwing for Continuing Beginners course is now fully booked. Another course is scheduled to start in late March/ early April 2012.

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