Description

Perhaps you have frustrations, questions or gaps in your making that you’d like to resolve? Handle-making, jug lips, teapot lids or spouts? Would you like to challenge the scale of certain pots you make; wider plates or taller jars?
Jem will focus on key skills and considerations for working through different scales of functional pot in wheel-throwing. Students will be encouraged to look closely at the weights and measures of pots and to challenge these in relation to ergonomics and fitness to purpose. In addition to these more formal aspects of repetition production, the course will explore aesthetics and creative ways in which the wheel can be used to create a harmonious family of ideas across a range of tableware or alternatively to create one-off show pieces. One-to-one and group tutorial will be tailored to inspire students to develop new skills and to imaginatively expand upon their own individual range of pots. In collaboration and conversation with Jeremy, students will create their own schedule of exploration for the course.

The studio invites a maximum of 9 students for this course. Each participant will enjoy unlimited access to a power wheel for the full duration. These are Fitzwilliam Rayefcos and Alsagers. The Rayefcos have hand-ratchet control which is of benefit for throwing larger and wider forms. All students will use Jem’s high quality stoneware throwing clay.

It will be expected that students attending this course will already have signicicant experience in wheel throwing, over the duration of several years. The course will cater for students at different levels of capability. However, applications are welcome only from students who are confidently already able to centre, and to comfortably lift-up approximately a kilo or more of clay into an upright shape. If you are unsure what level you are at, and whether or not this course is suitable for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat.

The course begins on the afternoon of Thursday 10th July 2025, 2pm – 5pm, and completes on Sunday 13th July at 4pm. Tuition hours otherwise are 10am-4pm. The studio is freely available for students to work outside of these hours, early or late. The course fee includes home-made vegetarian lunches, Friday through to Sunday, along with morning and afternoon refreshments, and an evening of wood-fired pizza on Saturday 12th weather permitting.

Students will be invited to select a maximum of two favourite pots to be salt-glazed and wood-fired at a cost of £5/lb. Given sufficient time on the last day, the tutor is happy to provide some instruction and demonstration to help you to raw-glaze and slip-decorate your selected work. Alternatively, you can choose your preferred slip colours and Jem will complete this process after the close of the course. These pots will be fired during Autumn / Winter 2025 usually within about 4-6 months of our Summer courses season. They will be weighed and the firing fee invoiced post-firing. We prefer for students to collect their fired work from Wobage, but of course we’re happy to post them out via courier to those living further afield, for which a small additional P&P cost will be charged.
You may take home as much leather-hard work as you wish, within reason, from that which has been made within the framework of the course. These green pots will be charged at £1.50/lb.

More information about Jeremy Steward is available on the Tutors Pages.