Kick start 2026 with this adventure into hand built ceramics with artist Stephen Bird. Learn from his inventive approach, years of experience as a practicing artist and educator, and his enthusiasm for all things clay.

In this 5-week course students will experiment with a variety of hand building techniques. Looking at the suitability of certain clays, how to prepare clay, making maquettes, and scaling up. Students will be led through innovative exercises and encouraged to take risk and to be innovative. Students will also explore the potential of clay slips, stains, metal oxides and underglazes in order to develop a unique body of work. All works will be fired in the BSA electric kiln.

Students will be shown how to work safely and effectively with clay, stains, metal oxides and glazes.

Students are required to follow any guidance given in regards to Workplace Health and Safety procedures and clean up studio spaces and tools and equipment at the end of each session.

During the course students will develop a variety of hand building techniques, including slabs, coils, mold making and their own discoveries to build complex and innovative forms. These forms will then be used to experiment with a variety of glazing techniques. Students will explore a variety of drawing and painting techniques using liquid clay slips, stains, and metal oxides. There is plenty of scope in this course for self discovery and for students to develop a unique body of works.

Students will be encouraged to use drawing exercises as a way of generating and developing new and improvised forms.

No prior ceramics experience necessary.

Materials fee $50

Post firing fee $6/kilo for each firing

About Stephen

Dates | 5 x Tuesdays 3 - 31 March, 10am - 3pm

Course fee | $575 ($560 Earlybird - pay by 24 February)

Course Code | HB2601

ENROL

For more information email shortcourses@byronschoolofart.com or phone 0487 362 141