Duration: 3 days
Price: £399
Run by:
Becky Otter
at
Potclays Ltd.
About the Course
*If you have completed this course please leave a review below!*
Please click BOOK ONLINE to be redirected to our Eventbrite booking page which contains full course information.
2019 DATES
March 18-20 (Mon-Tue-Wed)
October 14-16 (Mon-Tue-Wed)
Host: David Frith
Course duration: 3 days
Times: 9.30-16.30
Ability: Advanced
Places are restricted to a maximum of 10 to ensure sufficient one-to-one attention. To attend this course you should be a 'proficient thrower' able to comfortably and quickly throw a range of basic, medium sized forms. Full information about our courses including booking terms can be found on our website.
David Frith is one of the most respected of Britain's active potters. He has travelled extensively; teaching - both pottery and kiln-building, giving exhibitions and holding workshops. This outstandingly popular advanced level course has been extended to three days of intensive tuition, and will cover all aspects of throwing with practical demonstrations and hands-on sessions using Shimpo Whisper potter’s wheels. You will throw a wide range of bowls, platters and jars as well as lidded forms. David will deal with many aspects of surface pattern direct onto the newly thrown form, including faceting, paddling and rope-impressed design. He will also demonstrate two-piece throwing to enable bigger jars and bottles to be made.
Have you been inspired by the Great British Pottery Throw Down? Browse the range of inspiring pottery and ceramics courses at Potclays. We have been teaching beginners and practised professionals alike for over 35 years!
If booking with a CraftCourses voucher for part or all of the course fee, please fill in the contact form above or telephone us. Your voucher code must be provided at the point of booking.
What's included in the price?
Tool kit worth over £94, course materials, lunch, refreshments, preferential discounts against all of our products.
I throughly enjoyed this course as an intermediate thrower. David did numerous demonstrations which we then tried to copy, he is a master with such fluidity it was a joy to watch him - platters, urns with lids, big bowls etc. David's style is much more look and learn rather than full on teaching. I would have liked to been able to stay on later than 4pm which my fellow students agreed on too. We all would have benefited if this were possible as the days seemed quite short. But I've come home full of inspiration and more confidence as a result of spending 3 days with David Frith.
tamsin john - - #17507
Response from Potclays Ltd.:
Hi Tamsin, thanks so much for your review! We're very glad to hear you enjoyed the course and we will be sure to pass your comments on to David. As we mention on the course programme sheet, timings are flexible according to the progress of the group. However, we decided on a 4pm published finish time for our courses as we have, on occasion, had a mad rush at the end of a course for students to place or collect their orders. We are very happy for students to carry on working until shortly before we close, if they wish. Thanks again for your feedback and we look forward to seeing you again soon!All thanks to pot clay. I enjoyed this workshop with Mr David Frith
i responded more by working and directing with the great artist David
I was hoping to compensate us for an extra day for not having the artist on the first day
Especially to me brought from a place away from Kuwait
jamila al salem. Kuwait
jamila al salem - - #11418
Extremely well run and thought out course. David Frith is an inspiring presence . I have been throwing off and on for thirty years and was still able to learn new techniques and improve my throwing. A generous mountain of clay to get through and good arrangements for completed work. Fascinating tour of the site; Potclays staff extremely helpful at all times. A great course.
Charles Brown - - #8329
Two days of inspiration and confidence building. I am a handbuilder and have very little experience on the wheel. I worried that this course would be too difficult for me, but found that David explain everything in a brilliant and easy way. And helped us on the level we where at. These two days gave me the confidence to go home and continue working on the wheel. David is an amazing potter. I could watch him all day long. Came home with plenty of pots in all sizes. AMAZING
Tine Hagen Dalgaard - - #3541
I thoroughly enjoyed being on the course with David Frith. I have been studying ceramics for over 25 years and I was still learning more new techniques. David is a fountain of knowledge and is very generous with it and has an ability to make everything appear easy and achievable.
We made platters, jugs, bowls, tea bowls, faceted decoration. He demonstrated different decorating techniques which were brilliant. All in all a very inspiring tutor.
The staff at Potclays were extremely helpful and pleasant. Nothing was too much trouble. James Otter went out of his way to show us around the factory which was most interesting and informative. James does his utmost to explain things in detail. I bought a kiln from them last year and James spent a lot of time explaining the workings of it and made a video for me to refer to on my telephone.
The lunches were plentiful and varied, most welcome after a morning of throwing.....
Best wishes
Wendy Van Dort
Wendy Van Dort - - #3489
I really enjoyed this course.
As a self taught thrower I really got a lot out of the two days that is going to be helpful and hopefully now progress my throwing skills.
David is a very talented, knowledgeable Potter.
We threw plates, bowls, vases, jugs, lids, and we also played with various decorating methods. My only disappointment is not spending some time on two piece throwing.
I would definitely recommend this course.
Ollie Chappell - - #3487
Had two wonderful days on the course. Staff very friendly and helpful. Food good and plenty of it.
David is an excellent teacher very patient and encouraging.
David is very quietly spoken and difficult to hear when he is addressing the whole group, maybe a microphone and speakers would help.
Thank you David and all the staff at Potclays
Frank Golden - - #2581
Inspirational potter.a very enjoyable and helpful two days. Helpful staff, and may thanks for the jump-start as I flattened battery during day 1! Two sinks is insufficient , though we got by. The food was excessive in amount, and perfectly satisfactory,though a bit stodgy -some fruit would have been good.
Willie - - #1745
I really loved this course. I have been throwing for 3 years and felt it was at the right level for me and really moved me on. Initially I was daunted by the amount of clay we threw with (around 2-3 kgs) but I made huge progress and am delighted with what I am now able to do. David was a great teacher, really I would have liked one more day. Potclays were great, next time have a pile of batts available for us to buy at home time please! Two sinks with only cold water was not enough for 10 of us, it would be good if you could improve on this. I bought lots of the clay we used on the course, it would be great if there were opportunities to try out some of your other clays too. Many thanks.
Rachel Burch - - #1739
A wonderful two days, I really felt I had advanced greatly. David Frith demonstrated a variety of technics and I had the opportunity to practice them with help where needed. As a near beginner David supported where appropriate and mademe feel I could do it! The Staff were great and very helpful. The only negative I feel was the lunch, which was basic.... perhaps everyone bringing their own might work? Thank You.
Steph Emmerich - - #1034
1.lots of good aspects...eg food, /tuition for capable potters ..but some gaping weaknessess..2 I did fill in form and left in on desk so i dont understand..why that wasnt sufficient...?since all potters sat ..on low wheels there wasnt an option to stand ..so we were getting used to new throwing details..and prescribed a position the work was done from[ sitting] but iam a standing thrower.!it was awkward.2 Some people were out of their depths...they could hardly centre the clay.....so i suggest you grade your throwing courses eg beginners/ advanced , even intermediate.3 only one way of wedging the clay was used...most people couldnt do it...so struggled to get a quality piece of clay to work with...why couldnt cut and slam have been set up?..a little more thought required.4..I am stating it as i saw it ...since you asked ..but please remember there were many positives....lastly if you wish , i would be happy to lead a intermediate or beginners course ..if you felt it was appropriate.....Please respond stating that my comments did get through to you ...since i did fill in a sheet that came with the course ..and i dont know what has become of it.? Vinny Common 07808960418
Vinny Commons - - #737
I have been on at least 5 throwing courses. I have to say that I got more out of this one than any of the others. Very sympathetic tuition.
neil spalding - - #730
A great learning experience with such a highly skilled and helpful mentor. David is such a nice guy. Learnt a lot of new techniques.The two days flew by.
Nothing is too much trouble for the staff.
The food and refreshments are up to the normal good standard.
Thank you
JOHN COMMANE - - #727
David Frith is an excellent and inspiring teacher with a lot of sympathy for relative beginners.The course organisation was excellent but the provision of clay was a bit sparse! Luckily David could cope with clay reuse/ slabbing etc and did most of this for us.
The only other problem was a worry that the warehouse would shut before we had time to finish our course and tidy everything up.
A very enjoyable and productive two days!
patricia kumar - - #726
Great course with David whose throwing is inspirational.
Rosey Paul - - #725
Having recently attended two days at Potclays seminar 'Pottery Throwing With David Frith', I just had to say what an enjoyable and inspiring time I had. So much was achieved in just two days. Techniques included: throwing, turning, pulling and attaching handles, slip decoration, faceting, decorative pattern and mark making, and techniques for larger scale pots. David demonstrates first, and then gives plenty of individual attention which makes the course suitable for all abilities. The venue was excellent, and everything you could possibly need was provided. Highly recommended!
Andrea Young - - #361
As an enthusiastic amateur I had never thrown anything bigger than six inches. As a small group there was plenty of hands on experience and personal attention which had me making faceted and lidded jars and 12 inch vases using the two piece throwing. In two days I had advanced more than the previous six months and inspired to further progress and success. David's style of teaching was friendly and effective making this a most enjoyable and productive two days. Highly recommended!
Martin Swaby - - #356
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