Geoff Thiel Ceramics

I've recently moved to Chichester and my pottery studio is not up and running yet. However if you would like to register an interest for future workshop events please email me at info@geoffthielceramics.co.uk with FUTURE WORKSHOPS in the subject line. I'll contact you when the workshops are starting again.

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One Day Intensive Throwing Workshops for 2 people

Suitable for existing potters wanting to improve their throwing techniques (not suitable for beginners)

 

AVAILABLE DATES​

Rather than publish fixed dates for the workshops, I'm currently asking people to contact me and arrange a two-person course on a day that suits them. You'll need to find another potter who has some throwing experience and who wants to do the course with you, then follow the instructions in the BOOKING STEPS section below. 

 

WORKSHOP SUMMARY

THROWING BASICS

• Centering and coning effectively

• Achieving full height in 3 lifts

• Throwing evenly and avoiding ‘big bottoms’

THROWING OTHER TOPICS – depending on student progress

• Throwing bottles and enclosed shapes

• Final shaping and burnishing

• Throwing large pots and bowls

Note: the idea of the workshop is to focus on throwing techniques rather than making perfectly finished pots. We do this by throwing quickly then scrunching up the pot and trying again (although students can keep the odd masterpiece if they want). I help with wedging the clay which frees you to spend almost the entire day actually throwing. 

 

Clay: Choice of Earthstone Original (ES5) white stoneware clay or Ashraf Hanna Raku Clay for students interested in raku. Both of these clays throw well

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Food – drinks and biscuits provided – please bring a packed lunch (or you can buy takeaway sandwiches from one of the nearby cafes)

Class size - Two people only

 

BOOKING STEPS

1) Please email me with your BOOKING REQUEST containing the following information to:-info@geoffthielceramics.co.uk 

• ​Names of the two attendees

• A few words about each person's previous wheel throwing experience. (You should at least be able to throw small pieces)

• Suggest a few future dates that would suit you. Note the best days are Wednesdays or Fridays or perhaps a weekend day if that is more convenient

2) I'll email you back confirming a suitable date

3) Full Payment secures your place​

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PAYMENTS AND REFUNDS:-

The Throwing Workshop cost is £70 per person including materials and refreshments

Payment can be made by PayPal or bank transfer (my payment details will be sent at Step 2 above)

If cancelled 21 days or more before the course - full refund less a £20 per person admin fee

If cancelled 20 or less days before the beginning of the course – no refund (unless I receive a booking and payment from a suitable replacement person, in which case I will refund your payment less a £20 per person admin fee)

In the unlikely event that a course doesn’t run I’ll make a full refund

 

TESTIMONIAL by David F

To be a great potter and a great teacher is very rare indeed, people are normally one or the other. Geoff is both. He quickly identified exactly my needs for the day and used a variety of techniques including clear demonstrations to improve my throwing and give me greater confidence on more ambitious pieces.

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TESTIMONIAL by Laura & Rosie

Geoff Thiel invited two of us to act as guinea pigs for his proposed throwing sessions. We are both students of ceramics and have attended a class with a professional potter for several years. We throw and hand-build equally, but felt that we needed to learn new and different ways of throwing and to improve our skills.

 

To begin with Geoff demonstrated how to make tall cylinders with just a few throws and progressed to forming an elegant round shape with narrow top; a typical shape for Raku-fired ceramics. 

 

We used Geoff’s preferred clay, Ashraf Hanna, especially suitable for Raku. We wired through and split each of our efforts to examine the quality of the throw for evenness and balance. We did improve the more we practiced.

 

Geoff was very patient, precise and encouraging with his explanations. His studio is a light and a well laid-out space, with 2 throwing wheels, 2 kilns and all the necessary slips, glazes and equipment.

 

As each potter has their own techniques it was beneficial to learn a slightly different method of throwing. We both left the session encouraged and enthused and would highly recommend his classes.