Intensive courses | Earthworks

Intensives

Level 0 - our entry-level taster session perfect for absolute beginners, anyone returning after a long break, or those who just want some extra practice.

Level 2 - designed for makers who already feel comfortable with the basics and are ready to take things further. This course focuses heavily on improving your throwing technique, refining your centring, pulling, shaping, and consistency, while also introducing more advanced challenges like throwing larger amounts of clay, making sets, exploring lids, spouts, and handles, or developing more complex handbuilt elements to combine with thrown forms.

You’ll work with more independence while still receiving tailored, one-to-one support to help you progress. Whether you want to improve form and finesse, explore new shapes, deepen your understanding of clay, or build towards a personal project, Level 2 gives you the space, structure, and guidance to meaningfully level up your practice.

Level 0 - our entry-level taster session perfect for absolute beginners, anyone returning after a long break, or those who just want some extra practice.

Level 2 - Improvers Throwing Intensive Already comfortable with the wheel? This intensive is designed to sharpen and refine your throwing practice. You’ll focus on trimming techniques, scaling up your work, and refining your forms to achieve greater balance and finesse. A fantastic opportunity to receive close guidance from an experienced maker, this week will help you push past plateaus and develop a more confident throwing style.

Level 2: Porcelain Throwing

5 Morning Intensive

10am to 1pm each day
31 August - 4 September

For Improvers | Learn the Art of Throwing with Porcelain

Join us for a five morning intensive dedicated to throwing with porcelain. Celebrated for its translucency, strength and refined surface, porcelain is a rewarding but demanding material that requires a sensitive approach and careful technique.

Designed for those with some throwing experience, this course will help you build confidence working with porcelain while developing more refined, elegant forms.

What You'll Explore

Working with Porcelain
Learn the unique properties of porcelain, including preparation, wedging, centring and throwing techniques specific to this beautiful clay body.

Control & Precision
Develop a lighter touch and greater sensitivity on the wheel, improving consistency and control while working with a softer, more fluid material.

Refining Forms
Create elegant functional pieces while learning techniques for producing thinner walls, cleaner profiles and more refined proportions.

Drying & Finishing
Understand how to manage porcelain throughout the making process, with guidance on trimming, drying and avoiding common issues such as cracking and warping.

Throughout the week, we will provide demonstrations, hands-on guidance and individual feedback, helping you develop the confidence and technical skills needed to continue exploring porcelain.

Course includes up to one bag of porcelain per person, which can be taken away at the end of the course.

Level 1: Introduction to Throwing

5 Afternoon Intensive

2 - 5pm each day
31 August – 4 September

Perfect for complete beginners, this five-day intensive provides a hands-on introduction to wheel throwing.

You'll learn the essential techniques of centring, opening and pulling clay on the wheel, building confidence through demonstrations, guided practice and individual tuition. By the end of the week, you'll have created a series of pieces and developed a solid foundation for continuing your ceramics journey.

What to Bring

We're all about having fun and getting hands-on, so come prepared to dive into the world of clay! Wear something comfortable that you won’t mind getting a little clay on, and an apron is always a good idea if you are able to bring your own fantastic, if not - we have them at the studio. Short nails make working with clay easier, and if you’ve got long hair, tying it back will keep it out of your way.

Why Choose These Courses?

Personalised Instruction: With a maximum of 12 participants, you’ll receive plenty of one-on-one guidance and hands-on practice from our experienced instructors.
Skill-Focused: These sessions are about honing your technique and building confidence, not just filling shelves with pots.

Important Notes

Please ensure punctual attendance each day—this condensed course is designed for maximum engagement and hands-on participation.

What’s Included

Clay: A maximum of 3kgs of works can be kept, which can be taken at the greenware stage to fire in your own studio, or an additional session of glazing can be purchased alongside.

Glazing: If you purchase the glazing session for £50, you'll have access to a variety of studio glazes to add the perfect finish to your work. Link to glaze class - new times are uploaded at the end of the intensive and our team will walk you through the dates and times for booking.

Tools: For beginners no need to bring anything but your creativity — we've got all the tools you'll need. For improvers, you are welcome to bring your own tools.

Apron: If you have your own to bring fantastic if not we have them in the studio.

Course Details
Location: Arch 45, Nursery Road, Brixton, SW9 8BP
Times: Choose a 2 - or 3 -hour session at checkout (includes 15-min cleanup)
Class Size: We keep it cozy arranged in 2 groups of 6 with a maximum of 12 students.
Ages: Under-18s must attend with an adult
Collection: Pieces ready in 4 weeks; we’ll email you when it’s time

Please be advised to allow for approximately 5 weeks before your works are ready for collection, although we aim to get vessels fired as soon as possible. You will be emailed once your vessel is ready for collection. We are unable to post pieces. Finished pieces must be picked up from Earthworks studio within 3 months of the class.