Level 1 | Hand-building with Lily | 12 weeks

Ideal for those who’ve completed a taster session or first timers. This course offers a structured and in-depth learning experience over twelve weeks, focusing on essential techniques in hand building. You'll build confidence with form, process, and studio practice in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Classes are kept small with just 6 to 12 participants, ensuring individual guidance and the space to develop your skills. On completion, you’ll have the experience needed to become a studio member.

For more information on our course levels go to: https://throwingshapes.ie/pages/levels

For more information on our course levels see our Levels Guide

Over 2.5 hours per week, students will become familiar with the foundational teachings of hand building. Please bring a notebook along for ideas, sketches and note taking.

Weeks 1 - 5: Hand Building Foundations
Learn the core techniques of pinch, slab, and coil building to create both functional and sculptural ceramic forms. These first weeks will be demonstration and practice based, allowing students to explore form, thickness, and structure through guided, hands-on learning.

Week 6 - 7: Surface Decoration & Refining
The surface design of objects will be focused on this week; exploring sgraffito, newsprint transfer, carving and using underglaze. Objects will be refined and there will be a critique on what's working well.

Week 8 - 10: Personal project
With guidance from Lily, participants will apply their skills to develop a sculptural or functional project of their own. Students are encouraged to bring ideas, sketches, or reference material, and to use notebooks to support their design and decision-making process.

Week 11 - 12: Glazing
Apply glazes to your finished pieces and learn about the glazing process, from colour choices to techniques for different effects.

Includes clay, tools and firing/glazing costs for 10 pieces or equivalent. Pieces will be ready for collection approximately 4-6 weeks after the final glaze date.

What is your cancellation policy?
To request a cancellation and refund, you must email refunds@throwingshapes.ie. Refunds requested more than two weeks prior to the first class are fully refundable. There will be no refunds after this point under any circumstance, nor can we transfer you to another class. Unfortunately we cannot be flexible on this policy for any reason. Should a class not fill sufficiently, we may cancel or reschedule it one week prior to the first class session.

What if I miss a day of my course?
If you miss a day you will not be able to make it back. you must be able to attend each week/day of the same course. You cannot transfer days or make up time. Please check you are available for every date before booking your course.

Are there any additional fees?
No - everything is included in your course. If you'd like to buy your own toolkit you can at checkout when purchasing your class, but tools will be provided either way.

Can I sign my kids up for classes?
No, all students must be 18+ to attend classes.

Can I gift a class to someone?
Of course! You can book them an available class and add their name on checkout, or purchase a gift card for them to decide on their own class.

Can I fire and glaze my own work?
For our taster classes you pick a glaze and we glaze the work for you.
For our 6 week courses you pick 5 of your favourite pieces and glaze them on your 6th week.
For our weekend 2-Day or 3-Day courses you will return 4 weeks later to glaze your own work. You will be notified of this date after you have booked the course.

If I don't see any classes available - when will they be added?
We add new blocks of classes three months in advance of classes starting.

Can I join a waiting list for classes?
Yes you can! Our waiting list works per date - so please go to a date or course you'd like to attend if it became available. You can sign up there and you will get notified if there are cancellations

Can I prebook classes for the next block before they are released?
No, classes are available on a first-come first-served basis and can not be prebooked.

Can I switch between a class our course if my availability changes?
This is subject to availability. You can email info@throwingshapes.ie to see if we have anything available to switch to. If we do not your spot will be cancelled according to our cancellation policy (above).

• All students must be 18+ to register for classes.

• All levels welcome, from beginner to expert. 6-9 people per class. Should a class not fill sufficiently, we may cancel or reschedule it one week prior to the first class session.

• To request a cancellation and refund, you must email refunds@throwingshapes.ie. Refunds requested more than two weeks prior to the first class are fully refundable. There will be no refunds once the class begins in any circumstance, nor can we transfer you to another class.

• For multiple day courses, you must be able to attend each week of the same course. You cannot transfer days or make up time. Please check you are available for every date before booking your course.

• For courses or classes on Mondays - we run through bank holidays from the start date of the course unless otherwise stated.

• If you would like to gift a class you can enter the attendee's name at time of booking or send an email to gifts@throwingshapes.ie.