Description

Jem will demonstrate a variety of throwing and altering techniques, to create oval, square, rectangular, triangular and free-form shapes. There is an often neglected consistency of clay in between freshly thrown and conventional leather-hard, when a lot of this exciting and creative work is best orchestrated. 

You’ll be shown innovative ways of forming cut handles from thrown rims, and a strong emphasis will be placed upon developing loose-base making, where loose walls are thrown and altered and attached onto slabbed bases. We will investigate other age-old methods of fixed-base form alterations, where clay is strategically cut and removed, to allow thrown shapes to be teased and cajoled into soft ovals, squares and rectangles.

These techniques are especially useful for a gamut of oven bakers and shallow-walled forms, but we’ll also explore thrown and altered plates in this workshop. One-to-one and group tutorial will be tailored to inspire students to develop a range of new skills and to imaginatively expand upon their own individual range of pots. Tuition will also be available in wedging techniques for those wishing to extend their core clay prep’ skills.

Skill level: It will be expected that students attending this course will already have some experience in wheel throwing. The course will cater for students at different levels of capability, but it is not open to absolute Beginners. Applications are welcome only from students who are confidently already able to centre, and to comfortably lift-up approximately a kilo or more of clay into an upright shape. If you are unsure what level you are at, and whether or not this course is suitable for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat.

Schedule: The 3½ day course begins on the afternoon of Wednesday 17th June 2026, 2pm – 5pm, and completes on the afternoon of Saturday 20th June at 4pm. Tuition hours otherwise are 10am-4pm. The studio is freely available for students to work outside of these hours, early or late. The course fee includes Petra’s fabulous home-made vegetarian lunches along with morning and afternoon refreshments, and wood-fired pizza from the outdoor oven on the evening of Friday 19th, weather permitting. 

Facilities: We have two large Roderveld slab-rollers at Wobage to cater for your prolific slab-rolling. The studio invites a maximum of 9 students for this course. Each participant will enjoy unlimited access to a power wheel for the full duration. These are Fitzwilliam Rayefcos and Alsagers. The Rayefcos have hand-ratchet control which is of benefit for throwing larger and wider forms. All students will use Wobage’s venerated buff stoneware throwing clay which we make on site. Students are invited to bring their own toolbox, but it’s not necessary for your participation. There is a stock of quality hand-tools in the Wobage throwing studio for you to borrow.

Firing: Students will be invited to select one favourite Thrown & Altered pot to be salt-glazed and wood-fired at a cost of £5.50/lb. The piece you select for firing must carry a maker’s seal, initials, or signature. Further pots may be taken home green at the end of the course, at a cost of £1.50/lb.

Student discount: If you are 25 yrs or under, and a Full-time student in Higher Education, or you are within your first year after having graduated, this course invites a 20% discount. Which makes the course fee £444.00. If you would like to apply for this, please send us a request by e-mail.

More information about Jeremy Steward is available on the Tutors Pages.

To find out about availability or to book a place please visit the booking page.

Top photo: with kind permission of Layton Thompson