Central Coast Potters Society
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Lynn Treers, 2016. Photo: Chris Allen
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Joy Nagy, Sculptural Bowl, 2018. Photo: Kylie Rose McLean
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Geoff Hawkins, Vase Seed Pod1, 2018. Photo: Kylie Rose McLean

COURSES IN CLAY AT CCPS

Contact the Education Manager for all class enquires.

CCPS runs courses for children, as well as adult courses in hand building, wheel forming and sculpture. See below for our new Term 1 2019 timetable.
CCPS courses in clay are extremely popular and book out very quickly.
Course sizes are limited to 10 students (adults) and 12 students (children).
Inclusion in a course is dependent upon receipt of payment in full.

Do you have an idea for a course?
Don't hesitate to call us should you have a particular skill or area of working with clay that you would like to explore. We are open to new ideas. There is always potential for new courses and specialist workshops.

2019 TERM DATES

All courses run for 8 weeks within school terms - see dates below
                   Week commencing Tuesday
TERM 1  -  12 February to 02 April 2019
TERM 2  -  30 April to 18 June 2019
TERM 3  -  23 July to 10 September 2019
TERM 4  -  15 October to 03 December 2019

BOOKING A PLACE IN A COURSE

1. Read the courses information carefully.
2. Email your course preference to the Education Manager
  • Note the course details - day/time/teacher
​3. You will receive a notification email indicating your place in a course, if a place is available.
4. Follow the payment instructions provided in the notification email.


IMPORTANT
Enrolment is dependent upon receipt of payment (the Education Manager is notified by the Treasurer when payment is received).

2019 COURSES FEES


ADULT COURSES
$280 for an 8 week term, inclusive of clay and firing
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CHILDREN COURSES  (See Courses Term 1 Children)
$180 for an 8 week term, inclusive of clay and firing
A variable enrolment fee is offered to families with more than one child in a course.
Additional child in the same family: $168 for an 8 week term, inclusive of clay and firing.

CLICK HERE FOR CHILDREN COURSES


2019 TERM 1 COURSES TIMETABLE

Contact the Education Manager with your preferred course option from the timetable below. Read the following teacher/course information for details.
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TERM 1 ADULT COURSES

Hand building, wheel forming, figurative sculpture, garden sculpture.
Whether you have little or no experience, or extensive knowledge in clay, based on your needs, vision and interest you will improve your skills, building your knowledge and understanding of manipulating clay.

Wheel Forming

Lynn Treers

​Making things from clay has been an abiding interest of mine from childhood.

My formal pottery classes began in 1968 at the NSW Potters Society headquarters in Woolloomooloo, which I continued at TAFE after relocating to Inverell in 1980. Following these classes, I accepted the invitation to teach pottery to children and adult beginners. I relished the visits from the Queensland Flying Art School tutors who held workshops, introducing new and exciting aspects of working with clay for isolated country potters.

I came to live in Gosford in 1982 and joined the Central Coast Potters Society (CCPS) in 1983. Since then I have been heavily involved with CCPS, including being a pottery teacher to adults as well as children. In 2008 I was awarded a Life Membership for my consistent contribution.
There are many workshops and courses which I have attended since 1983, expanding my knowledge and proficiency in clay. Of particular note was a five-day workshop with Greg Daly, Japanese tea bowl making with Paul Davis and throwing with Cameron Williams. I continue to participate in many interesting and challenging ceramic workshops to broaden my skills, including Hornsby TAFE where I completed a number of qualifications.

​As CCPS Exhibition Manager, I love being involved in the creation and organisation of our exhibitions in which I regularly exhibit. Over the years, I have been awarded prizes and commendations for my ceramics, some of which are on display in the CCPS studio.
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​Wheel Forming - Beginners    FULLY BOOKED
Tuesday - 6:30pm to 9:00pm


In this course students will gain experience in wedging clay, centring clay on the wheel and throwing simple forms. Each student will have the opportunity to complete a mug and a small jug with a handle, a cereal bowl and a small 'sugar bowl' with a simple lid. Additional skills will be incorporated into the course, such as weighing clay, measuring and making a lid for a pot 'off the hump', trimming forms and bases, altering a rim to form a functional spout, pulling a handle, throwing and or adding a knob to a lid.

Students will be encouraged to repeat shapes, cut them up and review outcomes, thereby gaining the skills to throw pots independently and confidently, taking into consideration shape and proportion. Each student's best pieces will be selected each week for firing. Basic glazing and firing will be discussed, along with the use of slips, underglazes, decals, surface treatment and pot alteration.

Students of differing levels of expertise will be accommodated within this class, making their term of using clay an enjoyable experience.This course accommodates differing levels of expertise within a relaxed learning environment, where all students have an enjoyable experience using clay.
On completing this course, students will have developed skills in:
  • wedging clay;
  • centring clay on the wheel;
  • throwing simple forms - a mug, small jug with a handle, a bowl and a sugar bowl with a lid;
  • measuring for and making a lid;
  • trimming and turning thrown pieces;
  • judging shape and proportion of their thrown pieces;
  • a range of additional skills according to each student’s ability and progression;
  • surface treatment including glazing;
  • basic kiln & firing knowledge.
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Course starts Tuesday 12 February to 02 April - 8 weeks
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Kylie Rose McLean

I first touched clay at high school in the 1980s, making a series of thrown functional forms for my HSC Visual Arts Major Work. I was hooked then, and although I have deviated several times from the ceramics path, I am now back on track and feeling totally at home when my hands are covered in clay.

I love creating with clay, particularly with layered surfaces, and raw and atmospheric firings. My hand built, mound-shaped forms are the perfect canvas for experimentation.

Although teaching ceramics is relatively new to me, I have been a teacher for almost 20 years, previously in event design and currently as a high school multimedia teacher. My studies include Hornsby TAFE where I graduated with an Advanced Diploma in 2014. I have participated in many group and solo exhibitions and been fortunate to win a number of awards.

Teaching ceramics is a delight, and learning with my students is a pleasure.
​Wheel Forming Cylinders - Beginners
Saturday - 8:30am to 11:00am

Intrigued about the pottery wheel? Want to give it a try? All wheel thrown items start life as a cylinder. Mastering this form provides you with a solid basis to expand your skills.

The primary focus of this course is learning the basics and throwing a cylinder. Students will repeatedly throw pieces, cutting them and reviewing the outcomes to develop their skills. Those with previous experience will be challenged to throw the perfect cylinder in several efficient movements. An introduction to a range of clay bodies and glazing tests is also included.

​By the end of term, each student should have a collection of bisqued cylinders, ready for glazing in Term 2.
(A glazing course will run in Term 2, to grow knowledge and understanding about clay and its' possibilities.)
On completing this course, students will have developed skills in:
  • knowing a variety of clay bodies;
  • making a pinch pot;
  • wedging and weighing clay;
  • centring a ball of clay on the pottery wheel;
  • throwing a cylinder;
  • turning a foot on a cylinder;
  • glazing test pieces;
  • basic kiln & firing knowledge.

Course starts Saturday 16 February to 06 April - 8 weeks​
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Hand Building

Learn basic and intermediate techniques for hand building with clay, including coiling, pinching, slab building and surface treatments.

Karin Krebs

I live in a house filled with pottery. All the domestic ware in my kitchen is handmade and my shelves display a wonderful collection of sculpture. My passion is alternative firings, particularly the methods of raku and saggar.
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I have worked with clay for the last two decades, originally studying at the Nepean College for two years. In 2000, after a sea change, my ceramic practice continued to develop at Hornsby TAFE over a twelve-year period. During that time, many well-known ceramists generously shared their knowledge with me. In the same year I joined the Central Coast Potters Society, where I organise the kiln firings and glaze making, as well as teaching.
Hand Building - Beginners 
Thursday - 10:00am to 12:30pm
FULLY BOOKED
In my hand building class, you will learn the three fundamental techniques of pottery: pinching, coiling and slab building. You will also be introduced to applying glazes to your work.
With these techniques, you can create almost anything!

On completing this course, students will have developed skills in:
  • making a pinch pot;
  • making coils and creating a coil-built form;
  • rolling clay slabs and creating a variety of forms;
  • developing a concept and creating a ceramic work from your own design;
  • a range of additional skills associated with each student’s individual project.
  • applying underglaze and glaze;
  • basic kiln & firing knowledge.

Course starts Thursday 14 February to 04 April - 8 weeks
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Lynn Treers - Hand Building - Beginners

See Lynn's profile above in Wheel Forming.
Hand Building - Beginners
Thursday - ​6:30pm to 9:00pm
FULLY BOOKED
​On completing this course, students will have developed skills in:
  • basic knowledge about clay properties and firing temperatures;
  • making a pinch pot;
  • rolling clay slabs and making a cylinder;
  • making coils and creating a coil-built form;
  • creating textured surfaces using stamps and impressions;
  • applying glaze;
  • basic kiln & firing knowledge.

Course starts Thursday 14 February to 04 April - 8 weeks
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Sculpture

Carol McGilvrey

​Carol McGilvrey is a high school Visual Arts teacher, passionate about spreading her love of ceramics. Since her HSC work, ‘A homage to Andy Warhol’, was chosen for ArtExpress in 1987, Carol has continued her enthusiasm for clay. She practices in her home studio on the Central Coast, regularly sells her work and attends ceramics workshops, completing an artist residency last year in Jingdezhen, China.
Sculptural Garden Ceramics   FULLY BOOKED
Wednesday - 6:00pm to 8:30pm


​Join in an adventure into sculptural ceramics to create a fabulous feature vessel for your garden.

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During this course you will design your own component-based sculptural vessel, pieced together using a flange system. By developing hand building skills with pinch pots, slab and coil building techniques, as well as high and low relief decoration, you will construct the individual components of your garden vessel. Learn to apply engobe, underglaze, oxide, tissue transfers and glazes.
 
The individual pieces of your creation will be assembled and photographed in the last lesson.
On completing this course, students will have developed skills in:
  • using elements and principles of design to design a garden sculpture;
  • understanding the qualities of Feeney’s BRT clay;
  • making a pinch pot;
  • rolling a slab and making a cylinder;
  • creating a strong and aesthetically pleasing, coiled vessel;
  • connecting individual ceramic components to create a larger piece;
  • piercing and carving clay;
  • being creative with and applying high and low relief decoration;
  • creating textured surfaces using stamps and impressions;
  • testing and applying surface treatments, with an emphasis on colour theory;
  • basic kiln & firing knowledge.

Course starts Wednesday 13 February to 03 April - 8 weeks
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Rachel Bunney

I am a figurative sculptor in clay focusing on stylised female form and anatomically studied animal and plant forms. Combining these two aspects, I highlight the inter-relationships between the feminine and the natural world. I have been practicing sculpture in clay since 2006 and am predominantly self-taught, with the added guidance of other sculptors such as Bev Hogg, Jenny Orchard, Cassandra Bossell and Lesley Weber.

I love sharing my work and story and have been the sculpture teacher at CCPS since 2016, as well as running community and regional workshops. I am a regular exhibitor in the Royal Easter Show, Bowral Sculpture Prize and have been selected for the Gosford Art Prize twice. My professional training and experience, prior to being a professional artist, was notably in the fields of group work, training and interpersonal communication; adding to her ability to share and relate her experiences and skills.
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My work has featured in the Milk Factory Gallery in Bowral and continues to be exhibited at Casa Del Sol Art Centre, Koolewong as well as Gallery ONE88, Katoomba.
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Figurative Sculpture - Beginners
Friday - 10:00am to 12:30pm
The aim of this course is for participants to learn technical skills in using clay as a sculptural medium (in particular Feeney’s BRT), as well as develop expressive and artistic thought processes that enable execution of expression through figurative sculpture.

The focus is specifically on building and, although verbal guidance will be offered regarding finishing of fired work, this is not part of the course. As part of this custom program, each student is able to create an individual artwork providing a variety of learning opportunities for the whole class. A demonstration project will be on display as a model and inspiration for those students who require a starting idea.

Students will be encouraged to explore, experiment, be inspired and express themselves artistically in a friendly, guided, safe and thought-enhancing environment.

On completing this course, students will have developed skills in:
  • understanding the properties of Feeney’s BRT;
  • making a pinch pot;
  • working with slabs of clay to create a variety of forms;
  • engineering a sculptural build;
  • using tools and equipment to create effects;
  • developing ideas to create a figurative sculpture ceramic work;
  • building an art practice;
  • basic kiln & firing knowledge;
  • a range of additional skills associated to each student’s individual project.

Course starts Friday 15 February to 05 April - 8 weeks
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CLICK HERE FOR CHILDREN CLASSES


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​Students' sculptural works. Photos: Libby Bourke
Central Coast Potters Society
Postal Address
P O Box 4043
East Gosford, NSW, 2250
02 4324 5343
​Email CCPS
www.ccpotters.org
Workshop
10a Russell Drysdale Street
East Gosford, NSW, 2250
  • Welcome
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