“Any verbal description of the manipulation of clay on a potter’s wheel is bound to be inadequate, if not misleading. Anyone who watches a pot grow into shape out of a lump of clay for the first time is astonished at the seeming ease with which it happens.”

Bernard Leach, A Potter’s Book (1940).

Enjoy three days in the Leach Pottery’s historic workshops learning to throw with the rhythm of a kick wheel. Potters of all abilities can gain much from throwing on a Leach Kick wheel: the slower foot-powered pace gives the potter a more intimate understanding of the energy and focus that goes into making pots.

This course provides an introduction to the traditional ways of throwing a pot on a Leach Kick Wheel. The Leach Kick, or Treadle Wheel, was developed at the Leach Pottery through the 1920s and 30s. Based on traditional designs, it was eventually reproduced commercially and adopted by potters around the world. The design, and our historic wheels, are still very much used to this day.

The three day workshop takes place in the historic Leach Pottery, in the room where the old Leach Standard Ware was produced. There are four participants on the course with the Tutor using participants’ wheels for demonstrations. This course requires the ability to hop on and off of a kick wheel and to kick with your left leg. You’ll also meet our Museum visitors as they make their way around the Old Pottery.

The course covers: 

• clay preparation: wedging techniques, centering clay on the wheel, throwing basic cylinders then moving on to different forms – jugs, vases, plates, bowls etc. 

• practicing your preferred form, throwing to specific measurements, and repeat throwing 

• turning and finishing, pulling and attaching handles and decorating techniques

When: Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 April
Where: The Leach Pottery Museum
Places: 4
Duration: 3 days. Core teaching hours: 10am - 4pm.
Please arrive at 9:30am on the first day of your course if you would like to take part in the tour of the museum.  

Equipment & materials: clay and a basic tool kit is provided. We focus on building core skills and working directly with the clay to get the most from a core selection of tools. Please bring additional tools if you wish to use them along with an apron and hand towel.
You will leave with: one piece that will be fired in our & posted to you * up to 12 weeks after the course has finished. This piece needs to be within the footprint of 20 x 20 x 20cm. You are welcome to take one or two pieces of unfired work home if you wish. Please bring boxes and packaging for safe transport. 

*if the address that you would like your work posting to is non-UK, extra postage may apply.
Level: beginner & intermediate