Chris KeenanWheel Thrown Porcelain
14th - 18th June 2027 | 5 Day Workshop | £1,200
This five-day workshop will focus on throwing a variety of vessels in porcelain. Through practice and with Chris’s guidance students will improve their throwing skills and develop their techniques in turning, applying handles and altering their thrown shapes.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Course in Detail
Throughout this week-long course Chris will talk about his own practice and share the techniques he uses to create his work, as well as explaining and demonstrating the ideas behind the forms that students will be exploring.
Students will be using Audrey Blackman porcelain and the course will cover throwing, turning, and the application of handles applied to the making of several functional forms including cups, bowls, jugs, and pots for flowers.
Chris will guide students in making a group of pots that possess formal similarities across a range of functions. There will be time to discuss how the forms students make can relate one to another across their functional purposes to make a coherent body of work.
Each student will have their own wheel and will receive plenty of individual attention. Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please see our Student Contract for details.
USEFUL INFO
Course Breakdown
Day 1: Students will start with the throwing of cylinders and will then go on to explore other "upright" forms such as mugs, beakers and bud pots/vases. When working on mugs, the making of handles will be demonstrated as and when the pots are turned.
Day 2: Students will examine "enclosed" forms which require the clay to be thrown wider and then collared to make the desired form - eg. rounder forms, bottles and lidded pots, possibly including teapots.
Day 3: Students will continue throwing "open" forms, including bowls, dishes, plates.
Day 4: Students will continue to work on and refine their pieces from previous days. During Day 4 students can also make requests if there is something particular from Chris’s range of forms they would like demonstrated.
Day 5: The final day of the course will see students finishing their pieces. At the end of the day the students will have the opportunity to talk to the group about the work they've made.
There will be no specific kiln firing during the workshop, however, students’ pieces will be fired and be ready for collection a few weeks later. Alternatively, students are welcome to take away their greenware (students must bring protective packaging when taking or collecting their pieces).
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract.
Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
Key information
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DATE
Monday 14th June - Friday 18th June 2027
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DURATION
5 day workshop
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CLASS SIZE
Maximum 10 students
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LEVEL
Some experience in throwing would be useful
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CLAY TYPE
Porcelain
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COST
£1,200 (Flexible payment plans)
GUEST POTTER BIO
About Chris
Having originally trained as an actor Chris decided to change direction in his mid-thirties when he began an apprenticeship with artist and writer Edmund de Waal. He established his own London studio in 1998 and specialises in beautifully glazed thrown functional vessels using Limoges porcelain.
Specialising primarily in mugs, cups, teapots, pourers, beakers, lidded pots and pots for flowers, Chris also creates pieces for interior spaces – designed for functional use and for decoration.
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
Level
Intermediate / Advanced
Some previous experience in throwing would be useful. Previous experience in using porcelain is not essential but would be beneficial. Participants should be able to confidently throw a cylinder
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
The Schedule
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Welcome breakfast (from 9am - 10am). The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the second day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the third day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the fourth day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the final day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 4pm.
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A two course lunch is provided everyday. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Travel & Accommodation
The Ceramic Studio is located on a beautiful orchard in Brenchley, and there are lots of lovely surrounding towns and villages offering numerous places to stay.
We are happy to arrange transits to and from your accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. Please get in touch to arrange this. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.life. To see examples of local accommodation, click here.