Creating glaze course
An Introduction to chemistry and testing
This is a 4 week course, our next course will be held on Saturdays. It’s 2pm-6pm for the first 3 weeks, then there’s a 2pm-3pm follow up session on the forth week.
Creating glaze – An Introduction to chemistry and testing with Elena Gileva, Saturdays 2pm-6pm: 8th, 15th & 22nd February 2025. Follow up session 2pm – 3pm: 1st March 2025, £290 Taking place in our Copeland Park studio
For more info & to book please use this link
To register interest in future courses please email: info@thekilnrooms.com
Glaze is an integral part of ceramics but we often overlook it in favour of clay making processes. While there are a range of commercial glazes available on the market, being able to alter or make from scratch, bespoke glazes, will allow you the freedom to produce what you need and not be limited by what you can get. Like a good tailor, potters with good glaze knowledge can dress the clay body in the most complimentary covering, unifying the form and the surface. Understanding glaze can also help reduce or eliminate technical problems, solve food safety questions, offer confidence and open up a new avenue of exploration within ceramics.
This course will introduce participants to what glaze is, what materials do, how it can be developed and altered, and how it is influenced by the firing process. It is a result-oriented, applied workshop that will equip students with tools to start their own glaze research and development. Students will gain theoretical knowledge of the make-up of glazes, related chemical and physical qualities of their components, how to alter them and how to assess relevant processes in the kiln.
The course will move on to practical elements, making a range of base glazes and altering their texture and colour. The students will learn to work with a glaze recipe, to do line blends and to keep adequate records. Every participant will take away multiple glaze recipes and test tiles. The last week will be a shorter reviewing session where students can discuss the results with their teacher and each other. The full course costs £240 and includes all materials, firings and basic PPE, so there are no additional costs.
Note that this workshop will not cover in detail techniques of glaze application or decorative use.
Developing Colour in Glaze Course
This is an intermediate course held on Mondays. It’s 2pm-6pm for the first 3 weeks, then there’s a 2pm-3pm follow up session on the forth week.
This is an intermediate glaze course, designed to give an in-depth understanding of developing colour and texture in glaze. During the course you will learn how to create beautiful & vibrant colours enhancing your glaze pallet.
This course dives deeper into understanding the foundations of glaze chemistry, covering topics such as how choice of flux affects colour response, and why not every base glaze is the same. Whether you have some glaze making experience, or are a more experienced potter, this course will help you take your glaze understanding to the next level.
Note that this workshop will not cover in detail techniques of glaze application or decorative use.
Your teacher: Having graduated from the RCA with a masters in ceramics Elena Gileva has gone on to teach at Morley College, The Kiln Rooms and is a talented and successful ceramicist. Her work explores the decorative, historical and ornamental through the medium of ceramic, sculpture and installation. And is focused on various historical and personal narratives, references and processes, with hand-built ceramic objects taking centre stage in her practice. Link to Elena’s website
In the event of non-attendance or arriving late to classes it is not possible to provide alternative studio time, or for a class to be rescheduled as our courses sell out. Unfortunately we do not sell vouchers for these courses. T&Cs for all classes