Whether you’re an 80s, 90s, or 00s baby (or perhaps earlier), you’ll know that iconic scene with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in Ghost. Yes, the one around the pottery wheel set to Unchained Melody. Well, arts and crafts are truly having a moment here in London town, so I thought it was high time I gave pottery a go myself.
Earthworks Ceramics opened in Brixton earlier this year (2024), and its ethos specifically focuses on creating an inclusive space for beginners and ceramic enthusiasts alike. The studio is a bright space located under the arches, a stone’s throw from Brixton station; awash with natural light, and with music playing in the background, the venue will make you feel at ease as soon as you enter. What better place to try pottery throwing for the first time?
Firstly, what is pottery throwing?
So, ‘throwing’ describes both the process of the clay on the wheel, and the actual act of bending the clay between your finger joints. It brings a whole new meaning to throwing hands, eh?
What kinds of sessions do Earthworks Ceramics offer?
As part of their commitment to make pottery inclusive, Earthworks Ceramics offers a plethora of options at varying price points. From six-week throwing courses and five-day intensive courses at £250 to weekend taster sessions at £60. As well as learning a new skill, you get to keep one of the ceramics you make – you’ll need to pick up your mug, plate, jewellery holder, or whatever other wholesome creation at a later date though, after they’ve been glazed.
If you’d like to let your creativity run wild in the comfort of your own home, you can order a ‘Pot Box’ for just £10 (plus postage and packaging). This option is for handcrafting, rather than throwing on a wheel; the Pot Box comes complete with nearly everything you’d create your masterpiece, minus a few common household items. You’ll then need to bring your creation to Earthworks, where one of their skilled artisans will single-fire glaze it for you.
My experience at Earthworks Ceramics
I checked out one of Earthworks Ceramics’ weekend taster sessions. While I’d like to say that, over the course of three hours, I went from complete novice to pottery protege, that isn’t quite true. However, I had so much fun, I felt so much more confident in my pottery skills, and I am now eagerly awaiting the collection of my pasta bowl.
The teach has a real hands-on approach. I loved how she started with a demonstration and then adapted her approach based on everyone’s learning styles; as she sat within the group, it made us feel even more at ease. The communication was open, and we felt totally validated when asking for assistance (or asking for the next step for a tenth time). The teacher ran us through more than just the motions of throwing; she explained to us how to sit correctly at the wheel, and about connection, breathing, and tips for staying stable when creating your bowl. The session felt incredibly therapeutic.
The three hours zoomed by, though it felt the right amount of time for a total beginner like myself. My favourite stage was centring the base: simple, but again, therapeutic, creating the foundations of the bowl. I found pulling – when you bring the sides up to create the bowls ‘lips’ – pretty difficult (and ruined about five soon-to-be plates at this stage). However, each time, I was reassured and guided by the teacher to refine my next attempt, finally resulting in my pasta bowl. As you’ll see from the image above, I had to adapt the bowl a few times into other things, like an incense holder and a pot, as a result of the breaks at the pulling stage.
Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend checking out Earthworks Ceramics. If I lived closer to the venue, I’d sign up for their six-week course, as I had such a great time at the taster session. The teacher is patient and personable, throwing pottery is both therapeutic and rewarding, and all in all, it is just a great experience.