Course

Working With Clay - Coil and Slab Building

 Explore clay through two of the oldest sculptural techniques: coil and slab building. 

Course Details

Learn to roll, stack, and shape clay using coil and slab methods. Learning these techniques will set you up with the basic skills to make pots, abstract forms, or imaginative figures. The course is hands-on, encourages experimentation and will help you to develop a sense of form, process and structure.  

Course Materials Required...

• Suitable workspace (a table cloth, cutting board or similar protected surface to work on)
• Latex free surgical gloves (optional)
• Cloth/sponge + regular kitchen surface cleaner to clean up at the end
• Old clothes or an apron.
• Plasticine, clay or any other similar soft sculpting material you have. (You could use FIMO, blue tack - or even make your own salt dough)
• Small rolling pin (not one you use for food!)
• Clay tools (household cutlery works really) 


Who is it for and what to expect...

Suitable for beginners or anyone curious about where to start with sculpture. Expect a practical introduction to clay, with time to experiment, refine techniques, and build confidence in beginning your own 3D pieces.
  • 11

    Number of Videos
    • About 30 minutes

      Course Duration
    This course is led by...
    Write your awesome label here.

    Steven Grainger

    Hi, I’m Steven.

    I graduated from the Sculpture and Environmental Art course at Glasgow School of Art in 2012 and my first job was installing exhibitions in galleries around Glasgow. After that I spent several years working with the artist Martin Boyce, which was a really exciting time. I got to experiment with a range of sculptural techniques, meet loads of talented people, and see first-hand how creative ideas grow from the studio into exhibitions in museums and galleries. From there, I moved into working with young people in primary schools, exploring how our brains develop and how creativity shapes the way we think. These days I’m a lecturer in Fine Art in further education and continue to make my own artwork.

    Over the years I’ve had the chance to exhibit across Scotland, as well as in London, Berlin and Australia. For me, the best part is learning from other people and seeing things from their perspectives - especially when they are completely different from mine.

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