Masterclass: Which Clay?

A One-Day Masterclass with Wendy Yates
Price: £135 – a full-day course with lunch included
6 places available
June 7th • 10am – 6pm

📍 Location: Clay n Glaze Studio
📞 +44 79 4634 4615

Have you ever stood in front of a supplier’s clay list feeling completely overwhelmed? With so many options available — stoneware, porcelain, black clay, grogged clay, paper clay, terracotta and more — choosing the right material for your work can feel confusing and expensive.

This inspiring and practical one-day masterclass is designed to help you confidently discover the perfect clay for your creative practice.

Whether you are a thrower, hand-builder, sculptor, or simply curious about expanding your ceramic knowledge, this course will deepen your understanding of how different clays behave, fire, shrink, texture, and respond to glaze. Through demonstrations, discussion, and hands-on testing, you’ll explore a wide variety of clay bodies without the cost and frustration of purchasing countless bags yourself.

By the end of the day, you’ll leave with practical studio knowledge, fired reference samples, and a much clearer understanding of which clays best suit your own style and methods of making.

What You’ll Explore

• What clay actually is and how it forms
• The differences between Ball Clay, China Clay, Earthenware, Stoneware, and Porcelain
• Testing and handling a wide range of clays:

  • Buff, white, and terracotta earthenware
  • Smooth, flecked, and grogged stoneware
  • Porcelain
  • Black clays
  • Paper clays
  • Powdered clays and casting slips

• Creating coloured clays and decorative slips
• Recycling and storing clay correctly
• Shrinkage and firing temperatures
• Studio equipment including plaster bats, wedging tables, and pug mills

Hands-On Practical Sessions

During the day you will:

• Make your own clay test tiles
• Create coloured clays
• Prepare and colour slips
• Produce shrinkage samples to keep as future studio references

All tools, materials, clay, aprons, and firing are included.

A light lunch and refreshments are provided.
(Please advise of any dietary requirements in advance.)

Finished samples may be collected later or posted by arrangement.

Day Schedule

10:00am — Arrival, coffee & introduction
The Nature of Clay

• Exploring and testing clay samples
• Practical session: Making test tiles
• Demonstrations:

  • Recycling and caring for clay
  • Wedging techniques
  • Plaster bats and pug mills

• Hands-on coloured clay making

Lunch Break – home-cooked meal by Master Chef John is included in the price.

Afternoon Sessions

• Clay slips and casting slips
• Mixing ratios and using powdered clays
• Colouring and creating your own slips

5:00pm — Teaching finishes
The studio remains open until 6:00pm for additional practice and discussion.

Health and safety guidance for safe studio practice is integrated throughout the day.