A special 3-day workshop
Mastering Large Vessels Tom Kemp
- 8,9,10 August 2026
- Stoneware clay only
- At The Ceramic Centre Studio, Haarlem
Here some houserules
About the Masterclass
Please arrive 15 minutes before the masterclass is due to start
- 08/08/2026 - 09:30 - 16:30
- 09/09/2026- 09:30 - 16:30
- 10/08/2026 - 09:30 - 16:30
Most of us reach a plateau in throwing on the wheel, where we just can’t seem to increase the height of a cylinder, no matter how much extra clay we use.
We’ll start with an amount of stoneware clay which you are comforable to throw with (minimum 1 kilo). You will be taught how to do spiral wedging so that you can wedge large amounts of clay easily. Proper clay preparation is key to throwing large vessels successfully.
We’ll learn several techniques which will help you throw taller, with thinner walls.Then we shall start to increase the amount of clay you are using, making steady and safe progress, applying all the techniques which will help you make the most of whatever amount of clay you want to throw with.
You will also be taught how to successfully join 1 or more pieces together to create larger vessels.
By the end of the course you should be able to comfortably center and throw considerably more while maximising the height and diameter with increased control.
As we focus on throwing technique which means a lot of practicing without keeping the pieces.
This is stoneware clay only. We will supply 10kg of WM or WM2502 to throw with. WM is smooth clay body that mimics porcelain. WM2502 has fine chamotte and is slightly more robust.
Lunch, snacks and refreshments are included.
The Art of Tom Kemp
From studio snapshots to finished forms dive into Tom’s world of large-scale ceramics
Reyhane Jahani:
Glaze Course: Making and Testing Mid Fire Glaze Recipes from Scratch.
Materials & Glazes
Glaze is magic in both a positive and negative sense. A blessing when a combination of clay, glaze and heat creates beauty and a curse when it fails. Fascination with glaze and it’s ability to express our deepest felt creativity is a central part of a ceramicists unique voice and vision.
 Glaze research and the exploration of how we may achieve our desired results is the basis of this course.
The Science
Modern glazes are designed with science as the touchstone but it has not always been that way. For generations past experimentation with natural minerals and ash was experiential. These 2 approaches are the basis of all glazes. Â
It takes time, experimentation, and many firings to understand how processed and natural  materials respond to heat. Failure is part of this process, but so is discovery.
Your knowledge evolves as your chosen glaze continues to evolve, revealing different surfaces and colours on different clays, thicknesses and combinations.
Theory
We look at what a glaze is, how it behaves, and what to look for making a stable glaze. Topics include colour development, matt vs glossy surfaces, glaze quality and durability (including food and dishwasher safety), common glaze defects, and methods of control and adjustment.
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Practical
Hands-on testing forms the core of the course. Mixing and testing glazes on 4 clay bodies, to develop a mid-fire base glaze. Â Determining the optimum specific gravity as well as density using measurement and dip testing. And most importantly building a structured testing system. We also explore digital tools such as glazy to document and share results.
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Analysis
Together we will examine each persons tests, discuss the pros and cons and suggest adjustments to achieve desired changes. New tests are then made and form the basis of the following sessions discussion.
The course is suitable for both beginners and experienced makers who want to deepen their understanding of glaze development as a material process.
27 Sept,26:Â 13:00-17:00
Theory including glaze application. You will chose your base recipe and design your test.
18 Oct, 26: 13:00 – 17:00
Making the base recipe and 8 variations on test tiles
1 Nov, 26: 13:00 – 17:00
Analysis of test tiles and further adjustments to make 10 variations.
15 Nov:: Final Assessment and plan for future independent development testing
Price: €200 per person
Includes all materials (clay, glaze ingredients, kiln firings).
Requirements: A good dust mask and a precision scale (0.01g recommended) (we have these available at the studio for 10euros).
On the first day each participant will be given 1 kilo each of 4 clays to make 20 bisqued test tiles per clay body
These are the clay bodies provided:
WM
Nigra
Porcelain
Toffee