School Trip
Brockhampton Primary school traded the classroom for the Potting Tent earlier this term when they visited Eastnor Pottery.
Sculpture
Yr3 had been studying sculpture and required a hands-on, practical session learning pottery making techniques. Prior to the event, planning emails were exchanged with class teacher Miss Hodgekiss and it was decided the learning would centre around the coil pot technique. Coiling refers to the process of rolling long ‘snakes’ of clay and piling them on top of each other to build form. The coils are blended together to form a smooth surface. Although it sounds like the easiest thing on earth, like everything, there is a certain amount of skill required to roll the clay into symmetrical coils. Quite a challenge for young hands if they have never done it before.
The Potting Tent
As it was such a beautiful day the children worked in the Potting Tent studio on the Pottery lawn. It’s a lovely airy space bestowed with bunting and festoon lights – plenty of space for all 18 children their teaching staff…and us!
Coil pots and slip decoration
Each child made a coil pot sculpture, decorating their creations with white slip. Some of the children used sgraffito to scratch through the slip revealing the colour of the clay beneath – an excellent and very satisfying drawing technique.
Potter’s Wheel shenanigans
There was even time for a potter’s wheel demonstration as well as the obligatory Q&A.
Pottery Picnic
Before getting back on the coach the children were able to enjoy their packed lunch in the Pottery garden. Thankfully the conditions were conducive to alfresco picnicking but it wouldn’t have mattered if it had bucketed down, the Potting Tent marquee would have served as a wet weather dining space.
Fired pots
The school left their pots with us to be fired, glazed and made ready for collection a few weeks later.
