beginners Course
(5 weeks)
2025
Season 1
7 March – 10 April (Available – 2)
18 April – 22 May (Available – 5)
30 May – 3 July (Available – 5)
Season 2
15 Aug – 19 Sept (Available – 5)
3 Oct – 7 Nov (Available -5 )
14 Nov – 19 Dec (Available – 5)
Fees-
INR 96250+18%GST (including- course fee and all materials)
INR 195250+18%GST (including- course fee and all materials, private room and all meals)
Seats- 5 students / batch
This course is designed for those who wish to learn pottery/ceramics and take it further as a profession or a serious hobby. It’s a full-time course, a thoughtful blend of technical guidance and artistic educational goals for students to bring up their skill levels.
COURSE OUTLINE: The five-week beginners’ pottery course in Dharamkot studio is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the basic components required to work as a beginner ceramic/pottery artist. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to engage in various tasks and projects that will enhance your skills and knowledge in the field.
THE COURSE COVERS THE FOLLOWING KEY COMPONENTS, WHICH ARE SPREAD OUT OVER THE DURATION OF FIVE WEEKS:
1. Techniques of Forming: You will learn both wheel throwing and hand-building techniques. Wheel throwing involves creating pottery on a spinning wheel, while hand-building focuses on shaping clay manually using different techniques such as coiling, slab building, and pinching.
2. Understanding Glazes, Glazing, and Firing: This component introduces you to the basics of glazes, which are decorative coatings applied to pottery before firing. You will learn about different types of glazes, their application techniques, and the firing process necessary to achieve the desired results.
3. Understanding Design and Self-Expression: The course emphasizes the importance of design in pottery and explores possibilities for self-expression. You will learn about design principles, explore different artistic styles, and be encouraged to express your creativity through your ceramic creations.
COURSE STRUCTURE: In week one, you will be taught the techniques of wheel throwing, surface design and hand-building. Following the instruction, you will have ample practice time to hone your skills in these areas. One significant aspect of the curriculum is the flexibility it offers. After two weeks, you have the freedom to choose whether you want to focus on wheel throwing or hand-building.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: – By providing a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental techniques, production methods, glazing, firing, and design principles, this five-week pottery course aims to equip you with a solid foundation as a beginner ceramic/pottery artist. It allows you to explore different avenues of pottery and encourages your creative expression with clay.
TEACHING-LEARNING METHOD: The curriculum includes basic theory, demonstrations, tasks, and mentor-mentee discussions over 6 working days. Each week, there are teaching sessions, guided practice, and self-practice sessions.
During the course you will use mid-range (cone 5-7) stoneware clay/ glazes in electric and gas-fired kilns.
Local Potter and Studio Tour: Visit local pottery studios and interact with skilled potters, gaining insights into techniques and practices.
OUTCOME
Student Exhibition: Showcase your creations in a dedicated exhibition at the end of the course, celebrating your progress and creativity.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Ceramics is a vast subject and learning pottery as a skill can be a slow process that requires dedication and single-mindedness.
- 5 weeks of learning will create a basic understanding and confidence to pursue studio pottery. Do remember that what we do here will be to set you up on a path as a potter. You will further need a lot of practice and individual study to achieve your goal of becoming a professional artist/potter.
WORKING HOURS: 10am-5pm (6 days a week) Location – Studio-2 (art retreat centre)
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this course, please email manoj@dharamkotstudio.com, specifying your preferred batch, Accommodation and providing a brief self-introduction. You can expect a reply within 1-2 days.
Once we receive your email, we’ll send you the registration form for your application review. Admission prioritizes the quality of applications, followed by availability.
Booking/ Cancellation/ rescheduling- The booking amount will be 30% of the total amount, which is non-refundable. Your course can be rescheduled in case of emergency.
Stay
The accommodation and studio lie amidst the pine and cedar forest, completely secluded from the hustle-bustle of the town yet easily approachable by road and just a 5-minute walk away from the village.
Individuals enrolling for the course with accommodation will be provided a private room with an attached bathroom, a separate balcony, high–speed WiFi, power backup, hot water, electric kettle, heaters and modernist aesthetics. You will have a view of the Dhauladhar mountain range from your room!
Click here to see the photos of the accomodation.
Meals
An in–house cafeteria provides delicious and healthy Indian vegetarian food. Vegan or gluten-free food is also available on request. Apart from our in–house cafe there are many other cafes to explore, just a 7-10 minutes walk away from the retreat centre.
FAQs
Q- Do the courses run all year?
A- Yes.
Q- Are there other stay options near the studio, if I want to live outside the premises?
A- There are many guest houses/ homestays around the studio (10-15 minutes walk). We can provide you with a list of possibilities with contact numbers on request during the admission process.
Q- Do I need to bring anything with me for the course?
A- No, you will provided with everything you need including materials, tools, aprons and hand towels.
Q- Can I start my own studio after this course?
A- Yes! You will have the potential to establish a basic studio, but it’s important to have high level of dedication, the ability to make an investment and natural inspiration. Many students who have completed the beginner’s course are successfully running their studios.
Q- What is the difference between pottery and ceramics ?
A- Ceramics is a modern term for pottery and is also an umbrella term for different kinds of clay like terracotta, stoneware, porcelain. Pottery is a part of ceramics. Ceramics can also refer to floor tiles, bricks, washbasins and countless other things which includes different compositions of clay and glass.
Q:- Do we give shared rooms?
A:- No, we don’t offer shared rooms.
Q:- Can non-residential participants eat at the studio?
A:- Yes, one can have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the studio at fair price.