For live, in-studio courses, workshops and masterclasses in Devon, UK,
see vessel-ceramics.co.uk and kigbeare.co.uk
online tuition
Currently available dates in 2025
June 14, 16, 17
(June 13 is sold out)
I am running one-to-one online tuition sessions to give you an intense and highly effective boost to your throwing skills. The online setup is very simple and works really well. You’ll be in your own space (wherever you are in the world!) with me guiding you and showing you all the important principles.
Click the video to play (no sound)
It’s just you and me for a whole day, so you can ask any questions you like.
You’ll get private access to a recording of your session.
I’ll follow up with a 15-minute call after a month or so to check on your progress.
As far as possible, we’ll be working in your time zone.
“I would recommend novice and advanced potters who are looking to upskill their pottery throwing skills! Tom is very open to sharing his knowledge in pottery. He is also really patient and observant; he is able to spot and guide you to rectify mistakes made in throwing.”
“Tom’s course surpassed my expectations. I was surprised how much I got out of a virtual course as I thought it was be hard to really “get” what’s going on but that wasn’t the case! If you’re struggling to get passed something or want to be able to make something you’re currently not able to, get booked on!”
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Prerequisites Some previous throwing experience, such as a short course
Duration Six hours over a single day (two three-hour sessions with an hour-long break in the middle)
Price £300 (about US$400)
Do the bottoms of your pots always feel too heavy? Do your walls often buckle for no obvious reason when you're pulling up the clay? Do you have to rely on trimming to get your pots looking good? In this course you'll learn the simple but profound principles which let you make taller, thinner-walled pots; in other words, to make the most of the clay on your wheel. There's a limit to the thinnness that any clay will go. This course will take you to that limit.
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Prerequisites Some previous throwing experience, such as a short course
Duration Six hours over a single day (two three-hour sessions with an hour-long break in the middle)
Price £300 (about US$400)
We all know the largest amount of clay we can comfortably throw, whether it is 0.5kg (1lb) or 10kg (20lb). It's always useful to be able to throw more, either to make larger pieces or to be able to make the most of each lump of clay and not just trim most of it away! It isn't a matter of strength, it is a matter of technique to be able to easily throw more clay in a relaxed and careful way. In this course, I'll demonstrate how to greatly increase the amount of clay you can throw and how to adapt your hands and posture to cope with these larger amounts.
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Prerequisites Some previous throwing experience, such as a short course
Duration Six hours over a single day (two three-hour sessions with an hour-long break in the middle)
Price £300 (about US$400)
Stoneware is very forgiving but porcelain has magical properties of translucency and strength. In this course, I'll introduce you to some new habits which will help you throw porcelain taller and thinner, with plenty of tips about how to avoid cracking during drying and firing. All these techniques will also greatly improve your stoneware throwing!
Please choose from the dates below. If you can’t see a date that suits you then please email me (tom@tomkemp.com) to go on my waiting list. This is first-come, first-served. I’ll put you on my waiting list if you are unsuccessful this time round.
NOTE by filling out this form and clicking ‘Submit’, you agree that I can store these details in case I need to contact you in future. I won’t give or sell these details to anyone.
“I would definitely recommend the course. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to develop their throwing, especially to anyone who, like me, who had hit a bit of plateau and wasn’t quite sure where to go next. It has been so helpful in helping me focus on what I need to develop next so I can progress further.”
“The one to one course with Tom helps one to understand that there are techniques and methods which make throwing larger amounts of clay easier, and it is possible to progress and gain confidence quickly. Tom explains everything very clearly and calmly, and the on screen teaching is a very effective method. The recorded video for future reference is hugely beneficial. I highly recommend courses with Tom.”