Sculpture Night Class - Ceramics
Visual Arts
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
This night class introduces students to ceramics sculpture, covering hand-building techniques and practical studio work. Suitable for both beginners and those with some clay experience.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
Dunedin School of Art, P Block, Dunedin
It will take a total of 8 weeks
This course requires 2 hours per week
Core skills this course teaches
Build skills in hand-building techniques
Learn and apply pinching, coiling, and slab building to create sculptural forms in clay.
Complete a finished ceramic sculpture
Design, model, build, and finish a unique clay sculpture including glazing and surface treatments.
Gain confidence in studio practice
Work independently and collaboratively in a ceramics studio environment, handling materials and tools safely.
What You're Signing Up For
The Sculpture Night Class - Ceramics is an eight-week course that allows participants to build skills and confidence in transforming clay into figurative, representational, or abstract forms. Covering the hand-building techniques of pinching, coiling and slab building, the course is ideal for those with no prior clay experience as well as those with some experience. The course is held at Dunedin School of Art with all essential tools provided. Students will design, problem-solve, and complete a finished sculptural piece, including working with different clays and glaze options. Extra materials are available for larger works. Classes run Wednesdays, 6pm–8pm, with intakes every school term.
Course Content
- Hand-building techniques: pinching, coiling, slab building
- Design and problem-solving for sculpture
- Creating a marquette (model) of a proposed sculpture
- Introduction to different clays: grogged clay, paper clay
- Surface treatments: glaze and non-traditional finishes
- Making sculptural forms (weeks 3–6)
- Bisque firing
- Completion and finishing of works (weeks 7–8)
What you need to know first
Learners under 16 require parental consent
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Arts
Design
Future employment opportunities might be
Further study in ceramics or visual arts
Personal or community arts practice
Otago Polytechnic is known for high quality, hands on learning that leads to strong outcomes. With excellent student satisfaction, high graduate employment rates, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s a place where practical skills meet purpose. Their award winning programmes span design, fashion, creative arts, trades, health, and business, giving you real experience and real confidence for whatever comes next.