teaching

Want to learn more about ceramics and pottery?

Over the last twenty years or so I have taught a wide range of pottery classes. Ranging from night school hobby classes through to tertiary level specialist ceramic courses. At the Auckland Studio Potters I was the regular Wednesday morning sculpture class tutor for 6 years and I encouraged my students to take on ambitious projects and to challenge themselves. When I relocated to Hamilton and the Waikato Society of Potters I again picked up teaching – this time the Tuesday morning class and a new cohort of keen students willing to develop their skills and push boundaries.
Now that Charade and I have established our studio at Rahu Road Pottery, we are keen to teach classes and specialised workshops. See Rahu Road Pottery Website for more information.
I am happy to travel around the country to teach workshops and so if you or your pottery club are keen then please get in touch – here’s a sample of some of the topics I can cover.

  • Glaze theory
  • Formulating glazes
  • Methods of application
  • Kiln building
  • Using and controlling electric and gas kilns
  • Wood kiln firing
  • Throwing (beginners to advanced)
  • Assembling and altering from thrown shapes
  • Slab, coil and extrusions
  • Free form sculpture

Workshops for 2021

Hosted by Rahu Road Pottery this workshop series will be an immersive experience, teaching a combination of both the how and the why of making.

Tutor: Duncan Shearer
For the 2021 Workshops we’re only taking bookings after the date listed in the class details. To book, please click on the button below – you’ll be taken to the Rahu Road Pottery website.

Book Now

Taming of the kiln

Dates: 1 & 2 May, 9am to 6pm
Booking opens: 22 March, 9am

This workshop is an introduction to wood firing and the soda glazing process. Based around loading and firing of our wood kiln for a soda firing we will also be covering the principles at work in wood fired kilns. Work for the firing will need to be bisque fired and glazed with suitable stoneware glazes (firing to cone 11), loading on Saturday and firing on Sunday. The kiln will be unloaded on the following Saturday. A limited range of glazes and flashing slips available. Maximum 6 people, $330 (includes refreshments and lunches)

Wood firing – Beyond the basics

#1 – Dates: 12 & 13 June
Booking opens: 26 April, 9am

#2 – Dates: 7 & 8 August
Booking opens: 21 June, 9am

This series of three workshops is an opportunity for students with some experience of the process to have a larger space in our kiln, allowing for more experimentation and refinement. Students are encouraged to use this chance to develop their own style of wood fired soda glazing. The kiln volume is divided into three with Duncan taking a third along with the two students. Loading will be on Saturday and firing on Sunday, unloading and cleaning on the following Saturday. Students can only book for one of the workshops, A limited range of glazes and flashing slips available. Maximum 2 people per workshop, $330 (includes refreshments and lunches)

Wild Clay

Date: 13 March 2021, 9am to 4pm (New Date)
Booking opens: 15 February, 9am

How to find clays locally, test them and adapt them into your studio practice. Connect your work to your environment in the most intimate way  possible – by using found clays in your work. We’ll look at ways of processing the clay, finding out its’ characteristics and solve technical issues with using local resources. Bring your own clay to test. Maximum 6 students $160 (includes refreshments and lunch)

Kiln Technology

Date: 27 March, 9am to 4pm
Booking opens: 8 March, 9am

This workshop looks at various kiln designs including: gas, electric, wood and oil. We cover the principles at play, problem solving, repairs and maintenance, good kiln practice and how to tweak your kiln for maximum efficiency. Maximum 6 students $160 (includes refreshments and lunch)

Glaze Technology – Beginner

Date: 29 May, 9am to 4pm
Bookings open: 10 May 9am

This course covers glazing methods including tools, spraying and resists. We will also cover a basic overview of the materials that make up a glaze and what to look for in a new glaze recipe. Bring some of your own bisque ware to practice on. Maximum 6 students. $160 (includes refreshments and lunch)

Glaze Technology – Intermediate

Date: 3 July, 9am to 4pm
Booking opens: 14 June 9am

This course is focussed on understanding what materials are used in making up a glaze, how to formulate a recipe and test it and how to take an existing glaze and make it your own by adapting it to your clay and style. Maximum 6 students. $160 (includes refreshments and lunch)

Glaze Technology – Advanced

Date: 4 September, 9am to 4pm
Booking opens: 16 August, 9am

Delve into the chemistry that sits behind the materials we use in glazes. This course is focussed on understanding Unity Molecular Formula and how that applies to your glazes. We look at the important ratios between different oxides and how these affect your glazes. Maximum 6 students. $160 (includes refreshments and lunch)

Visit the Rahu Road website for more details, including terms and conditions.