Kinsale Pottery and Arts Centre provides arts and crafts courses for adults and children, as well as courses in creative writing. We specialise in pottery, art, drawing and painting, glass fusing and stained glass, jewellery-making and mosaic-making. In 2009 we will be adding mixed media workshops, and film animation workshops for both adults and children. We run weekly morning and evening classes, weekend breaks, summer schools and tailor-made workshops for corporate groups and private parties.

We can accommodate up to 20 people in one class and up to 50 in a group, or as few as two or three at a time. All our courses suit beginners, enthusiasts and professionals, using a wide range of facilities and techniques. The pottery includes electric and raku kilns, stoneware and earthenware clays, and we teach throwing, hand-building and all varieties of glazing.

"After more than 20 years of corporate life in London, I left the rat-race to pursue my ambition of becoming an artist and teacher, moved to Kinsale with my family and set-up the Kinsale Pottery and Art School. My desire to teach comes from my experience as a communicator - I have learned to find and stimulate the artist in us all, regardless of our experience of art." Adrian Wistreich, Ceramic Artist

Courses

Pottery
Our adult pottery courses cover building techniques such as coiling, slabbing, throwing and sculpting in clay. Decorative techniques, including sgraffito, slip-painting, underglazing and glazing are taught and we concentrate on three-dimensional art, with an emphasis on technical skills development and artistic exploration. Courses for adults and teenagers are available: weekly 3 hour classes in 6 week terms, five-day intensive summer courses and two-day weekend workshops throughout the year.

Corporate & Tailor Made Courses
We offer short courses, tailor-made, to suit corporate and private parties. These include pottery and painting classes and by arrangement, other crafts such as mosaics and stained glass. Class sizes are from 4 to 18 people and two classes can be run concurrently, so that parties of up to 30-40 can be catered for.

Craft Weekends
We offer a series of weekend two-day workshops, directed at amateurs and craftspeople wanting to develop their skills in a particular art form, or to try their hand at a new one. As well as an introduction to ceramics, we also offer a range of other applied arts, each taught by a specialist. These include:

• Introduction to Ceramics: for those with little or no experience of pottery, this course introduces the techniques of making â“ coiling, slabbing and throwing, plus underglaze and glaze decoration. You will make 5-6 pieces during the weekend.
• Stained glass: design and make up panels or 3D pieces using the copper foil technique.
• Glass fusing: cut, assemble and shape coloured glass forms, which are then fused in the kiln and used to make pendants, small bowls, coasters and tiles.
• Drawing & Life Drawing: over the course of the weekend, you will work through a combination of experimental and traditional exercises. You'll learn to manipulate materials including pencil, charcoal and ink as well as less conventional materials such as bleach and sand. During life drawing sessions you'll get the chance to do a range of exercises and poses of varying length, working towards finished pieces.
• Mosaic making: Odette Norman works with broken tile, mirror, stain glass, shells and other found objects to create mosaic panels, mosaic furniture or mirror surrounds. During these two days, you will have a chance to design and make your own pieces and learn various mounting and grouting techniques
• Jewellery-making: The jewellery-making weekend workshop, with established West Cork fashion-designer and jeweller Flicky Howe, covers all the basic skills of designing, threading, knotting, fitting crimps and finishing and allows participants to develop and make their own style of work, to take home.
• An exploration in thrown pottery: If you have tried to throw on the wheel and would like to develop your skills, Robert Lee is one of Ireland’s most skilled throwers, with over 10 years’ study and practical experience in a leading production pottery. In the weekend, you will throw simple shapes, cylinders, bowls and collars, exploring the tactile and textural qualities of throwing.
• Childrens Art Classes : Designed to give children experience of pottery techniques, painting and drawing, and a range of craft skills (eg painting murals, collage, mask making, glass painting and mosaics). At least 50% of the classes focus on pottery. Classes are tailored to suit from 5 to 14 year olds. Weekly classes run for 6 weeks (Friday afternoons or Saturday mornings). The ever popular Children's Summer Camps run for 5 half-days or full days.
• Arty Parties: The pottery offers childrens parties for those aged 5 plus in groups of up to 20 children - themed parties, film animation fun and loads more - further details from Adrian on 0879696901