Expand your ceramic practice with a short course

Rebecca Hope Rose first used a pottery wheel at a couples’ date night and quickly became addicted to working with clay.

“While it started as a hobby, I’m now transitioning into making pottery full time” says Rebecca, who makes and sells her unique ceramic work, Lunar Rose Pottery, from her studio in New Jersey, USA. Rebecca now also runs group classes and offers private lessons for those with a love for clay.

We caught up with the inspiring artist to find out more about her practice and hear about her recent short course experience on our Experimental Glazing Short Course at Central Saint Martins.

Rebecca’s work is all about bringing beauty into the everyday, as she puts it, “I love functional pottery because it allows us to invite magic into the daily grind. We all use ceramics routinely - when drinking coffee, eating dinner, potting our plants etc. Why not elevate these mundane tasks by using beautiful pieces that make us happy?”

Every piece that Rebecca produces is completely unique, wheel thrown and glazed by hand. Her work has an ethereal quality that Rebecca says comes from her interest in natural alchemy. “My design inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere, but there are definitely a few motifs that show up repeatedly in my work. One of them is the moon, whose symbolism has resonated with me for my entire life. I also frequently incorporate crystal gemstones into my pots - I love that both clay and crystals are naturally beautiful products of the earth. And colour is another really important aspect of my work. The colours we choose to surround ourselves with can influence us on so many levels!”

Rebecca recently attended our Experimental Glazing Short Course at Central Saint Martins and enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with new techniques in a friendly environment. Designed to introduce the various materials required to make your own glaze, this week-long intensive course is perfect for students who have a body of work they’d like to glaze. Students learn about the difference between glossy, satin and dry glazes, onglaze and underglaze, and explore how to apply the glaze by dipping, pouring or spraying.

“The Experimental Glazing Short Course at Central Saint Martins was an awesome experience,” she says, “the facilities were amazing and gave me access to experiment with equipment and materials I might not have been able to otherwise. The instructor’s knowledge was top notch and the syllabus provide a great balance between demonstrations and investigation. And even though the atmosphere was highly professional, the classroom climate was warm and super supportive.”

Meeting other creatives and building a network of like-minded artists and makers was also useful for Rebecca, who found that taking the course “was a great opportunity to meet other potters with diverse backgrounds.” “I’m thrilled to have new pottery friends from around the world!” she says, “I really enjoyed myself and would highly recommend a short course at Central Saint Martins to anyone looking to enrich their knowledge and connect with others in their field of interest.”

Find out more about Rebecca’s work through her website or by following her on Instagram.

Are you interested in ceramics and looking to develop your skills? Take a look at our guide on 5 tips to get started in ceramics for some top tips on how to improve your practice.

Our short courses in ceramics cover everything from thrown ceramics to experimental glazing and can help you discover the wealth of making possibilities in clay. Check out our upcoming short courses for more information.