​Pinching teapots with Antoinette Badenhorst

"I LOVED THIS CLASS!!!! I learnt so much from doing this class. It was a simple class but packed with information." Gale (Cyprus)
The pinching class is a week online workshop and students have a total of three weeks for viewing all the videos. You will learn how to design, pinch, trim and decorate a functional teapot. Antoinette will teach you how to create a spout that will not splatter or drip, how to fit a lid to the teapot that will not fall off during pouring and how to choose a handle that fit the style of the teapot. Glazing and firing is always important and should be fun, so you will learn what to consider when you glaze teapots and fire it in the electric kiln.
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​Over the ages, teapots have been the center of social gatherings. People collect it, they talk about it, they have special food with the tea, they have ceremonies around teapots and potters are still fascinated about the different styles of teapots. Wheel thrown or hand made, pinched or slab built, teapots are there to enjoy special moments with family and friends.

​Even if you do not have a potters wheel, you can create a functional teapot that may get a special place in a teapot collector's collection.

​Scroll down for the full contents and preview video
Pinching teapots for beginners online workshop
$42
1-week online class (similar to 1-day hands-on workshop) + 2-week reviewing.
Pre-recorded videos. Focused on details. Repetitive actions removed. 
Register anytime. 3 weeks added to registration date. 

Preview pinching teapots online class

Contents for pinching teapots for beginners

Elements of a teapot​
  • Take a quick flight through the history of teapots that started during the Yuan Dynasty. 
  • Explore the teapot development - handbuilding and wheel thrown.
  • Learn more about each element that defines a teapot.
  • Explore designing techniques for teapots.

​Pinching a teapot
  • Basic pinching techniques.
  • How to measure clay thickness.
  • Learn how to do pinching-in when the pot gets out of control.
  • Which tools to use scraping and smearing of clay.
  • How to get eyeballs on your fingertips.
  • How to pinch the body and all the other elements of the teapot.
  • How to make a lid that do not fall off when pouring tea.​ ​​
Trimming a pinch pot
  • Trim the different parts of a teapot.
  • Which tools work the best when trimming the teapot.
  • How to make your teapot look professional.
  • Beginners may easily loose interest in pinching clay (or some will completely loose interest in clay), because they feel that what they want to make and what they achieve during those early attempts is not successful. The phrase “I am not good at it” is often heard. The reason why this happens has nothing to do with the beginners’ inability to achieve success with clay, but rather a of lack of instruction. Few pottery instructors go beyond the making process to teach the finishing process.
Assemble all the elements of the teapot
  • When all the parts are trimmed and ready, we will assemble the teapot.
  • We will explain how body, lid, spout and handle works together to obtain a well balanced teapot.
  • See how to ensure proper flow of tea through the spout.
  • Ensure free movement for the lid.
​Decorating, glazing and firing the teapots
  • Consider carving and painting for the teapot.
  • Learn some basic rules of glazing.
  • What to consider when firing the glazes in the pottery kiln.

Registration policy

Who is the target audience for Pinching Teapots for Beginners?

  • This e-course is for potters who want to get a little deeper into the understanding of clay. Teapots offer a perfect opportunity to execute some of the techniques that you have learned in a way that it makes sense. It will give you an opportunity to analyze form and gain confidence in the clay process.
  • This online workshop is for the pottery beginner that recently started to work with pottery clay and already made objects from start to finish. 

What do I need for this e-course?
  • You must have access to potters clay, a workplace and kiln.
  • You must have consistent access to a computer, iPad or iPhone or related technology.
  • You must have basic computer knowledge. (Although we will assist you with the viewing of the videos, we cannot teach you how to use a computer). 
  • You should understand the following terminology: 
  •  Pottery clay; leather hard; bone dry; green ware; bisque ware; wedging; coiling; glazing; firing clay; kiln; cone; pinching. 

REFUND POLICY
  • No refunding after the e-course started.
  • Submitting an online registration indicates your agreement with this policy.