Student Information

Triya Ceramic Studio (TCS) is a relaxed and friendly environment where we promote creativity and inspiration. However, we do need some rules in order for our classes to run safely and efficiently. By attending pottery classes at TCS you are agreeing to abide by these rules and our Terms & Conditions.

Studio Times

Saturday: 1pm-3:30pm 4pm-6:30pm

General

• As part of your class fee TCS will provide you with:

  • standard, all-purpose white earthenware clay,

  • a variety of pottery tools and materials for hand-building, sculpting, and wheel work,

  • a basic range of glazes/underglazes, suitable for mixing and layering,

  • pottery wheels, and other suitable equipment,

  • storage space for all work produced,

  • kiln firing of all work (see section on FIRED WORK below for exceptions)

• Unfortunately TCS cannot provide every possibility in ceramics, especially when it comes to speciality glazes and clays. If there is something that you would like to use please ask your tutor before using it at the studio to see if it is possible/suitable with the facilities we provide.

• Any additional or specialised glazes or materials which are not provided by the studio can be purchased for your own account. We can assist with the ordering process if requested but payment for such orders will need to be finalised in advance.

• Ceramics is not an exact science. Results can vary and be unpredictable.

• Please ensure you complete the Student Details Form at the start of each new block booking.

• We may take photos/videos of life at the studio as well as of student work. These are used on social media to showcase our offering and the work produced. If you would rather not be involved in this please let us know.

• If you need to miss a session, please let us know promptly via phone message or WhatsApp or by email: triyaceramicstudio@gmail.com or speak to a member of staff in the studio and we will do our best to organise a make-up session and provide available dates. We are, however, unable to carry sessions over from one block to the next or indefinitely.

• If you decide not to continue to the next block please let us know as soon as possible.

• Please be aware that if you decide not to return after a block we will only be able store your work for 2 months, and then it will be disposed of.

• Children aged 10 and older are welcome to join any studio sessions, provided they are accompanied and supervised by their parent/guardian, and with the understanding that most other students will be adults, and the studio is a creative educational environment, not an entertainment activity venue. We will endeavor to advise on the safest tools for use for younger students and recommend alternatives.

Equipment & Workspaces

• Please ensure any tools you have used are cleaned and put back where they belong. Please do not take or "borrow" any tools from the studio.

• Please note the start and end time for your session and be aware that tutors have a short window to ensure that the studio is prepared for the next session.

• Please make sure that you clean your workspace before the end of your session and leave it how you would like to find it.

• Please do not remove any other materials, books, or equipment from the studio without prior permission.

Health & Safety

• Please wear appropriate clothing that can get wet/full of clay/paint/dusty, as well as suitable ‘closed toe’ shoes.

• The studio has aprons that are reserved for wheel work. If you want to protect your clothes at other times during non-wheel work then please bring your own apron, towel, or an old shirt.

• Please leave valuable jewellery and electronics at home.

• Please speak to a member of staff if you need use of a first aid kit or a burn kit.

• Please be careful when eating and drinking around the work areas, and bear in mind that greasy/oily fingers and hand lotions can affect clays and glazes.

• When cleaning the wheels please ensure that they are switched off.

• Always clean all surfaces with a damp sponge/cloth and wipe dry with the cloths provided.

• Please avoid going too near the kiln as it may be very hot.

• The meeting point in the event of an evacuation from the studio is in the primary car park at the front of the main building.

Glazing

• If any glazes are running low please alert the tutor. We may have more in storage or else we will do our best to replenish them as soon as possible.

• Check with your tutor before double-dipping or combining glazes, and if you’re unsure about the number of coats to apply.

• Clean paint brushes thoroughly between different glazes to avoid contamination and pollution of colours.

• Please make sure that the bottom/standing base of your work is well wiped and free from any glaze.

• Please choose your glazes and applications carefully, we cannot be held responsible for unsatisfactory end results or colour choices.

• There are literally thousands of glazes on the market and it is impossible to cater to everyone’s taste and preferences for colours and finishes. That is why we only offer a range of basic colours as part of the class fee.

• Please also note that we do not offer a glazing service, i.e. glaze work on behalf of students.

Firing

• We may refuse to fire work if we consider that this would be a risk to other work and/or our kilns.

• Firing work is at the discretion and expertise of the tutor; we will not fire work if we are not satisfied that it is ready and bone-dry.

• We will fire an item a maximum of 2 times only, and will not be held responsible for unsatisfactory glaze results.

• TCS uses a single-fire process at low fire temperatures. Our studio clay and glazes have been selected to be fit for this purpose. Outside clays and/or glazes may not be suitable for our studio kiln and firing process so please always check this with us first before purchasing and starting any such work.

• TCS does not allow the firing of work produced outside of the studio, not do we rent out our kiln to anyone outside our studio or classes.

• TCS does not allow bringing items that have been created outside the studio (e.g. at home or at another workshop) to class sessions.

• If your work occupies more than 50% of the kiln space there may be an additional charge levied, calculated by size and weight of the piece, for firing it.

Student Work

• When storing your work, please always attach a name tag to the outside of the drying bag, in order to positively identify your work.

• Please be very careful when moving your work or looking for your project. Do not pick up work that doesn’t belong to you.

• Any work that needs to remain in plastic or leather hard condition must be wrapped up in a drying bag. Wrapped bags contain fragile student work.

• Any work that can be allowed to dry fully for kiln firing must be lightly covered by plastic, not wrapped, to ensure a slow and even drying process to prevent cracks and warps, but this is not guaranteed.

• Any work that has not been bisque fired (green ware) is extremely delicate. Never handle such items by their rims or other thin sections, always support the full piece by its base.

• Please be aware that if you decide not to return after a block, or choose to take a block out, we will only be able store your work for 2 months.

Recycling

• We have recycling bins provided for clay, please make sure all unused, but worked clay is placed in a bin by the end of the class.

• Please do not dispose of clay or glazes down the sink drain, use the water only for rinsing brushes, sponges, and cloths.

The above information is regularly reviewed and may be subject to change at any time. Further Terms & Conditions can be seen here: https://www.triyaceramicstudio.co.uk/health-safety/terms-conditions.