Down to Earth: First Steps in Ceramics
Handbuilding Beginner Course · 4 Weekly Classes
Date and time
Wednesday, 2. December 2026, 18.30
Further dates
Overview
Beginner
No previous knowledge required for this event.
DE & EN
Our Instructor speaks fluent English and German.
Studio Basel
4 × 2.5 hours
Weekly classes over 4 consecutive weeks
Multi-day Course
A structured learning journey over multiple sessions, where you'll learn new techniques and develop a solid foundation in the chosen art form.
Description
A lump of clay. Two hands. Surprisingly many possibilities.
Handbuilding is where some of ceramics’ oldest techniques meet almost unlimited creative freedom. Using pinching, slabs and coils, you can turn clay into everything from cups and plates to vases and sculptural forms.
Throughout the course, you’ll explore the three fundamental handbuilding techniques: pinching, slab building and coiling. Each opens up a different way of working with clay and gives you new possibilities for creating both functional and decorative pieces.
Through a series of guided projects, you’ll gradually build your ceramic toolbox: learning how to construct, join and shape clay, play with textures and surface decoration, and finally glaze your creations.
It’s tactile, playful and wonderfully versatile – with plenty of room to experiment and develop pieces that feel completely your own.
✏️ What to Expect
You’ll explore the fundamental handbuilding techniques through a series of projects:
Pinching – shape your first cup or mug using one of the most intuitive ways of working with clay.
Slab Building – learn to work with rolled clay slabs and transform them into plates and other constructed forms.
Coiling – build upwards with coils of clay to create a vase or taller vessel.
Glazing & Finishing – explore colour and surface to give your handmade pieces their final character.
Throughout the course, you’ll receive demonstrations, individual guidance and plenty of freedom to interpret each project in your own way.
🧠 What You’ll Learn
- The fundamentals of pinch pottery
- How to construct forms using clay slabs
- How to build larger and taller pieces using coils
- How to join clay securely and create stable forms
- How to control shape, thickness and structure
- Surface decoration using textures, patterns and carving
- The basics of glazing and finishing
- How to combine these techniques when developing your own projects
🤔 Is This the Right Course for Me?
This course is a great fit if you enjoy making things with your hands, experimenting with form and texture, and having creative freedom within a guided learning process.
You’ll probably appreciate it most if you’re curious about how objects are constructed and enjoy the process of slowly building something from scratch. Handbuilding allows for precision, but it also celebrates irregularity, character and personal expression – your pieces don’t all need to look identical or perfectly symmetrical.
If you’re mainly interested in learning the technical skill of throwing symmetrical vessels on the pottery wheel, our Wheel Throwing Beginner Course is probably the better choice.
But if you want to build a broad foundation in ceramics, discover several versatile techniques and eventually combine them freely in your own projects, this is a fantastic place to start.
More Infos
Not at all!
Our courses are designed for the level indicated in the course description, whether you’re a complete beginner or already have some experience. All you need is curiosity, motivation, and the willingness to learn and improve in your new creative hobby.
Not at all. We provide the clay as well as all the materials, tools and studio equipment you’ll need throughout the course.
Yes. Clay and firing are included in your course.
We’ll fire one piece you create per course hour. If you fall in love with more of your creations and would like to keep them too, no problem – additional pieces can be fired for an extra fee, which you can pay directly at the studio.
Usually within 2–4 weeks after the course ends. We’re normally closer to the lower end of this range, but during particularly busy periods, firing may take a little longer.
At the end of your course, we’ll explain when and where you can collect your finished pieces.
We’ll store your finished pieces for one month.
The date shown is the first session of the course. The remaining lessons generally take place on the same day of the week and at the same time in the following weeks, unless otherwise stated in the course description.
Your booking, of course, covers the entire course and all its sessions.
Our courses generally run in consecutive weeks – including public holidays. This helps maintain the learning rhythm and avoids longer breaks during the course.
Unless otherwise stated in the course description, your class will take place as scheduled, even if the date falls on a public holiday.
No problem.
If the same course runs again at a later date and there are spaces available, you can make up the missed lesson then. Just let us know by email beforehand.
Often, one of our Studio Classes is an even better solution. There, you can catch up on the missed project with support from your tutor. Since everyone in a Studio Class works on their own individual projects, your tutor can guide you personally while also supporting the other participants.
Tickets are transferable, but non-refundable within 36 hours.
You can reschedule your booking up to 72 hours before the course starts.
Please note that a course booking covers the entire course series rather than individual lessons. If you miss an individual lesson once the course has started, please see “What happens if I miss a lesson?” above.
Please arrive around 10–15 minutes before your class starts. This gives you enough time to get settled, grab a drink and be ready when the session begins.
We start on time so that everyone gets the full course experience.
Our courses are taught by experienced ceramic artists. Many of our instructors are based in Switzerland, while others come from different parts of the world – bringing with them diverse ceramic backgrounds, techniques and plenty of hands-on experience.
They’ll demonstrate the techniques step by step and support you individually throughout your learning journey.
We intentionally keep our groups small so that everyone has enough space and receives personal attention.
Wheel Throwing Courses: maximum 6 participants
Handbuilding Courses: maximum 10 participants
You don’t have to – but you’re absolutely welcome to!
If you’d like some additional studio time between lessons, you can practise independently in our Open Atelier and deepen the skills you’ve learned.
Learning is at the heart of our courses – but of course, we don’t want to miss out on the typical Paint It Easy atmosphere.
Throughout the course, coffee, tea and water are always available to you. Before the first lesson, we’ll also raise a glass together with Prosecco or a non-alcoholic alternative to celebrate the start of the course.
Cheers!
Keep creating!
In our Studio Classes, you can continue developing your skills with the support of a tutor, or use our Open Atelier to practise independently and work on your own projects.
And if ceramics becomes a regular part of your life, our Ceramics Membership gives you even more studio time and member benefits.
What are PIE multi-day course?
Learn art in 4-6 weeks for sustainable learning
Learn more about PIE multi-day courses
Further dates for this PIE multi-day course
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