Experiencing a 10-day Ceramics Course in Tuscany Italy
When my friend Amanda asked if I wanted to join her on a 10-day ceramics throwing course in Tuscany, I said yes. She had recently taken a ceramics course and was fully embracing the chaos of the mud and clay.
in Tuscany
I would say I’m a beginner because the last time I touched clay was in 1996 when I was in high school. Even then, I only remember working with slabs and coils (the slower form of ceramics) and never on the wheel. I was more excited about a girls crafting vacation than actually making anything during the course. I love crafting and perhaps calling ceramics a craft is not doing it justice to the artists that spend their life devoted to it. I don’t consider myself an artist because I dabble, I don’t master (with the exception of knitting/crochet). Therefore I call it crafting.
I didn’t know what to expect exactly. The course program said 8 full days of instruction, demonstration, and creation. Amanda spent hours at the local ceramics studio and sent me a couple of videos before we left but I basically went into the course with no experience.
The week before the course we received an email with a more detailed itinerary for the course - as a planner that was highly appreciated. The plan did change once during the 10 days but it was posted and communicated to the class.
Scroll to the bottom for the Summary and Impressions
Thursday, 28 July 2022 - Day 1
The course started with a welcome dinner. Most of the students were staying either at the ceramics studio or at nearby accommodations but Amanda and I decided to stay in Certaldo Alto. We arrived at the studio at 7pm and followed the studio vans to the restaurant.
It was an open-air restaurant that eventually got very full and very noisy. It was lovely so see such huge groups gathering for dinner together.
There were no expectations for the dinner, no instructions, just a time to eat and get to know the other students and instructors.
Friday, 29 July 2022 - Day 2 (Centering, cylinders)
It was an early start to the morning, we had to be at La Meridiana at 8:30 for the welcome breakfast. We ate at on-site and at the end of the breakfast we were given our orientation and daily routine for the course. Each day the studio opened at 8am and closed at 7pm. Our instructor, Franco Rampi, would be available from 9am-6pm. Lunch started at 12:30pm and we would be given a 15-minute warning in order to clean-up. Lunch lasted until 2pm but you could start working again as soon as you like. Lunches were provided everyday but we had to manage our own breakfast and dinners. For those students staying at the provided accommodations, the staff would drive them to the grocery store today at 5pm to buy food for the week. Each day we also received a coffee-break at 10:30am and again at 4:30pm.
After our breakfast orientation, we headed upstairs to the studio were we received a tote bag with a notebook, pen, and some information about local things to do, the studio, and available on-site massage. We each picked a number out of a bowl and that became our workspace for the duration of the course. I was at bench #2. We then all lined up to pay the remainder of the course at the studio office.
Once we were all finished paying, we gathered around the studio for our first lesson. Franco demonstrated the basics of how to wedge clay and then we all wedged clay. Then Franco demonstrated how to center clay on the wheel, how to bring up the clay to a cone shape and then push it back down. Once the clay was centered he demonstrated how to open it up, bring up the walls and make a cylinder. This is the beginning to most forms thrown on the wheel. We practiced this for the rest of the day which wasn’t long since we had a bit of a later start due to the breakfast and we finished a bit early for the persons that wanted to go grocery shopping.
Saturday, 30 July 2022 - Day 3 (Bowls & Plates)
Since we drove to the studio each day, we typically arrived between 8:45-9:00am, most of the other students were already working.
Franco would announce a demonstration with 15-minutes notice. This day we learned how to throw bowls and plates. Franco (always) repeated how to properly center the clay and then proceeded to demonstrate several different bowl shapes.
After the demo, we were free to work while Franco and the assistant, Cecilia, circulated around the room to help us. When we were stuck or needed help, Franco would provide direct instruction and even help to correct issues by working directly with our piece.
It was very helpful to see him work so closely and to get one-on-one instruction. Franco is funny, light-hearted, and a great instructor. After lunch Franco would demonstrate another technic or shape for us to try.
Sunday, 31 July 2022 - Day 4 (Bottles & Handles)
Because I had no experience before the course started, I found that I was about 1 day behind the instruction. I spent the first two days really practicing centering and cylinders before I started experimenting with the new shapes.
On this day Franco demonstrated how to create bottles and how to ‘pull’ handles. Both seemed a bit out of my league but I was here to learn so I gave each a try.
Learning how to throw was a bit frustrating. There are so many steps to get started, to make the piece, to finish it, to glaze it. And in each phase there are so many opportunities to mess it up.
Before you even get the clay on the wheel you have to wedge it to make sure there are no air bubbles. When you go to put the clay on the wheel, you have to ensure it’s dry, no air-pockets, and that slip won’t get under your piece. That happened to me at least twice - so a waste of a ball of clay. All the while you have to teach your hands, arms, and fingers to work in a new way.
I’m sure for some people this can come naturally and I thought it would for me considering I knit and crochet, two crafts that require your fingers to do a lot of work. Nonetheless, I struggled sometimes and other times I could create a piece in 15 minutes and it was easy.
Monday, 1 August 2022 - Day 5 (Lids & Spouts)
On this day Franco demonstrated how to create different types of lids and the coordinating flanges necessary for the lid to sit on. He also demonstrated how to create the unique spout native to the Tuscany region.
By this day I was getting a bit fatigued with throwing. I spent more time reading my book than throwing on the wheel. I managed to create several nice pieces but I would have been just as happy to read all day. I wasn’t alone, at least one other student was also getting a bit tired of throwing.
Most of the other students had some experience and therefore knew what they wanted to learn and what they wanted to practice. I liked the ability to sit out under the canopy, feel the breeze and listen to the cicadas sing without feeling like I had to be at the wheel every second.
Tuesday, 2 August 2022 - Day 6 (Finishing Touches)
This was the last day we could make something that would make it into the bisque kiln for the initial firing. I had taken to listening to my audiobook while working which helped me refocus onto the wheel.
Did I mention that I have ADD? I figured out that having some music or listening to my audio book really helped to block out the rest of the room. I was able to make a little pot with a coordinating lid - and it fit!
I was super happy with my day and just hoped that I would be able to finish the lid with enough time. I also spent time this day cleaning up my pieces, adding my Little Elephant stamp, and trying to figure out which pieces I would fire.
Wednesday, 3 August 2022 - Day 7 (AM Practice and Finishing, PM loading kiln)
No new instruction today. I quickly finished my lid and added the knob on top. Fortunately, this is the summer and it dried enough to make it into the bisque kiln. After lunch we were allowed a certain amount of space on a table to put our pieces for firing by priority.
Since I didn’t make that many pieces and mine were relatively small, I was able to fire all 21 of my pieces. I didn’t work too hard this day and we left relatively early since no more work would be fired.
Thursday, 4 August 2022 - Day 8 (AM Practice, PM Glaze)
No new instruction but Franco was taking requests for demonstrations. Amanda and I decided to visit San Gimignano in the morning and arrive after lunch for the glaze demonstration.
Later in the afternoon we also had a glaze lesson from Eva on the chemistry behind how it all works. Several of the students practiced in the morning but by now most people were ready for a break and looked for a day away from the studio.
Friday, 5 August 2022 - Day 9 (Glaze, Load Kiln)
It was an early start, we had to be at the studio at 8am to get started with the glazing. We had four glazes to choose from which on the outset did not seem to be enough but after we learned how to layer them, how to use wax, and the different looks just from how thick the glaze was, it was clear that we had more than enough options to choose from.
It was a bit of a race to get all the glazing done. Some students only had a few big pieces and were done soon, others had lots of smaller pieces that required more time. Shortly after lunch everything was loaded in the kiln and we headed back to our Airbnb to get packed up.
Later that evening we headed back to the studio for the farewell dinner with the class. By then everyone knew everyone and we had a really lovely meal that included pizza, a beautiful sunset, and prosecco!
Saturday, 6 August 2022 - Day 10 (Open kiln & Pack)
The last day, also an early start. When we arrived at 7:45, Franco was already removing pieces from the kiln. Everything survived except on pot where the lid fell in and the glaze glued it to the inside of the pot. After we all ooh’d and ahh’d over all the pieces everyone began to pack up their creations and slowly disappear from the studio.
Summary and Impressions
Did I learn how to throw? Yes.
Will I keep throwing when I get home? Not likely.
I joined the course because I thought it would be fun and IT WAS! I enjoyed learning a new art form but I have my favorite crafts to do and I’d prefer to expand my knowledge, time, and resources into those.
I will, however, look into other crafting courses for things I haven’t done yet just to keep my brain working.
Our instructor, Franco Rampi, is reason enough to attend one of his courses. He is patient, supportive, funny, and extremely skilled in his art form.
The school, La Meridiana, was extremely well run by a fun and loving staff that made sure everything worked smoothly while making it look effortless. What I loved most was meeting the people. Both the other students and the staff at La Meridiana all were such beautiful souls.
