Frequently asked questions | FAQ
Here is a list of the frequently asked questions and, of course, their answers.
Questions about starting out with clay
Your choice of potter’s wheel depends on a number of factors. In any case, we recommend an electric wheel. Which brand or type you choose, whether you choose one with a fixed or loose pedal, with a fixed or loose seat, the choice is completely personal. Get advice at your pottery supply store. They know all about potter’s wheels and can tell you perfectly which wheel is right for you.
Your choice of wheel depends on a number of factors. In any case, we recommend an electric potter’s wheel. Which brand or type you choose, whether you choose one with a fixed or loose pedal, with a fixed or loose seat, the choice is completely personal. Get advice at your ceramic supply store. They know all about potter’s wheels and can tell you perfectly which wheel is right for you.
You will find a list of pottery supply stores here. For starters, you can read our article about potter’s wheels that will help you get started.
A ceramic kiln is a significant investment, and the choice is completely personal. You can choose a kiln with or without three-phase electricity, a top loader and front loader. The volume of the kiln will depend on the size of the work you want to fire. It’s best to get advice at a pottery supply store.
You will find a list of pottery supply stores here. You can read our article about the ceramic kiln, which will certainly be a useful start.
It is best to buy your clay from a store that specializes in pottery supplies, not any hobby store. At a pottery supply store, they can best advise you on the different types of clay and exactly which clay you need for your projects.
You will find a list of pottery supply stores here.
Which clay you buy depends on what kind of work you are going to make and what technique you want to use. You can find some info in this article. But be sure to get advice at the pottery supply store, they really know all about clay!
You will find a list of pottery supply stores here .
Yeah sure, why not! You can start by downloading our beginner’s guide, which will give you a good foundation on all things clay. You will also find a bunch of information on our blog.
If you would like to learn how to throw, then our beginner’s course on throwing with Aster Caemaert is cut out for you. She has already taught hundreds of people how to throw, so why not you too? You can also start with hand building. Why not learn to make dinnerware with clay plates, or make everyday objects? The course on making and using moulds, and the courses on paper porcelain paste and paper porcelain slip, are also suitable for beginners.
The advantage of our online courses is that you can take them completely at your own pace. If you want to practice between classes for a week or a month first, you can. You can watch and rewatch the lessons indefinitely. And if you have any questions, you can always ask them in our closed Facebook group, or you can send us a message via email of via Instagram/Facebook.
If you want to learn to make ceramics on the potter’s wheel, you obviously need a wheel, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy one yourself. There are a lot of places in your neighbourhood where you can rent a potter’s wheel, or get a membership to use a workspace with a potter’s wheel.
You can watch the online course at home and then practice what you learned in the studio. All courses include pdf documents with a brief summary of the lessons, which you can download and print out so you can take them with you to your workplace.
No, definitely not. A ceramic kiln is quite an investment. We compiled a list of individuals and studios that fire work for others. You can probably find an address near you. This article tells you how to transport your pieces when you are not firing them at home.
Questions about the course
You can find all Cursist courses on our course platform. You log in with your e-mail address and password. You will see an overview of all modules and lessons of the course, and you can watch all videos, read texts and view, download and print pdf documents.
You can find all Cursist courses on our course platform. You log in with your e-mail address and password. You will see an overview of all modules and lessons of the course, and you can watch all videos, read texts and view, download and print pdf documents.
The classes are not live. So you don’t have to be available at a specific time. The lessons are professionally shot and edited, with different camera angles, so you can clearly see exactly what the teacher is doing. You can go through the course completely at your own pace and watch and review everything as much as you want. You have lifetime access to your course.
Most students watch a full module first, and then get to work in their studio, either with or without the videos and/or pdf documents nearby. Once they master a particular technique, they move on to the next module. Most courses are best taken in the order in which they are presented.
The classes are not live. So you don’t have to be available at a specific time. The lessons are professionally shot and edited, with different camera angles, so you can clearly see exactly what the teacher is doing.
You can go through the course completely at your own pace and watch and review everything as much as you want. You have lifetime access to your course.
If a pdf document accompanies the lesson, you will find it below the video lesson. If you click on the title of the document, the download will start automatically.
That actually depends entirely on you. For each course, you will see on our website how much time the video lessons take in hours and minutes. But there is also text to read, and pdf documents to go through, and how much time you take to practice and enjoy working with clay is, of course, entirely up to you. Some students complete a course at a record pace in a few weeks; others take months or even years. There’s no rush, because you have lifetime access.
On each course page you will find an overview of the different modules the course contains and exactly what they cover. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Can I ask questions when taking a course? We run a closed Facebook group where you can compare work, ask questions and consult with your fellow students. Each course has a questionnaire where you can leave your questions for the teacher. We compile and answer all questions, and add them to the course. This way, it is improved and complemented time and again. And of course you can always contact us directly.
Questions about payment
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You can pay with Bancontact, credit card, PayPal, iDeal and via KBC or Belfius Direct. If something goes wrong with the payment, or you have further questions, please let us know.
Yes. While ordering, you can indicate that it is a business purchase and add your VAT number. You will then receive an invoice with the correct VAT information.
Questions about the materials kit
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Your materials kit will be shipped by our partner Colpaert. When you order a course with a materials kit from Cursist, they automatically receive the orders. Delivery time is about 10 days.
If you want to inquire at pottery supply store Colpaert when the package will be delivered, you can do so at info@colpaert-ceramic.be or +32 9 226 28 26.
You can read what is in the materials that comes with the course ‘Graphical decoration techniques with Anima Roos‘ here, and here you can read what the materials packet includes that comes with the course Understanding and making glazes with Caroline and Aster .
Questions about the course platform
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You can read all about how to log into the course platform here.
Your login is the email address you used to register with Cursist. Maybe you can still find what mail address that was? You received the password from us. But, of course, it could be that you changed it. We explain all about logins and passwords on the course platform in this article.
If you are logged into our course platform, you can change your login and/or password in your account. You can read how to proceed here.
You can watch the course videos on any device that allows you to access the internet: computer, laptop, tablet and even your smartphone. As long as you have an internet connection, you can surf to the course platform, log in with your email and pasword and watch the videos, review texts and download PDFs.
Yes, our courses are on an online course platform. To watch the videos, read the texts and see and download the PDFs, you need an internet connection. You can download and print the pdf documents that accompany each course.
If the videos from our courses suddenly stop playing, you can try the following:
- reload the web page
- log out of the course platform and log in again
- check whether your internet browser is up to date
- clear the history of your browser
- shut down and restart your computer/laptop/tablet
- check if the videos do play on another device
If all fails, feel free to send us a message and we’ll help you out!
Once you purchase a course, you have lifetime access. That means you can revisit and rewatch the course as many times as you like. The course is all yours.
Varia
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That is a personal choice. It kind of depends on what you want to learn. If you would like to learn to turn ceramics, it is best to start with Throwing for beginners with Aster Caemaert. The course is also an ideal starting point for potters with already some experience who would like to build on a solid foundation, or want to learn production throwing. The follow-up is the throwing course for semi-advanced students, Plates, Bowls, Vases. If you want to learn specifically about turning teapots, then the Two Teapots (mini) course is your thing. Turning experience is required for these two courses.
If you would like to learn to decorate your ceramics with pictures, drawings and text, then choose Graphic Decoration Techniques. You can take this course as a beginner or advanced.
If you want to learn how to create and apply glaze to your work, then go on a glazing adventure with Aster and Caroline – Part 1. This course is a beginner’s course for those starting with glazes, but even students with experience will learn a lot more. If you really want to dive into glazing theory and practice and learn how to make your own glazes, then On glazing adventure with Aster and Caroline – part 2 is the perfect sequel. For this, it is best that you already have some experience making and applying glaze. If your interest lies more with molding clay, then as a beginner you can get started making and using molds. No prior knowledge is required for this. And if you are wild about paper porcelain, then you probably want to learn to Work with liquid and malleable paper porcelain, because in this course you will learn all about paper porcelain. Again, you don’t need any experience.
You can find a handy map here. You’re sure to find a store near you. By the way, many pottery supply stores also have a web shop.
We compiled a list of individuals and studios that fire work for others. You can probably find an address near you!
With our shrinkage ruler, you can see at a glance how big your work will be after drying and firing. You can download it here and print it out.
You can find the free beginner’s guide with all the basic information about starting with ceramics here.
‘From clay to bowl’ belongs to this closed Facebook group, and ‘Plates, bowls, vases’ also has its own group.
In addition, as a student of all courses you can become a member of the closed Facebook group for Cursist alumni.
You can read more about how to become a member here.
