Getting Your Hands Dirty in a French Pottery Class
Sign up for a beginners' pottery course, learn on the wheel and pick up your first glazed bowl.
Pottery is hugely popular in France, and most towns have an atelier de céramique running weekly evening courses or one-off initiation sessions, often booked online and paid by the term. Your piece needs to dry, then goes through two cuissons (firings) in the four, with the émail (glaze) applied before the second, so expect to collect it two or three weeks later. In relaxed workshops the teacher and students usually use tu.
- 1
Il reste de la place dans le cours débutants ?
Is there still room on the beginners' course?
- 2
Je dois apporter quelque chose ?
Do I need to bring anything?
- 3
Mets un tablier, ça salit.
Put on an apron, it gets messy.
- 4
D'abord, on pétrit la terre.
First, you knead the clay.
- 5
J'aimerais essayer le tour.
I'd like to try the wheel.
- 6
Mouille-toi les mains.
Wet your hands.
- 7
C'est tout de travers !
It's all lopsided!
- 8
Appuie plus fort avec les pouces.
Press harder with your thumbs.
- 9
T'inquiète, ça arrive à tout le monde.
Don't worry, it happens to everyone.
- 10
Mon bol s'est effondré.
My bowl has collapsed.
- 11
Ça met combien de temps à sécher ?
How long does it take to dry?
- 12
Ça passe au four quand ?
When does it go in the kiln?
- 13
On fait deux cuissons.
We fire it twice.
- 14
Tu veux quelle couleur d'émail ?
What colour glaze do you want?
- 15
Je repasse le chercher dans quinze jours.
I'll come back for it in two weeks.
- 16
Il est un peu bancal, mais je l'adore.
It's a bit wonky, but I love it.
Tip: Talking about the bowl.
- 17
C'est une pièce unique.
It's a one-off piece.
- 18
Tu te débrouilles bien, dis donc !
You're doing well, wow!
- 19
Je peux le prendre en photo ?
Can I take a photo of it?
- 20
Je mets la main à la pâte !
I'm getting stuck in!