WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Thank you for joining us at our recent pottery workshop! We loved getting creative with you and hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
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A LITTLE ABOUT US
Hi, I’m Amanda, the ceramic artist behind Everyday Clay. My studio is located in Healesville, Yarra Valley, but I also operate as a mobile studio, travelling anywhere across Victoria hosting workshops to bring the world of pottery straight to your door. I craft experiences that uniquely meet the needs of my clients, encouraging meaningful connection with ourselves and each other to leave participants feeling calm and inspired.
Rather than rely on a throwing wheel for its speed and ease, my practice upholds the age-old tradition of hand-building. Hand-building is a method of pottery making that honours our hands as the primary tool for creating something beautiful. By placing us in direct and unaided contact with clay, the breathing earth itself, it wields extraordinary power to move us into a slower, more mindful rhythm of who we are in connection to the land.
To this day, I’ve had the privilege of facilitating workshops for some of the largest schools, universities, councils, conferences, nonprofits, and organisations in Victoria, engaging groups ranging from as small as 5 through to 150 participants.
Yet, no matter where I am, my work always begins and ends with a simple invitation: to get you out of your heads and into your hands, so that you may rediscover a magic so often lost to those who have grown - our ability to dream, imagine, and wonder.
AFTER-WORKSHOP instructions
1 Dry slowly and evenly: Air-dry clay shrinks as it dries and may crack if the drying rate is too fast or uneven. To minimise cracks, let your piece dry in a cool area away from direct heat, sunlight and drafts.
If you attended our upcycled clay vase workshop, surface cracks are expected due to the clay shrinking against a fixed object. For the first 4 days after the workshop, we recommend loosely wrapping your piece in a damp paper towel or cloth, to slow its drying rate. After 4 days, remove the cloth and replace it with a loosely covered plastic bag, and leave for another 4 days. Then, turn the piece over or place on a wire rack (if possible) to allow the base to dry, and leave loosely covered for another 4-8 days to dry completely.
Once dry, your piece should feel firm and appear lighter in colour. It’s natural for some areas to lighten more than others, due to different thicknesses of the clay drying at different rates. If you used white clay, your piece should dry to a blend of white and grey. If you used terracotta clay, it should dry to a blend of orange and tan.
2 Repair cracks: If cracks have appeared, don’t be alarmed as you can use the extra clay given to you to reduce their appearance. Simply dab some water to the affected area and press fresh, moistened clay into the cracks. Spread the clay around the surrounding area, and repeat the repair process for any other cracks. Let your filled piece dry completely for about 4 days. Any small, hairline cracks that are couldn’t be filled will be concealed by the acrylic paint you apply in step 3 - patience is key!
3 Paint your piece: Gather your favourite brushes and acrylic paints (like this Reeves Acrylic Paint Set from Officeworks) for the ultimate painting session at home. Apply 3 coats of paint to your piece for sufficient coverage, allowing the coats to dry in between applications.
4 (Optional) Time to gloss-up: Use a brush to apply a thin layer of clear liquid varnish to the surface area of your piece. Varnish is available for purchase at most art shops, and can also be found online. The purpose of varnish is to create a water-resistant layer on your piece to protect your hand-painted design against scratches and UV light for lasting protection.
4 Enjoy!: Your piece is now ready to be used, displayed, and enjoyed! Simply wipe clean with a soft cloth, and take care not to submerge it in water. For safety, please note that air-dry clay is not suitable for tableware and cannot be used for eating or drinking.