Pottery Workshop: Beginner Hand-Building (2 Day Course)
About the experience
Join us in the studio for a fun and relaxing 2-day beginners class! Held across a fortnight, we’ll introduce you to the basics of making and glazing pottery by hand without the need for a wheel.
This class is created for adults but older children (16+ years) are also welcome to attend. It is ideal for beginners with little or no experience, and is the perfect taster for anyone curious about the overall process of pottery making. Bring your friends, family or partners, and let’s get our hands dirty!
Bookings are essential as spots are limited.
Day 1: Hand-building Basics (2 hours)
Learn two of the most important techniques in hand-building called Pinch Pottery and Coil Construction. These techniques involve shaping clay with your hands to create small pots, bowls, mugs and vases, and is a great starting point for beginners or anyone new to clay. Starting with a live art demonstration, your tutor will take you through creating a simple pinch cup and coil pot, and adding texture to clay. You’ll then have time to freely create your own individual pieces, with support and feedback from your tutor whenever needed. After Day 1, your creations will be fired in our private kiln (a special oven that turns clay objects into pottery), so that they will be ready to glaze on Day 2.
Day 2: Glaze and Colour (1.5 hours)
Return to the studio for an opportunity to paint and glaze the pieces that you made on Day 1. Painting and glazing are exciting parts of the handmade process that allow personal touches to be added to your creations. Choose from our handpicked selection of studio paints and glazes, and understand how these materials can be used to achieve a range of decorative effects. Your pottery creations will be ready to collect from our studio in approximately 2-4 weeks after Day 2. We can also organise shipping or local drop-off of your pottery for an additional fee (to be arranged when your work is ready for delivery).
Class information
Explore working with clay using various tools to refine, shape and add texture to your creations.
Learn the basics of hand-building through hands-on guidance, and develop a beginning mastery of the Pinch Pottery technique.
Apply your learning to create everyday, functional objects such as mugs, cups, bowls, pots and vases.
Deepen your appreciation of handmade pottery through the creative process of painting and glazing.
Get in touch with your creative side and connect with others in a relaxed and supportive studio environment.
Have fun and unwind after a long week!
What’s included?
All materials including clay, tools, glazes and paints
Access to our private kiln for clay firing (all pottery needs to be fired twice)
Herbal tea and light refreshments
Approximately 3-6 pottery creations made by you to take home
Guidance and 1:1 support from an experienced ceramic artist
Other things to know
What to bring: Just yourself! We’ll provide you with an apron upon arrival so you can get claying without worrying about the mess.
Group size: To allow greater individual attention and a personalised experience, this class is kept small with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 7 participants. In the unlikely event that a class is cancelled due to insufficient numbers, we'll let you know via email straight away.
Location: Our Everyday Clay Studio in North Balwyn (map). For privacy reasons, the exact street number will be provided after purchase.
Studio accessibility: Our studio is a few steps up from ground level and, unfortunately, is not wheelchair accessible.
Getting here: All-day free street parking is available. Nearest bus stops are (1) Sylvander St/Doncaster Rd via city bus 207–Doncaster SC from Old Melbourne Gaol/Russell St, 9-min walk, and (2) Helston St/Tannock St via bus 285–Doncaster Park & Ride from Canterbury Station, 3-min walk.
