Adult Beginner Pottery Classes
Want to get started hand-building with clay?
Black Duck Studio love helping beginners get started!
We have streamlined our workshops into handy categories of MUG, DISH & VASE to ensure there is one set of instructions from start to finish in our beginner clay workshops.
Within each category, there is plenty of room for variation. This means individuals can express their own personality onto their ceramic piece freely, and we end up with a class full of unique designs!
It also means you can come back again and again, to the same workshops and create something different each time!
Upcoming beginner sessions
You can choose by date, here on the calendar. Or, you can see more information on each option below.
Workshop Options
Step 1 = Choose your category – Dish, Mug or Vase.
Step 2 = Choose your glazing options!
If you have no idea about ceramics or glazing, here is some more info to help you decide…
Option 1. Clay & Clear Glaze $75
This is the cheapest option, and includes 1 x 90 minute session where you will make with clay in your chosen category of either dish, mug or vase. We will then fire it, clear glaze it for you and fire it again. Your ceramic piece will remain the natural white clay colour, like the photo above. You will be notified to pick up three to four weeks later.
Option 2. Clay & Paint $85
Our next option includes 1 x 90 minute session where you will make with clay in your chosen category of either dish, mug or vase. PLUS - you paint your piece on the same day! (total session is 2.5hrs). We will then fire it, clear glaze it for you and fire it again. This option is great if you want to paint your piece just like you would with acrylics. Surface pattern designs such as fruit, spots, lines or checkers turn out amazing, as underglaze colours do not move or change in the kiln. You will be notified to pick up three to four weeks later.
Option 3. Clay & Specialty Glaze $115
Our last option includes 2 x workshops, at least 2 weeks apart. Your first session is the same as the 90 minute one listed above. You make either a dish, mug or vase. Then we book you in for a second workshop where you come back for your 1hr glazing session after your piece has had its first firing. (Called a 'bisque firing'). Why do we bisque fire clay? Well, it will fire out all the moisture from the clay and creates the best surface for glaze to be absorbed! This is the only workshop type where you can use our specialty glazes. Glazes are very different to underglazes, as they contain glass forming elements, so your glaze will melt, merge and mix in the kiln with some surprising and amazing results! You will be notified to pick up two to three weeks after your glazing session.
Workshop Categories
Ok, so now you know which glazing option to choose, you can go ahead and choose your first workshop! You will be given the glazing options once you click through to booking. I’m so excited for you, go and book yourself a fun arvo of clay, and maybe even BYO wine too!
Make a Dish
hand-building pottery class L1
This is our most basic hand-building class. We have plenty of templates to help you trace out a shape that you like. Then we show you how to curve your clay upward, or build up a little edge on your dish.
We have templates such as leaf-shaped, round, square, oval… or you can freestyle it with a nice organic shape.
Dishes made in this class can be used as a key dish, jewellery dish, plate, shallow bowl, snack plate, small entree platter… the list is endless!
Within this session there are beginner options that range from super easy (same as our kids classes) up to more experienced beginners. You can chat to our teacher on the day.
Glaze options are listed after you choose your booking date.
Make a Mug
hand-building pottery class L2
This is our next level up in hand-building difficulty. It’s still a beginner class, but we set up these categories so that people can easily find something to suit their confidence levels.
Make a Mug includes 2 hand-building techniques plus the addition of a handle, (if you want a handle, that is).
Within this class there are options that can scale down or scale up the difficulty of the session. You can ask the teacher if you are wanting more help or want to take on something more adventurous!
Glaze options are listed after you choose your booking date.
Make a Vase
hand-building pottery class L3
Our vase making workshop is our 3rd level in difficulty. It includes 3 different hand-building techniques. Similar to the mug, it is still a beginner session and all are welcome, but it will be easiest if you have done one of the previous sessions first.
This class is a pinch-pot session, not a slab building session. We will do one-off events for slab vases but they are more for the intermediate potters.
Your finished vase will be water-proof and ready to hold fresh flowers!
Glaze options are listed after you choose your booking date.
8 Week Course - $430
hand-building pottery course
If you’d prefer to learn them all and get the best deal on pottery pricing – then our 8 week course is for you.
Wednesday evenings 6pm to 8pm
We keep class numbers to only 8 people, so you get lots of time with our teacher and we share so much information on ceramics, glazes and hand building techniques. We even talk about our kilns, firing and how we manage the studio day to day, if you’re interested in that kind of thing too!
Glaze your piece
glazing session if you’ve already made something with clay
Most of our glazing options are included in the packages above.
This is only for people who did not already pay for a glazing session in their clay workshop.
Maybe you made your ceramics at home, and booked a kiln firing with us… if your pottery is already at our studio, fired and awaiting glaze. Schedule your glazing session here.
