Pottery & Ceramics: Animal Sculpture School Holiday Day Camp

What you'll learn

Join this creative hand-building pottery class as part of our pottery workshops in Sydney!

Learn how to shape your own clay animal sculpture from start to finish. This camp is suitable for complete beginners and those who have worked with clay before. Participants receive step-by-step guidance and hands-on sculpting techniques that help develop form, structure and expressive detail.

You will learn how to build simple shapes, construct a solid form, and refine features that bring personality to your animal. There is plenty of room for individual ideas, and students are encouraged to design a unique creature that reflects their imagination.

All sculptures will be fired by the studio and will be ready to take home a couple of weeks after your camp.

Two breaks are included in the day for snacks and lunch. Participants are asked to bring their own food and drinks.

Course Content

What will be covered in this festive pottery workshop:

• Introduction to hand building: overview of clay properties and basic hand building methods
• Learning core sculpting techniques: shaping clay, joining components, and adding expressive detail
• Designing your own animal figure: plan and develop a unique, personalised sculpture
• Building and refining the sculpture: construct the main form, add character features, and refine surfaces
• Final touches and preparation for firing: complete textures and ensure works are kiln-ready
• Breaks and daily schedule: two breaks for snacks and lunch; participants to bring their own

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this camp, participants should be able to:

• Understand and apply basic hand-building techniques for animal sculpture
• Create a unique animal figure with expressive details
• Join and refine clay forms effectively
• Prepare clay works for firing and understand the firing process

Intended audience

Who is this pottery course for?

This pottery course is open to everyone, from complete beginners to those with some experience. Suitable for all ages 10 and above. 

Venue

Silky Shapes Studio

6 Prentice Lane, Willoughby

Parking

Please note: Parking is not permitted on Prentice Lane. Free all-day parking is available on surrounding streets near the studio.

Course materials

• All materials are provided.
• Please note: Sculptures will be fired by us and ready to go home in a couple of weeks after your camp.
• Please bring to class:
• Your own water, snacks and lunch

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Please don’t wear your best clothing! Clay will wash out, but it’s better to wear some older clothes
• If you have long hair, please tie it back
• Wear closed-in shoes
• Nails need to be trimmed
• You will need to return a week after the last class to collect your pieces. You will be able to discuss this with your teacher