Pottery & Ceramics Course: Hand Building for Beginners

What you'll learn

Fire up the kiln and prepare to unleash your inner artist! Learn to hand-build pottery with our pottery short courses in Sydney!

Learn about the practice of pottery and how lumps of soft clay can transform into beautiful pieces of long-lasting ceramic with these ceramics classes in Sydney. In this pottery and ceramics course, you will be given guidance in various aspects of the ceramics process and will make a pair of test pieces before moving on to a self-determined main project with support from your teacher. You will be taken through hand-building methods, how to employ various techniques of surface decoration, firing in an electric kiln and mixing and applying glazes.

Come to this pottery & ceramics class with a readiness to learn and to get your hands dirty, and you will go home with several pieces designed and made by yourself.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this pottery and ceramics class, you should be able to:

Use tools and equipment to decorate and shape clay
Build basic forms in clay
Prepare and apply glazes
Fire your pieces

Course content

What will be covered in this pottery course?

Information about how ceramics are created
Handbuilding techniques
Surface decoration techniques
Design
Firing in electric kilns
Mixing and applying glazes

Week 1

Introduction to ceramics and clay
Begin hand-building tests

Week 2

Begin hand-building main project
Surface decoration techniques
Glazing tests

Week 3

Finalise hand-built pieces
Further surface decoration techniques

Week 4

Applying glazes
Firing

Intended audience

Who is this pottery course for?

This course is for absolute beginners or those with minimal working knowledge of ceramics.

Course venue

Louise M Studio

20-28 Carrington Road, Marrickville NSW 2204 (access via Renwick Street)

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
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.

Course testimonials

Jane said: The course was excellent, Louise was very knowledgeable, personable and helpful. It was a great activity to do with my mum. While I won’t be becoming a potter any time soon, I really enjoyed this introduction to hand building and appreciated Louise sharing her skills with us.
Carolina said: 5 Stars!
Anthony said: was fun, louise is a great teacher and the class was the right size for everyone to get individual advice on their projects
Esther said: Loved the size of the class, the freedom and flexibility but also the care of Louise. Serious value for money and would 100% recommend to a friend!!!!!
Katherine said: Louise was very friendly and patient with the group. She shared a lot of knowledge and made the sessions very enjoyable.

Course tutors

This course has no current classes. Please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Pottery & Ceramics Course: Hand Building for Beginners