The Best Ceramics Classes in Melbourne
Get ready to get mud-soaked - and mud-obsessed.
Nowadays, the pottery wheel is becoming white-hot property, and why not? Try walking through every trendsetting corner of Melbourne and you’re sure to find batches of handcrafted ceramics on display. But if you’re the crafty type and have been looking for a new therapeutic-slash-artistic outlet, then roll up your sleeves because we’ve picked some of the best Melbourne pottery classes to get you started.
Porcelain Wearables & Small Objects (8-Week Course with Pilar Rojas) at Slow Clay
Join this short course on pottery taught by award-winning ceramic artist Pilar Rojas, where you will learn not only how to work with clay but also how to make flexible and wearable porcelain objects. Several inventive techniques will be covered over the course of eight weeks, like moulding, scratching and texturing, just to name a few. And finally, you’ll learn how to create unique designs of ceramics that can be incorporated into jewellery.
Book here.
Where: Slow Clay Centre
When: October 10th
Cost: $490 (Early Bird)
Polymer Clay Trinket Dishes at Work-Shop
Learn from designer and maker Sheree McCready of Polly Collective how to hand-make classic yet simple trinket dishes that will hold your small items and also make thoughtful and unique gifts for your friends and family. You will work with different colours of polymer clay and a number of sparkly materials to create organic patterns so pretty, you’ll be hooked to make them over and over. All of this and more over lots of laughs, chatter, wine, and nibbles.
Book here.
Where: Work-Shop Melbourne
When: August 2nd
Cost: $90
Raku Firing Workshop at SaJo Ceramics
If you’ve been looking to try pottery but are interested in trying something different, raku firing could be the thing. Learn about one of the more exciting processes in working with ceramics, which will surely spark in you a newfound passion for fire and clay. Get to practise raku, an old Japanese firing technique, in this exciting 6-hour class, and come away with a one-of-a-kind clay piece with a stunning glaze.
Book here.
Where: Kilsyth South
When: July 29th
Cost: $140
Adult Pottery Class 10-Week Course with Studio Artemis
This course is perfect for both beginners ready for a first taste of pottery and intermediate throwers and sculptors looking to get a refresher at the wheel. Studio Artemis will cover everything from hand building all the way through to throwing and sculpting, as you develop your own individual and creative style. Term has just started and so there’s plenty of time to catch up in the next lesson!
Book here.
Where: Studio Artemis
When: Currently on-going (students are accepted mid-term)
Cost: $400 (Ticket price is prorated depending on enrolment date.)
Ceramic Sculpture Workshop - Dragons & Other Creatures at Bulleen Art & Garden
How are you liking Season 7 of Game of Thrones so far? If you’re as stoked about Daenerys’s dragons as we are, you must book this class and learn the steps of the design and sculpting process so that you can create your own mythical creatures out of clay. The class is taught by Meredith Plain, an exhibiting ceramic artist of 20 years. She will demonstrate essential techniques and other unique modelling methods to make a dragon and possibly another animal of legend or two.
Book here.
Where: Bulleen Art and Garden
When: August 27th, September 17th
Cost: $90
Ceramic Planter Workshop at Put Your Heart Into It
Make a new lovely home for your darling plants! This freestyle workshop by Put Your Heart Into It is a chance to create a decorative ceramic plant holder using only simple hand building and stamping techniques. All materials are included and so, all you need to bring is your creative genius over to the Big Bang Studios. All finished creations will be processed and glazed, and be available to take home after a few weeks.
Book here.
Where: Big Bang Studios
When: August 30th
Cost: $150 (Regular), $120 (Bring-a-Friend)
Natural Building - Build a Book Exchange at CERES
Natural building is sustainable building at its “greenest”. And if you’d like to have a taste of this experience, CERES offers this fun introduction, where you’ll be working with clay, sand, and grass to create designs in miniature form. You will learn about resourcefulness and sustainability through the use of hand tools and and ethically sourced materials. Everyone, including children, is invited to build and get muddy!
Book here.
Where: CERES Training Room
When: November 25th
Cost: $100 (Regular), $85 (Bring-a-Friend)
Ceramic Tableware Workshop with Sarah Schembri at Put Your Heart Into It
Since you use your dishes at least three times a day, why settle for the boring kind? With just clay and a dash of imagination, you can easily brighten up your mealtimes by creating wonderful ceramic creations to add to your tableware collection. In this workshop presented by ceramic artist Sarah Schembri, you will learn to handmake unique platters and small dip bowls using basic hand moulding techniques, and design each piece using stamps, and even leaves!
Book here.
Where: Big Bang Studios
When: October 25th
Cost: $150 (Regular), $120 (Bring-a-Friend)
FORUM: Making International Pathways at Slow Clay
Inspired to take your career as a ceramic artist to the next level? Join this artistic exchange and take inspiration from renowned artists in the field of ceramics. The event starts with a forum panel with speakers Penny Byrne, Greg Daly and Dean Smith, where they share about their exciting pathways in reaching international audiences; followed by Q&A session with MC Dr. Kevin Murray of World Crafts Council-Australia.
Book here.
Where: Slow Clay Centre
When: August 4th
Cost: $25 (Regular), $20 (Slow Clay full-time student)
Air Dry Pottery Workshop at Put Your Heart Into It
Air dry clay could so easily be your new best friend: It’s inexpensive, easy to work with, and doesn’t require firing to create beautiful and one-of-a-kind pieces! It’s great to make anything with, and in this class, you will learn to create ceramic bunting (mums in particular just love them!), wall hangings, plates, bowls, and jewellery, and also learn how to dry and waterproof them. Add a dash of color, print or texture, and your unique clay project will have come to life!
Book here.
Where: Big Bang Studios
When: October 19th
Cost: $150 (Regular), $120 (Bring-a-Friend)
