Handbuilding with the Amazing Joe Say

Term 1 | Starts Friday 6th February 2026

8-week course | Fridays, 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Tutor: Joe Say

Location: The Glass Workshop, Montsalvat

Class Size: Limited to 10 students

🔹 Course Overview

This 8-week handbuilding course with Joe Say is ideal for both beginners and intermediate makers ready to deepen their connection with clay. You’ll explore the possibilities of handbuilt ceramics — from classical forms like bowls and vases to bold sculptural expressions.

With Joe’s expert guidance, you’ll refine your techniques and build confidence in the studio through a full immersion in the pottery process: shaping, trimming, glazing, and firing your work.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• Core and advanced handbuilding techniques

• Building and refining forms such as tall cylinders, vessels, and sculptural pieces

• How to develop a personal and intuitive approach to clay

• Insight into material behaviour and glaze application

✅ What’s Included

• FREE 10kg of Stoneware Clay

• FREE Glaze Firing for up to 10kg (additional fees apply for extra weight)

• FREE Use of Studio Glazes & Underglazes

• Access to our spacious, light-filled ceramic studio at Montsalvat

💬 Is This Course Right for Me?

Yes! Whether you’re just starting out or returning to clay with more experience, this course offers something for everyone. Joe’s teaching embraces individuality and exploration, allowing you to grow your skills at your own pace.

👨‍🏫 About Your Tutor – Joe Say (@joe.the.maker)

Joe (He/They) is a self-taught ceramicist whose passion for clay began during the 2020 lockdowns. Unconstrained by formal doctrine, Joe has forged a unique path — combining material curiosity with a scientific mindset to push the boundaries of ceramic practice.

Their classes are warm, exploratory, and deeply personal. Joe believes in empowering students to find their own voice in clay, balancing technical skill with creative freedom. Collaboration and community are at the heart of Joe’s teaching — making every class a space of shared growth and inspiration.

🌿 Why Choose Montsalvat Arts Education (formerly Clay Talk)?

• Small class sizes for individualised attention

• A beautifully designed studio set in historic Montsalvat

• A community-focused environment with expert tutors and passionate makers

• A space where creativity, play, and skill-building meet

Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of Melbourne’s most engaging emerging ceramic artists. Places are limited — book now!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

To secure your place in a class, course or workshop we require full payment at the time of booking.

Bookings are only accepted through our online portal at www.

Payment of class, course or workshop fees can only be made through our online portal at  www.

ACCESS

Clay Talk studio is located on the grounds of Montsalvat. For this reason, there are security measures in place to prevent trespassing and maintain your safety. Upon booking you will receive an Information Kit which has instructions on how to access Clay Talk studio. Please read this before coming to class.

REFUNDS / ABSENCE / TRANSFERS/ CANCELLATION

• We do not offer refunds if you change your mind after you have made the booking. Please be sure you are able to commit to the class, course or workshop dates and times prior to booking.
• Transfers are done upon email request and subject to available spaces only. Failure to transfer successfully will mean receiving a credit note or being transferred to a later term of the same class.
• If you are unable to attend a class, please contact us at claytalk@montsalvat.com.au on the day of your class. In exceptional circumstances, we can make alternative arrangements to compensate for lost class time.
• Retrospective requests (a request for a make-up from last term for example) for class make-ups are not accepted. We request you make contact via email or phone to Clay Talk as soon as you can’t make class so that we can make alternative arrangements for you.
• Clay Talk reserves the right to cancel a class due to unforeseen circumstances such as insufficient enrolments or illness or for maintenance works. You will be notified prior to the class if cancellation of the class is deemed necessary, or if there will be another date scheduled, or if a pro-rata refund will be provided.

ILLNESS

If classes and workshops are cancelled due to illness of a tutor, and the inability to find a suitable replacement, Clay Talk will endeavour to provide rescheduled dates for classes and workshops.

In the event that students cannot attend the rescheduled classes, students must email claytalk@montsalvat.com.au as soon as possible prior to the commencement of the rescheduled class or workshop.

If a student is unable to attend the rescheduled classes or workshop Clay Talk may, at its absolute discretion, provide either a credit note, or a pro-rata refund (minus an administration fee of 10%).

 GIFT VOUCHERS

Gift vouchers are only available through our online portal www. Gift vouchers can be purchased for a minimum of $20 and are valid for 3 years from purchase.

Gift vouchers can only be used for booking classes, courses and/or workshops at Clay Talk through our online portal. Gift vouchers can be applied at check out when booking a class, course or workshop.

FIRING OF WORK 

Most workshops and classes include firing and glazing of a specific number of pieces. Check the workshop listing description on our online platform.

We take extreme care with your work however accidents do happen, and we are unable to guarantee fully that your work will be successfully fired. Clay Talk takes no responsibility for failure or breakage of work.

Term classes:

Firing of 10kg of work per student is included in the term class fee.

Students can make and fire more work over this limit however additional charges apply.

Students must label each of their pieces with their Makers Mark (your Makers Mark is made up of the initials of your first, middle & last name and your class code e.g. John Adam Smith = JAS). No Makers Mark could mean losing your pieces.

If a kiln shelf is badly damaged from your work due to materials brought to Clay Talk from elsewhere, you will be charged for the cost of replacing that shelf.

Incorrect glazing or wrong clay body type in the wrong firing type will incur a penalty fee for damages.

• If your work damages the interior walls, burners or elements of the kiln, you will be required to pay for the damage to be determined by the Clay Talk Studio Manager.

COLLECTION OF WORK

• Firing, glazing and packaging of your work takes approximately 2-4 weeks after your class/workshop.
• You will be notified by a written or digital notification, an email, or the Clay Talk Newsletter when your work is ready for collection.
• Clay Taster & Kids School Holiday programme students have 30 days to collect their pieces from the time they received notification of their pieces to be collected before uncollected works are repurposed elsewhere.
• Non-returning term student work must be collected on the last Friday before term classes begin.
• Non-returning term students must talk with their teachers to understand the process of collecting their work and clearing student shelf items on the last day of their class. 
• Uncollected works, bisqued pieces, items on student shelf including tools and clay - unless the student notifies staff at Clay Talk that they wish to make alternative arrangements to collect their work - will not be guaranteed safe keeping or storage and will be re-purposed.
• EMAIL / SMS NOTIFICATIONS
• Clay Talk takes no responsibility for students not reading or checking their messages, emails or checking their spam/junk mail regarding work collection.