Thursdays with Sergei 10am-12:30pm

🌀 Pottery on the Wheel and Free-form with Sergei Shatrov

8-Week Course | Tuesday Mornings

🗓 Dates: Thursdays, July 24 – September 11, 2025

🕙 Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm

👨‍🏫 Tutor: Sergei Shatrov

🎯 Skill Level: Beginners – Intermediate

👥 Class Size: Maximum 10 students

✨ Course Overview

Whether you're completely new to clay or looking to refine your technique, this 8-week pottery course is designed to help you build strong foundational skills while developing your own creative voice.

Led by experienced ceramic artist Sergei Shatrov, this course is taught in the inspiring surrounds of Clay Talk at Montsalvat, a studio renowned for its beautiful atmosphere and commitment to craft.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• Understanding Clay – Learn the properties of stoneware clay and how to prepare it for throwing

• Core Techniques – Master wedging, centering, pulling forms, and using studio tools effectively

• Wheel-Thrown Forms – Create foundational pieces such as cylinders, bowls, and small vessels

• Trimming & Turning – Refine and finish your work with proper turning and trimming techniques

• Decorating & Glazing – Learn surface decoration methods and how to apply glazes with confidence

• Kiln Process – Follow your work from wet clay to fully fired, finished pottery

By the end of the term, you’ll have created a series of pieces and experienced the full pottery cycle — from making to glazing and firing.

🎁 What’s Included

• ✅ 10kg of stoneware clay

• ✅ 10kg of glaze firing included (additional firing available by weight)

• ✅ Full use of studio glazes, underglazes & tools

🌿 Why Choose Clay Talk?

• Small class sizes for personalised attention

• Taught by a professional ceramic artist with decades of experience

• A beautiful, peaceful setting within the historic grounds of Montsalvat

• Access to a spacious, fully equipped studio ideal for focused learning and creative play

🎨 Spaces are limited — book early to secure your wheel! Start your pottery journey in a welcoming, relaxed environment guided by expert hands.

About your tutor, Sergei Shatrov:

A potter with 31 years of experience, Sergei began his journey at TAFE and continued his studies at the Canberra School of Art at ANU. He then embarked on study tours in Japan, Europe, and the USA, enriching his pottery with powerful influences. Today, Sergei manages the Clay Talk Ceramic Centre at Montsalvat, where he brings in-depth expertise and exceptional teaching that inspires students. A passionate advocate for community development and the therapeutic benefits of clay, Sergei’s warmth and character will make you feel right at home at Clay Talk, Montsalvat.

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 all your finished work per student is included in the term class fee.

Students can make and fire more work outside the 4 week class session 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.
• 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.

Nestled within Montsalvat—Australia’s oldest continuously active artists' community—our studios offer a diverse range of creative outlets. Clay Talk is one of several studios, providing ceramics classes in wheel throwing and hand building for all levels, alongside specialised programs led by established artists. 

In addition to ceramics, we also offer classes in drawing, painting, and mosaic, with an expanded repertoire of educational offerings planned for 2025. This dynamic environment supports learners across various disciplines, all within the inspiring setting of Montsalvat, where art is created, taught, exhibited, and experienced.