HAND-BUILDING - intermediate level (some experience required)
4-Week Pottery Course | Wednesdays 10am – 1pm
Dates: 3 September - 24 September 2025
Location: Federal Village, Byron Hinterland
Ready to Take Your Hand-Building Further?
Hand-Building: A Four-Week Intermediate Course
This four-week course isn’t about speed or spectacle — it’s about intention. It’s about learning to listen: to the clay, to your hands, and to the quiet logic of form as it emerges.
Led by the exceptionally skilled potter, Sasa, this class invites you to slow down and look deeply. Through focused demonstrations and personalised guidance, you’ll explore the essential principles of sculptural hand-building — stability, scale, and structural awareness. You won’t leave each session with a finished sculpture, nor should you. Instead, you’ll gain the knowledge, techniques, and confidence to begin working larger, with greater clarity and care.
Sasa will share the nuances of her own practice — from constructing large, hollow forms to working in mindful stages. You'll learn how to identify structural limits and approach them with intention. You’ll develop techniques to extend working time, refine your touch, and prevent collapse or cracking.
This course is for those ready to move beyond the small and symmetrical — for those who want to build forms that breathe, that lean or stretch, sag or stand in quiet defiance.
Workshop Goals
- Studio orientation and material overview
- Techniques for building large or hollow forms
- Understanding and achieving structural balance
- Managing moisture, timing, and wall thickness
- Avoiding common challenges in larger builds
- Individual feedback during guided hand-building sessions
What’s Included
-
10kg of clay (BRT or WR) + use of studio tools
(Extra clay available to purchase — you’re encouraged to begin building your own toolkit!) - Use of studio equipment & aprons
- Expert instruction & support throughout
-
First firing included
We’ll bisque fire your pieces in our studio kiln. -
Glaze firing charged separately
Glaze firings are calculated at $12 per kilo, payable upon collection of your finished work.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Intermediate (basic understanding of clay handling recommended)
What to Bring
- Comfy clothes you don’t mind getting messy
- Closed-toe shoes (essential for safety)
- An apron (or borrow one of ours)
- Curiosity, patience, and a willingness to explore
- A notebook to track your clay journey
- Snack or lunch
- Herbal tea and rainwater are provided — help yourself and enjoy!
Pro tip: Short nails make working with clay much easier.
After You Enrol
Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive a confirmation email with:
- Class dates and times
- Venue address
- What to bring
This email will also serve as your receipt.
Terms & Conditions
Please note: our classes are small, same day, same time for 4 weeks. Unfortunately, we can’t offer refunds if you’re unable to attend. If you miss a class, we’ll do our best to offer a make-up session — subject to availability.
Ready to Join Us?
Slow down.
Sink your hands into clay.
Create, play, connect.
Let’s make some magic with clay.