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Beginners Clay

$380.00 $380.00
Tax included. 
Description

In this 7 week course you will learn fundamental hand-building techniques—including pinching, coiling, and slab building—to create at least three unique ceramic pieces to take home. Under the guidance of an experienced tutor, you’ll also discover the art of surface decoration using underglazes, slips, oxides, and sgraffito to bring your creations to life.

Whether you're completely new to clay or looking for a fun and creative outlet, this course offers a welcoming space to learn, experiment, and develop confidence in working with ceramics.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Fundamental hand-building techniques – pinching, coiling, and slab construction
 ✅ Surface decoration skills – sgraffito, underglazes, slips, and oxides
 ✅ Basic pottery tools & techniques – how to attach clay, create texture, and structure
 ✅ Glazing process – learn how clear glaze makes your pieces glossy and food-safe
 ✅ Studio safety & kiln firing – understand the pottery process from start to finish

What You’ll Create:

Over 7 weeks, you’ll complete three to four medium-sized ceramic pieces, including:
A pinch bowl, A coiled bowl, A tall slab-built vase, A personalised creation of your choice

Course Structure:

Week 1 – Introduction & Health and Safety + Making a pinch pot
Week 2 – Learning how to coil a bowl
Week 3 – Making a tall vase using slab building
Week 4 – Decorating with sgraffito techniques
Week 5 – Exploring underglaze decoration
Weeks 6 & 7 – Creating your own design or completing previous pieces

Once fired in the kiln, your pieces will be painted, glazed, and fired again, ready to take home and impress your friends and family!

Why Join This Course?

Whether you're looking for a relaxing hobby, a new creative skill, or just a chance to play with clay, this course offers a fun and welcoming environment to explore pottery. You’ll gain the skills and confidence to continue working with clay long after the course ends.

About Your Tutor:

Joke Gossey is a passionate pottery tutor with years of experience in ceramics. Originally from Belgium, she has been living in New Zealand for over 20 years, where she first discovered her love for pottery. Inspired by organic forms and textures from the natural world, Joke creates functional yet expressive ceramic pieces that bring beauty into everyday life. Joke is dedicated to helping others discover the joy of working with clay.

What Do I Need to Bring?
  • Apron – clay can be messy!
  • Closed-toe shoes – for safety in the studio
  • Clay – available for purchase from the TLC shop on the first night
  • Basic tools – we have limited tools, so bring any you have (wooden modeling tools, rolling pin, sponge, knife, etc.)
What Will Be Provided?
  • Tutor will supply additional tools and templates as needed
  • Use of studio equipment for hand-building and decorating techniques
When is this course?

This course will run on Thursday Evenings from May 8th to June 19th from 6 to 9PM.

If you wish to cancel, email us at least 14 clear days before your class begins. You'll receive a full refund less an admin fee of $20 via the same payment method (e.g., credit card or Afterpay) if you cancel within this timeframe.

Unfortunately, refunds aren't available for cancellations with less than 14 days' notice, nor for missed classes within a series.

If you are required to bring specific supplies to this class you will be sent full details via email. Please make sure you keep the receive emails ticked at checkout to ensure you do not miss out on this informattion

This class will be held on campus at The Learning Connexion located at 182 Eastern Hutt Road, Lower Hutt. Specific details of where on campus your class will be held will be sent to you the week prior to the commencement of your class

All our tutors are qualified and practicing artists who are skilled in specific art forms and regularly teach to support others in their own art practices.