Pottery Class and Workshops

PARTICIPATE EXPERIENCE INNOVATE ENJOY
Take time out and get in touch with your creative side in a relaxed environment. You will find how easy it is to make functional or artistic ceramics.

LOCATION
Ideal for de-stressing, relaxing and getting centred. Helen’s small garage studio located at Nelson Bay, NSW can accommodate up to 4 workshop participants.  Larger workshops are presented at North Arm Cove. Mobile workshops, at your location, are available for groups of at least 10 people.

TIME
Three-hour workshops during which you create at least three pieces, which you may take with you or leave to be kiln fired. Two-hour workshops may be available for returning workshop participants.

CREATIVITY
Lessons can be tailor-made to match students’ capability, interest and potential. The focus is on gaining a sense of achievement while developing skills and having fun

Choose from Pinch pots, Coil pots, Slumped soft slabs, Stiff Slab construction, Wheel throwing and turning, Clay Sculpture, Textured surfaces, Slips & under-glaze decoration, Glaze application, Kiln operation and Firing etc. You may decide what techniques you’d like to learn and what you’d like to make, or be guided by your tutor.

OUTCOMES
Participants usually end up with three pieces which are bisque-fired after two weeks drying-time. At this stage your pots are stable and may be collected, but they are not waterproof or glossy.

Glaze materials, glazing, and glost firing is normally completed by the tutor, but the student may do it themselves in another shorter workshop, by arrangement.

GIFT AN EXPERIENCE
Think of what a unique gift it could be… three hours entertainment and (approximately one month later) another surprise of three pieces of self-made ceramic art!

Three-hour workshops are available most days from 9am to 12 noon and 1pm to 4pm.

BOOKINGS
Your workshop should normally be booked and confirmed at least a week prior to commencement.

Email [email protected] for further information and to check availability. Please indicate your preferred time and date, number of participants, location and phone number.

WORKSHOP INCLUSIONS
Your Pottery Class & Ceramic Art Workshops usually include the clay, under-glazes, bisque firing, supervised use of studio tools and equipment, and tuition. Your tutor may spend an hour demonstrating and working with you and be on hand to assist while you are designing and creating your very own ceramic pieces.

No experience is necessary. Workshop elements are structured to be fun and provide knowledge, experience and skills. At the conclusion of each project you will have produced your own hand-crafted piece. Clay needs to dry before it is fired in the pottery kiln. Unfired pieces may be taken home but are easily broken. Items left for firing will later need to be collected.

Final numbers and ages of any child participants will need to be advised prior to your arrival. Please wear comfortable old clothing. Light cotton long sleeves and trousers protect from insects. Ladies, it’s often easier to work without long fingernails. For safety, closed in shoes and hair tied up is best.

ABOUT YOUR TUTOR
Helen Jackson (BA Dip Ed. Adv. Dip. Visual Arts) has been involved in art and education for more than 30 years. She has presented successful workshops in Ceramic Slab Pot Design and Construction and in Clay Portrait Sculpting. She has won Sculpture Awards for her works in clay. Helen has been involved in several community art associations and artist co-ops, is a current member of the Newcastle Studio Potters. Helen mostly works from her small studio in at Nelson Bay in Port Stephens, NSW.