There’s nothing more satisfying than creating your very own stuff and with the world of pottery having a strong moment right now, no guesses as to where you should be flocking to for your homewares.
If you’re keen to make your own teapots, platters, bowls, and ceramic keep cups then you’ll want to pay attention.
Here are 11 places to skill up in all things ceramics and pottery in Sydney.
Bondi Clay
Bondi
You’ll find this naturally-lit studio just off the bustle of Bondi Road on Flood Street. Bondi Clay has sustainable practices front-of-mind, using renewable energy to power its equipment and lights, and absolutely no single-use plastic bags to store the clay.
As for the classes here, there’s a bunch worth casting your eye over. If you’ve always wanted to give pottery a go but have commitment issues, the Wheel Throwing Taster class is for you. This one runs for two hours and gives you all the know-how on building technique and throwing on the wheel for $79. There’s also a customised keep cup class where you’ll get to design and create your own sustainable coffee vessel.
Klaypots Studio
Crows Nest
Forget paint and sip—clay and vino is the new go at Klaypots Studio. Book in for a small class (maximum six guests) to learn how to use the pottery wheel with plenty of expert attention. The class is completely BYO and, for $90pp, you'll finish the class with two ceramic pieces you make yourself on the pottery wheel, ready to be picked up from the kiln in about four weeks' time.
Kil.N.It
Glebe
Kil.n.it is a not-for-profit creative space with a heap of epic classes to get you kickstarted on your road to being the ultimate ceramic creative. You can book yourself into the hands-on intro to ceramics, an experimental mixed business class, a technique-focused course and even a Training Wheels eight-week workshop where you’ll learn how to throw basic shapes of cylinders and bowls as well as techniques like centring, turning, throwing off the hump, joining, using bats and glazing.
Project Snail
Newtown
A ceramic design studio offering classes for small groups, Project Snail is all about the enlightenment that comes from slowing down and getting connected to your creativity. The classes including hand-building and wheel-throwing, and larger private sessions for groups between four and 16 are also available for corporate or special events.
Clay Sydney
Marrickville
As one of Sydney’s biggest hot spots for all things clay-related, Clay Sydney is a mecca of workshops, offering them both in-studio and online. From beginner hand-building and wheel throwing to intermediate sessions, private classes, and work-bonding sessions, this Marrickville hub is an absolute institution for a reason.
If you’re keen to get your hands dirty in-studio, it has a wide range of studio classes that look like wine and cheese nights, planter parties (where you can bring your own snacks and build a ceramic home for your plants) and even a mugs and mimosas class where you’ll learn vessel and pattern design, and get to bring to life a little mug using a beautiful white clay and vibrant glazes.
Claypool
Botany
Since opening in 2013, Claypool is a pottery haven for budding creatives, collectors and professional potters. Whether you need a beginner's run down, a six-week course, an ongoing membership to make-as-you-want in the studio or the option to drop in as you feel, this gem has it all. A great thing to note here is that members have unlimited access to the studio, seven days a week.
The Pottery Shed
Surry Hills
If you’re looking for an easy way into the wheel-throwing life, The Pottery Shed in the heart of Surry Hills is your spot. With each course at this rustic warehouse space being a hands-on session designed for beginners, you’ll rack up all the knowledge on spinning, forming clay and making basic vessels. After this, you can easily work your way through “trimming” classes, all the way up to glazing, which means you’ll be churning out beautiful pieces in no time.
Silky Shapes Studio
Crows Nest
For all the relaxed and creative vibes, hit up Silky Shapes Studio on Sydney’s North Shore. Here, it’s all about being creative, so whether you’re looking to zone out for a couple of hours or extend your imagination, Silky Shapes is the perfect space. You’ll find a handful of beginner pottery classes where you’ll learn to throw, trim and glaze basic cylindrical pieces of pottery, and bigger projects like creating matching sets of pottery, teapots, hand building, surface decorations, mould making and slip casting.
Artnest Pottery Atelier And Classes
St Ives
Artnest Potter Atelier is a charming private studio that lets you bring the group together for a night of drinking wine and creating pottery. There's a range of adult classes starting at just $50pp, plus BYO Cork & Clay nights under the guidance of experienced potter and owner Dorota.
Sydney Clay Studio
St Peters
For rustic little pieces you can unashamedly put on display, Sydney Clay Studio is where you need to rack up all your pottery knowledge. Along with a communal space for the more experienced, you’ll find small classes running 2-3 hours to learn throwing and basic hand-building over four weeks. The crew here also does team bonding courses and can even show up at your work for the ultimate Friday office activity. If you're more experienced and set up at home, you can use the kilns at Sydney Clay Studio to fire up your work, too.
Something At Mary’s
Bundeena
For a more intimate take on pottery, Something At Mary’s caters for smaller groups and individual pottery classes, starting at just two students. All courses here include thorough instructions, equipment, materials and firing costs. For anyone starting out, take your pick from a number of classes including one-session pottery wheel classes or beginner hand building pottery classes. On top of this, you also have the option to shape out your own teapot, create a handmade smushing platter and even a fish lantern.
Art Est
Leichardt
At Art Est, it’s all about rounding up your crew for the “Pottery and Prosecco” night. During this class, you’ll be working on making your own handmade bowls (the type perfect for dips, olives and nibbles) alongside a complimentary glass of prosecco. You’ll just need to bring an apron and your finished works will be glazed in clear and ready to collect about three weeks after your class. There's also a range of courses at different skill levels including hand-building, contemporary homewares, and kid-friendly classes.
And here's a bunch of other classes to try if you're still feeling crafty.
Image credit: Bondi Clay, Bondi Clay, Klaypots Studio, Project Snail, Clay Sydney, The Pottery Shed, Sydney Clay Studio