6-Weeks Hand Building Course Winter Term: starts by the week of 20th July 2026 Spring Term: starts by the week of 12th October 2026 Summer Term: starts by the week of 1st Feb 2027 Autumn Term: starts by the week of 18th April 2027 Discover the creative possibilities of clay in our 6-week Hand Building Course. Guided by leading artist Sachiko Mardon, you'll learn the fundamental hand-building and sculpting techniques used to create both functional and decorative ceramic pieces. Throughout the course, you'll be introduced to the full ceramic-making process, from working with raw clay through to glazing and finishing. You'll explore a variety of essential hand-building methods, including coiling, slab building, pinching, hand forming, and joining techniques. Using these skills, you'll create a range of projects, from domestic ware such as bowls, cups, and platters to unique sculptural artworks. Our small class sizes ensure plenty of individual attention and one-on-one feedback, making this course suitable for complete beginners as well as those with previous pottery experience who would like to refine their skills or develop a personal body of work in a supportive and structured environment. Hand building is a wonderful alternative to wheel throwing and is especially popular with students who have found the pottery wheel challenging but still want to create beautiful and expressive pieces from clay. What's Included✓ 10kg bag of clay✓ Pottery tools for use during the course✓ Glazes and finishing materials Duration2,5 hours Suitable ForPeople aged 15+ with no prior experience required. All levels welcome. What to Bring✓ Please bring an apron and a hand towel.✓ Closed-toe shoes are required✓ Long hair must be tied back and fingernails trimmed short for safety and comfort. Additional Information✓Firing costs are separate. We charge $10 per kilogram for non-glazed pieces and $12 per kilogram for glazed pieces. ✓Finished ceramic pieces will be ready for collection approximately 2–3 weeks after the final class. About the TeacherSachiko Mardon holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design (RMIT) and a Master of Fine Arts (Ceramics – UTAS). Alongside running her own studio practice at Jack’s Magazine, she also teaches ceramics at the Incinerator Gallery, bringing both professional studio experience and teaching expertise to her classes.
