-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. Days/Times: Thursday evenings - 6pm-8pm Saturdays mornings - 10am-12:30pm 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.
