Beyond Beginners | 6 Week | Oct 2

Beyond Beginners – 6 Week Wheel Throwing Course

Ready to move beyond the basics and see what else you can create on the wheel?

This six-week course is designed for potters who have already completed a beginner wheel course or have some throwing experience and are comfortable with the basics of centering and pulling up a cylinder.

Over six Friday sessions, we’ll build on those foundations and explore larger forms, repeat throwing, shaping, lidded pots and altered forms, finishing with a personal project that brings your new skills together.

Week 1 – Going Bigger
Step up from smaller pots and work towards throwing with 500g  of clay. Learn how to centre, open and control a larger amount of clay while maintaining good form.

Week 2 – Matching Sets
Learn the art of repeat throwing by creating a small set of bowls or cups. We’ll use measuring techniques to help you achieve consistency in height, width and shape.

Week 3 – Shape & Form
Move beyond the straight-sided cylinder and start intentionally creating form. Explore bellies, shoulders, narrow necks and different profiles to give your pots more character.

Week 4 – Lidded Forms
Learn how to make pieces that fit together. We’ll explore lids and small canisters.

Week 5 – Altered Throwing
Take your pots beyond the round and Experiment with techniques 

Week 6 – Personal Project
Bring it all together. Design and throw your own piece or small collection using the techniques you’ve developed throughout the course, with guidance along the way.

This course is about gaining more control, confidence and creativity on the wheel while developing your own style.

It’s a relaxed and supportive space to challenge yourself, experiment and take your throwing to the next level.

Suitable for: Potters who have completed a beginner wheel course or have equivalent basic wheel-throwing experience.

Duration: 6 Fridays
Level: Beyond Beginner / Developing

What’s Included

• Pottery wheel tuition and demonstrations

• Use of studio pottery wheels

• Use of studio tools during class

• Glazing instruction

• Bisque and glaze firing is not included and pricing varies depending on the dimensions

• Access to additional practice sessions by arrangement with your tutor

Extra Practice Time

Learning the wheel is all about repetition, so you’re encouraged to practise between classes. The more time you spend at the wheel, the faster the movements begin to feel natural.

Practice sessions are available by arrangement with your tutor:

Clay & Studio Materials

Clay is an additional cost and is not included in the course fee. A 10kg bag costs approximately $55, including shipping to Blenheim, although prices may vary depending on the clay type and supplier.

If you’re enrolling with a friend, you’re welcome to share a 10kg bag if you don’t expect to use a full bag each.

Only Pottery Embassy-approved clay and glazes may be used in the studio. Unsuitable materials can damage kilns, equipment and other students’ work.

What to Bring

Please wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting clay on, closed-toe shoes and tie back long hair. Loose jewellery should be removed before using the wheel. Pottery Embassy is not responsible for damage to clothing or personal belongings.

5L bucket with a secure lid: Your bucket is used to collect clay water, slip and clay waste during class. Clay must never be poured down studio sinks because it can settle and block plumbing.

You’ll take your bucket home after each session. Once the clay has settled, the clear water can be carefully disposed of over a suitable area of soil on your property, away from drains and waterways. The settled clay can be saved and reclaimed for future use. Your tutor can show you how the reclaiming process works.

40L Storage bin with a secure lid: This becomes your personal drying, storage and transport box. You’ll take your pottery home after each session and bring it back to your next class.

The container creates a controlled drying environment so your pottery dries slowly and evenly until it reaches the leather-hard stage, when it is firm enough to trim, carve, refine or attach handles.

Sturdy reusable carry bag: Bring a strong tote or carry bag capable of safely holding at least 10kg of clay if you prefer to bring your clay home

Apron, old towel and cleaning cloth: Pottery gets messy, and these will be useful throughout the course and during end-of-class cleaning.

Cleaning & Studio Care

Cleaning is an important part of pottery and of working in a shared studio. The final 15 minutes of each class are reserved for cleaning.

Students are expected to clean their wheel, wash and return tools, wipe down their workspace and leave the studio ready for the next group.

Studio Guidelines

Please arrive on time, as important demonstrations and safety information may be given at the beginning of class. Missed demonstrations or class time cannot be made up.

Clearly label all work. Unlabelled pieces may not be fired and may be recycled.

Keep phones on silent during tuition.

Children and additional guests cannot participate in classes unless enrolled or pre-approved. Friends and family are welcome to briefly visit, say hello and see what you’ve been creating, but wheels, tools and tuition are reserved for enrolled students.

Health & Safety

Pottery involves clay, tools, equipment and high-temperature kilns. Participants must follow all studio instructions and safety guidelines.

Closed-toe footwear is required, long hair must be tied back, and short nails are strongly recommended. Long nails can gouge wet clay and create weak points that may contribute to cracking or warping.

If you have an injury, medical condition, allergy or physical limitation that may affect your ability to participate safely, please let your instructor know before attending.

The Nature of Pottery

Pottery is a wonderfully rewarding craft, but it is also unpredictable. Clay changes throughout drying, bisque firing, glazing and final firing, and some variables are outside our control.

Every piece is handled with care, but pottery can crack, warp, break or produce unexpected glaze results. By enrolling in a Pottery Embassy course or workshop, you acknowledge and accept these possibilities as part of the ceramic process.

Refunds, credits or replacement pieces cannot be provided for work that does not survive drying or firing. If an issue occurs with your work, we’ll keep you informed where possible.

The goal of this course isn’t perfection. It’s to learn good techniques, enjoy the process and build the skills and confidence to continue developing as a potter.

Think of it like learning to play the guitar — after six lessons you wouldn’t expect to perform a concert. Pottery is the same. Practice builds muscle memory, control and confidence.

Finished Work & Collection

Finished pottery generally takes approximately 6–8 weeks to complete due to the time required for controlled drying, bisque firing, glazing and final firing. High humidity or other studio conditions may occasionally extend this timeframe.

We’ll contact you when your work is ready for collection. If it has been more than eight weeks and you haven’t received a notification, please get in touch.

Once notified, please collect your work within one month due to limited studio storage. Uncollected work may be recycled or donated. Shipping can be arranged where available at an additional cost.

Attendance, Cancellations & Transfers

The course is progressive, with each session building on skills learned in previous weeks, so we strongly recommend attending all six sessions.

Missed classes, no-shows and late arrivals are non-refundable and cannot be made up or transferred to another session. If you know you’ll miss a class, please let us know and we’ll do our best to explain what was covered so you’re ready to rejoin the following week.

If Pottery Embassy needs to cancel or reschedule a class, an alternative will be arranged.

Because class sizes are limited, cancellations and transfers are handled carefully. Approved refunds are subject to a 20% administration fee. Cancellations within 14 days of the course or workshop start date may not be eligible for a refund unless your place can be filled by another participant.

Transfer requests should be made at least one month before the course start date and are subject to availability.

Private workshop bookings are non-refundable because the session is reserved specifically for your group.

Group Bookings

The person making a group booking is responsible for ensuring all participants understand the course requirements, studio guidelines and terms, including the unpredictable nature of the pottery process.

Photography & Media

Photos and videos taken during classes, including images of student work, may occasionally be used for Pottery Embassy marketing and social media. If you prefer not to be photographed, please let us know.

Payment Plans

Weekly payment options may be available. If Afterpay or Klarna isn’t suitable, please contact Pottery Embassy before your course begins to discuss an alternative payment arrangement.

Can I Continue After the Course?

Absolutely. Pottery develops through regular practice and repetition, and the more time you spend at the wheel, the more natural the process becomes.

After completing your beginner course, you can continue through another class, studio practice sessions or — our recommended next step — Pottery Embassy Studio Membership.

Membership is ideal if you’d like pottery to become a regular part of your routine. It gives you more opportunities to practise independently, spend time at the wheel, build confidence and develop your own creative style without enrolling in a new course each time.

Limited spaces are available. No experience is needed — just come ready to get your hands muddy, learn something new and enjoy the process of making something completely your own.

By enrolling, you acknowledge the nature of learning ceramics and agree to Pottery Embassy’s Studio Guidelines & Policies.