2024 Classes
Enquiries to mtpleasantpottery@gmail.com
Basics for Beginners Class
Tutor: Stacey Rod
Description: An introduction to pottery where you will be taught basic hand-building and wheel techniques. You will also be shown a selection of surface decoration and glazing methods, and how to apply them to the forms you have made. Mixture of tutor-led projects and own projects.
When: 10 hours. Two classes are available this half year.
Term 1: Wednesdays, 3 April - 24 April, 6.30-9pm (4 x 2.5h sessions)
Term 2: Wednesdays, 26 June - 17 July, 6.30-9pm (4 x 2.5h sessions)
Prerequisite: None.
Tuition fee: Members $130, Non-members $150
Firing costs: $15/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Glaze Effect Class
Tutor: Shona Clarkson
Description: You will learn how the components of glazes and glaze combinations give various effects and and to modify your own glazes to achieve desired outcomes or rectify faults. You may want to continue your projects in our club’s Glaze group to exchange ideas, and share glaze-making experiences.
When: 16 hours. Thursday mornings from 9.30 am,
Term 1: 17 October - 14 Nov (6 weeks, 16 hours)
Prerequisite: Some experience with glaze making recommended, and/or have attended a Glaze making class.
Tuition Fee: Members $180, Non-members $210, (Glaze materials are included)
Firing costs: $10/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clays, scales, 20 small containers with lids, small glaze sieve 80 mesh, old brushes for glazing, the usual tools . (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Members
Surface Texture Decoration
Tutor: Shona Clarkson
Description: An introduction to a range of surface texture techniques including sgraffito, stamps, rollers, stencils, chattering, carving, drilling, fluting, sodium silicate, adding clay, slips. With a mixture of tutor-led projects and your own projects.
When: 10 hours. Two classes are available this year
Term 2: Thursdays, 27 June - 18 July (4x 2.5h sessions, 10 hours)
Term 3: Wednesdays, 18 Sept - 9 October (4x 2.5h sessions, 10 hours)
Tuition fee: Members $130, Non-members $150, (4x 2.5h sessions)
Prerequisite: Some experience recommended, e.g. you have attended at least one pottery class.
Firing costs: $15/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. Some materials are provided.(More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Members
General Classes
Tutor: Alex Prentice
Description: For beginning to intermediate potters doing hand-building, wheel work and more. Students are supported to complete their own projects by being taught a range of techniques, including decorating, glazing, glaze making and firing.
When: 16 hours. Classes are repeated each term.
Mondays 7-9pm (8 x 2h sessions), Wednesdays 7-9pm (8 x 2h sessions),
Term 1: 29 Jan - 18 March Term 2: 29 April - 29 June
Term 3: 22 July - 9 Sept Term 4: 14 October - 9 December
Prerequisite: You have completed the club's 'Basics' short course (or similar).
Tuition fee: Members $170, Non-members $200, per term
Firing costs: $15/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Members
Monthly Wheel Class
Tutor: Renate Galetzka
Description: This class is for potters who are on their way, who know all the basics, work on their own projects and do their own firings. This class gives the opportunity to check in on a regular basis, get feedback, observe demonstrations and discuss everything wheel work related. Own projects and tutor-led projects.
When: 15 hours. The last Saturday of each month, 9.30 - 12.30.
Terms 1/2: 3 February - 29 June (5 sessions, 15 hours)
Terms 3/4: 27 July - 30 Nov (5 sessions, 15 hours)
Prerequisite: Experience required, ie. to comfortably center 700g of clay and pull up a pleasing pot
Tuition Fee: Members $190, Non-members $210 (5 x 3h sessions) (This does not cover glazing and firing costs)
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Members
CLASS IS FULL FOR TERM 1/2
Stacked Garden Sculpture
Tutor: Lesley Towart
Description: You will learn sculptural techniques to hand build creative ceramic objects (figures; icons; totems; ornaments) to stack on a metal rod in your garden. Own projects
When: 16 hours. Thursday mornings from 9.30 am,
Term 3: July 28 - Sept 1 (6 weeks, 16 hours)
Prerequisite: Some experience recommended, e.g. you have attended at least one pottery class.
Tuition Fee: Members $180, Non-members $210,
Firing costs: $15/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Member
Wheel Class
Tutors: Diane Macdonald
Description: For beginning to intermediate students. Learning techniques from mastering the art of centering, to throwing cylinders and bowls, glazing and firing work. Students are taught techniques to support their own projects.
When: 16 hours. Mondays 3- 6pm with Diane
Class is repeated each term.
Term 1: 29 Jan - 18 March Term 2: 29 April - 29 June
Term 3: 22 July - 9 Sept Term 4: 14 Oct - 9 Dec
Prerequisite: You have completed the club's 'Basics' short course (or similar).
Tuition fee: Members $170, Non-members $200, per term
Firing costs: $15/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Members
Colour Decoration
Tutors: Renate Galetzka and Stacey Rod
Description: An introduction to a range of surface colour application techniques including the application of glazes, underglazes, overglazes, slips, oxides, and effects such as bubble, transfers, wax resist, majolica, stencils. With a mixture of tutor-led projects and your own projects.
When: 10 hours, Two classes are available this year
Term 1: Thursdays, 4 - 25 April, 6.30-9pm (4x 2.5h)
Term 3: Thursdays, 19 Sept - 10 Oct, 6.30-9pm (4x 2.5h)
Tuition fee: Members $130, Non-members $150, (4x 2.5h sessions)
Prerequisite: Some experience recommended, ie. has attended at least one pottery class.
Firing costs: $15/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. Some materials are provided. (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Members
Hand-building Class
Tutor: Dot Moulton
Description: During this class you will learn a range of hand-building techniques and apply these to make a variety of forms. Including decorating, glazing, and firing. With a mixture of tutor-led projects and your own projects.
When: 16 hours. Thursday mornings from 9.30 am,
Term 2: 2 May - 6 June (6 weeks, 16 hours)
Prerequisite: Some experience recommended, e.g. you have attended at least one pottery class.
Tuition Fee: Members $180, Non-members $210,
Firing costs: $15/kg includes glaze and both bisque and gloss firings
What to bring: Clay (available to purchase from clubrooms), 2L lidded container for clay slurry, tools. (More information will be emailed prior to the start of the class)
Limited spaces are available - priority enrolment for Members
Class & Workshop Info
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Membership fee is $100 per annum or $60 for a half year.
Non-member class fees include a club facility use fee (eg. $30 for a 16h class)
Pay class and workshop fees directly to the tutor. Please contact them for their account details.
Pay for membership, special club demo sessions, firing and clay purchases to the Club.
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Fee-free access to facilities: 8.00am until 9.30pm, except when classes and workshops are timetabled.
Discounted fees for classes and workshops – no club facility fee
Priority enrolment for classes – before non-members.
Access to Tuesday club days and nights.
Access to Monthly demonstrations (on Tuesdays).
Key access: If you are new to pottery, you can apply for key access after 1 year of classes. If an experienced potter, you can apply for key access (approval by committee).
Club Exhibition – opportunity to exhibit and sell your work
Christmas Market – opportunity to sell your work
Gallery – opportunity to progress to sell your work through the gallery
Newsletter & club communications
Firing Pots: regular membership firings – reduced rates.
Use of club glazes will be discussed at the 2024 strategic planning meeting). Currently these are not available.
Kiln training opportunity – progress to becoming a kiln user.
Kiln-trained members will have the ability to hire the club kilns. But this opportunity comes with an added layer of responsibility.
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Our club is an incorporated society run by members for members on a voluntary basis.
Contribute in some way to the ongoing upkeep of facilities, e.g., mopping floors, tidying kitchen, cleaning toilets, wiping shelves, tidying tools etc. Or running a club demo night, joining the committee, helping with an exhibition, or another designated club job.
Come along to Working Bees (one per term).
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Please note all class & workshop fees are to be payed directly to the tutor.
The club only excepts payments for membership, kiln ifrings & clay purchases.
In general you be invoiced for these.
When you make a direct deposit payment online, please ensure to include in the reference:
1. Your name (especially if it is different from the account name)
2. The Invoice reference number
3. What the payment is for (Membership, clay type and bag number, Firing number etc).
If there is more than one item, indicate all items in the 'particulars' line.
If you can’t fit it into the reference, please send an email with the details to Ken at: doidge.ken@gmail.com with ATTN Treasurer in the subject line
Our account details are as followed -
Mt Pleasant Pottery Group Inc
Westpac
Acc. no:. 03 1591 0083454 00
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Comply with all guidelines, policies, and procedures with regards to the use of our facilities.
Comply with the health and safety policies and procedures.
Cleaning – take 15 minutes before leaving to
• Triple clean your wheel
• Clean the floor around your wheel.
• Clean all tools and equipment used.
• Clean all benches used.
Bring a 2L container to take your slurry home with you as despite our ‘clay trap’ the drains are easily blocked.
Ensure that your individual pieces are clearly marked with your initials or other unique identifier
Please stow your work on the shelves indicated by your class day or on the members shelves
Respect the work of your fellow potters, and do not handle their work
With the pressure on space, once term is over, your completed work should be collected and any associated firing/glazing charges paid promptly; please note you must pay before uplifting your pots
We regret we are unable to hold uncollected work indefinitely and reserve the right to dispose of it, after the end of term.
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We are a health and safety conscious organisation; because of the nature of clay and the chemicals mixed to form glazes we need all our members and students to be aware of the hazards.
Our H&S document is available here, please read it & act on it.