Ceramic Handbuilding

Ceramic Hand Building

Age: 18+

Description Join Pearl for a 4-class ceramic hand building journey! This series is designed for anyone wanting to explore ceramics—no experience needed.

What to expect: Over 4 engaging 2.5-hour sessions, you'll master foundational hand building techniques. Start with the fundamentals of wedging clay and creating your first pinch pot, then progress through slab construction to build functional boxes, planters, or trays. Learn the art of coiling to create larger, organic vessels and bowls. Throughout the series, you'll discover how to add texture and surface decoration, troubleshoot common clay challenges, and develop your own creative voice.

Each class builds upon the previous one, with demonstrations of new techniques followed by hands-on practice with personalized guidance. You'll learn essential skills like scoring and slipping, how to smooth surfaces, and the secrets of structural stability. The final class focuses on glazing - where your creations truly come to life with colour and shine.

Your creative journey:

Class 1 (January 18th): Master pinch pot basics, wedging, and fundamental clay handling

Class 2 (January 25th): Explore slab building and create functional rectangular forms

Class 3 (February 1st): Learn coiling techniques for larger, curved vessels

No class February 8th to allow for pieces to dry and be fired in the kiln prior to glazing.

Class 4 (February 15th): Complete your pieces and apply beautiful glazes - This class will run from 10:00am - 3:00pm incase anyone needs extra time for glazing - students can choose to come during regular class hours if preferred!

At the end of the series, you'll take home multiple finished pieces that showcase your new skills. Our studio handles all the firing, so your glazed creations will be ready for pickup a couple weeks after the final class. Remember, ceramics is beautifully unpredictable—while most pieces emerge from the kiln perfectly, occasional cracks or surprises are part of the clay's natural character.

What to bring: We provide all clay, tools, and glazes, but feel free to bring any personal supplies you'd like to use. Wear clothes you don't mind getting clay on, or bring an apron! We supply water, coffee, and tea, but you're welcome to bring other non-alcoholic beverages.

Limited seats (12) Ticket price is per person + HST (14%) Refunds: If something comes up and you can no longer attend, please reach out to pearlpictoucounty@gmail.com. We can provide a full refund up until 2 days prior. Please review our TERMS + CONDITIONS prior to signing up!

*PLEASE NOTE Pearl does not have access to internet service– we think it makes for a more creative atmosphere – you can step out of the studio if you'd like to access service to look something up!