Step By Step Clay Projects with Nico

Class Description

A step-by-step ceramic hand building class designed for beginners and curious makers with Nico Benella. Across eight relaxed weeks, we will explore the full process of creating hand built ceramics from start to finish, from rolling out your first slab, to adding handles, building corners, and decorating your bisqued pieces with illustration and colour. Together we will create four contemporary ceramic projects, each supported by step-by-step demonstrations, printed templates, and individual guidance so everyone can work at their own pace: Project 1 — Set of Two Mugs Learn how to build simple slab mugs using templates. We’ll explore different handle shapes and alternative ways to attach handles so you can personalise your set. Project 2 — Pasta Dish A beautiful wide dish perfect for illustration and colour. Once bisqued, you’ll choose between underglaze illustration, painting techniques, or traditional maiolica to decorate the surface. Project 3 — Square Vase or Box Form Focus on building clean, straight corners and assembling geometric shapes. We’ll then look at adding bold, contemporary graphic details to bring the form to life. Project 4 — Decorative Serving Dish A playful project where you’ll learn to create small sculptural additions such as fake olives or simple decorative elements to enhance your piece. Each project comes with a full step-by-step guide and templates A demonstration will be given at the start of every decorating session Students receive one-on-one support during the building and decorating process Projects are designed to be achievable, relaxing, and confidence-building All tools and templates are included. Prerequisites: This class is perfect for complete beginners or anyone wanting to understand how to use templates in hand building, decorate ceramics with illustration, and confidently create a small collection of contemporary pieces. Current Members will receive 5% discount. Please use your membership number as the PROMO code to get the discount. Cost Breakdown: Members : $313.50 incl, GST, $39.19 per session ($13.06 per hour). Non-members: $330.00 incl. GST; $41.25 per session ($13.75 per hour). Clay and Firing cost extra. Clay can be purchased at the Estuary Arts Centre on the first day of class. A basic pottery tool set can be purchased from KMart or any Two Dollar Store.