Beginner Wheel Throwing Course

Learn to throw on the pottery wheel and create pieces you’ll be proud of in this 5 week course!


Shontal Ceramic
Shontal Ceramic
5.0 (190)

5 x 2.5 hours Class size 1 to 8 guests    

  $730 (Afterpay & PayPal Pay in 4 available)

Week 1: Foundations – Learn the Basics

Week 1: Foundations – Learn the Basics

In your first session, you’ll be introduced to the pottery wheel and the essential foundations of wheel throwing.

You’ll learn how to wedge clay, centre it on the wheel, and create your very first cylinder—the foundation of all pottery forms.

We’ll start with small amounts of clay to build confidence and control, while focusing on hand positioning and technique.

You’ll also have the option to decorate your pieces using coloured slip.


Week 2: Creating Forms – Bowls, Mugs & Morer

Week 2: Creating Forms – Bowls, Mugs & Morer

In week two, you’ll build on your foundation skills and start creating different forms on the wheel.

You’ll learn how to shape bowls, create a belly for mugs, and begin exploring more expressive forms using slightly larger amounts of clay.

This session focuses on improving your control and understanding how to manipulate clay to achieve different shapes.

I’ll also share tips and techniques to help you create more balanced and confident pieces.


Week 3: Refining Forms – Improve & Expand Your Skills

Week 3: Refining Forms – Improve & Expand Your Skills

In week three, we continue building on your skills by refining the forms you learned in the previous session.

You’ll focus on improving consistency, control, and shape while creating more intentional pieces such as small vases and refined bowls.

If time allows, you may also explore making a plate and working with slightly larger amounts of clay.

This session is all about practice, repetition, and gaining confidence on the wheel.


Week 4: Trimming & Detailing – Refine Your Pieces

Week 4: Trimming & Detailing – Refine Your Pieces

In week four, you’ll refine the pieces you created in previous sessions by learning how to trim and shape them to their final form.

You’ll use trimming tools to clean up the base, improve balance, and give your work a more professional finish.

You’ll also learn how to attach handles to mugs and explore surface decoration techniques such as sgraffito and coloured slip.

This session focuses on turning your best pieces into beautifully finished work, ready for glazing.


Week 5: Glazing & Finishing – Bring Your Pieces to Life

Week 5: Glazing & Finishing – Bring Your Pieces to Life

In the final session, you’ll return to glaze and decorate your bisque-fired pieces.
You’ll learn a variety of glazing techniques including brush-on and dip glazing, as well as exploring underglaze and oxide washes to add depth and character.

You’ll also have the opportunity to experiment with creative finishes such as bubble glazing, sponge effects, and textured surfaces.

At the end of this session, your selected pieces will be glaze-fired and prepared for collection, completing your pottery journey.


Ready to take your pottery skills to the next level?
This 5-week beginner wheel-throwing course is designed to help you build confidence on the pottery wheel through guided practice, repetition, and hands-on learning.
If the scheduled time doesn’t work for you, feel free to message or email me — private bookings or alternative times may be available depending on my schedule.
Whether you’re completely new or have tried wheel throwing before, this course focuses on developing strong foundations and improving your technique over time.
This course is designed to encourage practice and experimentation. You’ll create multiple pieces throughout the course as you develop your skills.
At the end of the course, you will select your best pieces to be fired and glazed — learning how to recognise strong work is an important part of the pottery process.
Additional pieces can be fired for an extra fee, or students are welcome to arrange their own firing externally if preferred.
Why join this course?
  • Small group classes for personalised guidance
  • A relaxed and supportive learning environment
  • Ideal for beginners who want more than a one-off workshop
  • Focus on skill-building, not just making
Important information
Minimum 3 participants required for the course to run
Pottery Collection Policy
Once your pieces have been fired and are ready for collection, I'll send you a notification to let you know.
Please don't reply to this message. I'll contact everyone again with the next available collection window.
Your pieces might need to be collected from Arana Hills or Stafford. I will let you know
Collection Windows
As Shontal Ceramic is a one-person business, collections are available during scheduled collection windows only.
Each week, I'll offer one or more 2-hour collection windows. The day and time will vary from week to week (for example Tuesday 5:00–7:00 pm, Thursday 12:00–2:00 pm or Sunday 5:00–7:00 pm) to give everyone a fair opportunity to collect their work.
If you can't attend one week's collection window, that's absolutely fine. Simply wait for the next collection window, or arrange for a friend or family member to collect your pieces on your behalf.
Unfortunately, I can no longer arrange individual collection appointments or respond to multiple collection messages, as this is no longer manageable while running the business.
Collection Instructions
During the scheduled collection window:
Come to building
Buzz my Unit number
I'll let you into the building.
Come upstairs to Level 1.
Your pieces will be waiting in a bag with your name on it.
Important
Please only attend during the advertised collection window.
Outside these times, I may be teaching workshops, working, attending appointments or unavailable, so I won't be able to assist with collections.
Collection Timeframe
Please collect your pieces within 3 weeks of being notified that they're ready (4 weeks at the latest).
As my home studio has limited storage space and new workshops are held every week, pieces that remain uncollected for an extended period may be disposed of or donated if no collection arrangements have been made.
Thank you for your understanding and support. This collection system allows me to spend more time creating and teaching, while still providing regular opportunities for everyone to collect their work.

Please note: Public dates for this class require at least 3 guests to run. In the unlikely event that we don't reach this number, we may cancel the session; if that happens, we'll inform you and let you choose between a refund or reschedule, so please watch your email/SMS one day prior to the class.
What you'll get
  • All clay and tools
  • Step-by-step guidance in a small group setting over 5 weeks
  • Firing and glazing for up to 5 selected pieces
  • Hands-on experience on the pottery wheel
  • Improved skills in centring, shaping, trimming, and glazing
  • A deeper understanding of pottery techniques and materials
Knowledge required
No prior experience is required. This course is designed for complete beginners, as well as those who have tried wheel throwing before and would like to build confidence and improve their skills over multiple sessions.
What to bring
  • Wear comfortable clothing that can get a little messy
  • Short nails are recommended for wheel throwing
  • You’re welcome to bring your own apron if you prefer
Session repeats

This class series runs over 5 consecutive sessions, at the same time every week.

Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, birthday or hens party.

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mum or gift for couples.

Location

Arana Hills, QLD

Exact location is masked for privacy. You'll automatically get the specific address after booking.

Beginner Wheel Throwing Course location
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Your teacher

Shontal Ceramic
Shontal Ceramic

5.0 (190)
female Women-owned

My name is Shontal, I am a passionate ceramic artist based in Stafford, Australia. I was born in Jordan and moved to Australia in 2001.
My love for ceramics dates back to my childhood when I used to accompany my mother to ceramic classes in Jordan. My journey into the world of ceramics began in May 2021, starting with hand building techniques, but I soon found myself fascinated by the art of throwing on the wheel. Being so in love with pottery, I took the bold step of acquiring my own wheel and began perfecting my throwing skills at my home studio.
My dedication to mastering the art of ceramics led me to explore glazing techniques with a keen interest in Amaco and Maco glazes. While progressing in my pottery journey, I unexpectedly found myself drawn back to hand building, finding it to be an incredibly relaxing and therapeutic experience. Slab hand building became my canvas for crafting unique and beautiful designs, especially in creating captivating mugs. More recently, I have ventured into the realm of coil hand building, resulting in the creation of some stunning large bowls.
Initially, I attended various schools in Brisbane, such as Mas And Meik and Indooroopilly Ceramic Studios, to grasp the basics of ceramics. However, as my skills evolved, I took the initiative to self-educate myself further by exploring different techniques online.
Japanese pottery has captured my heart, and I have started incorporating the Japanese style into my ceramic creations. My artistic inclinations lean toward the allure of matte glazes, intriguing textures, and the art of stamping, carving, and utilizing the sodium silicate technique.
I prefer using white stoneware clay, which I skilfully enhance with Iron Oxide and Cobalt Oxide stains, adding depth and character to my pieces.
In summary, my artistic journey is one of passion, dedication, and continuous exploration. My ceramics beautifully showcase my love for Japanese influence, intriguing textures, and captivating glazing techniques. As I continue to evolve and innovate in my home studio, my work is sure to inspire and delight anyone who appreciates the beauty of handmade ceramics.

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class V48I01Z33L 34c052b7f77f35dccea660a6ce51910d production brisbane Brisbane QLD AU brisbane