Hand-Building with Clay Workshop

Hi, I’m Cecilia, the creator of Novice Ceramics.If you’d told me years ago that I’d one day be teaching pottery from my own little home studio, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.Like many of my students, I started with absolutely no experience—just plenty of curiosity and a little uncertainty.When I finally booked my first pottery workshop, I arrived excited and ready to learn. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the experience I’d hoped for. It turned out to be a self-guided session rather than a class, and as someone who had never worked with clay before, I felt completely lost.Then something unexpected happened.The moment I touched the clay and felt its softness and pliability, everything changed.I remember thinking, “The possibilities are endless. I want to discover more.”That single moment sparked a journey that continues today.My first workshop also shaped the teacher I wanted to become. I promised myself that if I ever taught pottery, no beginner would leave feeling as lost or unsure as I did on that first day.So I began teaching myself.There were countless mistakes (and I really do mean countless!), but every one taught me something new. I experimented, read, practised, made more mistakes and slowly built my knowledge one piece at a time. Then my husband surprised me with my very first kiln, and there was no turning back.My journey with clay began in 2015, and in 2017 I founded Novice Ceramics.I chose the name Novice because the more I learned, the more I realised there was still so much to discover. Even today, I still feel like a novice, and I love that. It reminds me to stay curious, keep experimenting and never stop learning. Sometimes things don’t work the way we imagined, but that’s all part of the creative journey.Teaching has always been at the heart of who I am. Before starting Novice Ceramics, I spent more than a decade as a qualified teacher in Queensland schools and have also served as a youth leader and chaplain. Throughout those years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching hundreds of children, young people and adults. I’ve always loved watching the moment when something suddenly clicks for someone. Whether it’s a child reading their first book or someone proudly holding their very first handmade bowl, seeing that spark of confidence never gets old.Since founding Novice Ceramics, I’ve had the privilege of teaching adults from all walks of life, sharing the same supportive experience I wished I’d found as a beginner.My own experience has shaped the way I teach. Every beginner workshop is intentionally limited to just two people so I can provide plenty of individual guidance and answer questions as they arise.While every workshop teaches the three fundamental handbuilding techniques—pinch, coil and slab building—step by step, I also encourage my students to come with ideas of what they’d love to create. Rather than everyone making exactly the same project, I want each person to experience the joy of bringing their own ideas to life. Whether it’s a mug, bowl, bird bath, wind chime, garden sculpture or something completely unique, I’ll guide you through the techniques needed to create it with confidence.One of the reasons I love handbuilding so much is that there are very few limits to what you can create. Unlike the pottery wheel, which is wonderful for making symmetrical forms, handbuilding allows you to build almost anything your imagination can dream up. That’s what still excites me today—the endless possibilities hidden inside a simple ball of clay.One of the things I love most about handmade ceramics is that no two pieces are ever exactly alike. I rarely create large production runs because I believe the beauty of handmade work lies in its individuality. Every mug, bowl, sculpture or garden piece carries its own subtle character, just like the people who make them.I don’t believe perfection is what makes handmade ceramics beautiful. I believe it’s the tiny imperfections that tell the story of the hands that made them. In many ways, I think people are a lot like clay. We’re all shaped by our experiences, and it’s those experiences that make us beautifully unique.Working with clay has also taught me something much deeper. Clay is shaped, stretched and fired before it becomes something strong and beautiful. Sometimes it even breaks, yet broken pieces can be repaired and treasured in new ways. I often think of the scripture that says, “He is the potter and we are the clay.” It’s a beautiful reminder that growth often comes through the shaping process. For me, clay has become far more than a creative outlet—it’s a place of peace, mindfulness and quiet encouragement.I’m also honoured to have exhibited my work in the Commune exhibition at the Museum of Brisbane.Today, I teach from my peaceful home studio in Collingwood Park, where workshops are intentionally kept small, personal and welcoming. The studio is also shared with my three friendly dachshunds, who occasionally like to supervise classes and happily accept a gentle pat or two.At Novice Ceramics, I believe we should all remain novices, because the moment we think we know everything is the moment we stop discovering.My greatest hope isn’t simply that you’ll leave with a beautiful handmade piece. It’s that you’ll leave thinking, “I can’t wait to come back and create something else.”or“I can’t wait to learn more.”If I’ve inspired that sense of curiosity and confidence, then I’ve achieved exactly what I set out to do.I’d love to welcome you into my studio and share the joy of creating with clay.