Home to a thriving community of potters, including The Hamilton’s Potter’s Guild, the town of Dundas has historically been a hotbed for ceramic art. Our Pottery Studio at Dundas Valley School of Art remains a cornerstone of this community. We offer some of the most complete facilities in the Hamilton/Burlington region and classes taught by the area’s finest potters and ceramic artists.
GETTING STARTED
The DVSA Pottery Studio is equipped with over 15 throwing wheels, including standing wheels and a wheelchair accessible wheel. There are large bench spaces for hand-building projects, a glazing room with a wide selection of glazes/finishes, and electric and gas kilns for firing both Cone 6 and Cone 10 pieces. A raku kiln is also located outside the studio.
Pottery classes are designed to accommodate both beginner and advanced potters. Beginner potters can expect to begin with hand-building exercises, making pinch pots, coil pots, slab pots and more. Hand-building projects provide a sensory experience with the clay, revealing its plasticity and molding ability. Throwing on the wheel is often much easier once you have experience working with the clay and have a sense of what it will do.
On the pottery throwing wheel, beginning potters learn the basics of centering, opening and bringing up the side walls to create simple to more complex functional pieces.
Anticipate a learning curve. Being able to throw pots, bowls and more on the wheel can be very gratifying – however, it takes some practice and patience to become competent. Students will learn to trim their dried clay creations, come to understand the various kiln processes and receive instruction on how to apply glazes to create finished ceramic pieces.
Significant group and individual instruction is provided throughout and a collective exchange of ideas and knowledge is encouraged, shaping a creative and collaborative studio experience. Studio time is essential to a potter’s development and Open Studio sessions are made available throughout the week. For those looking to further their skills, a number of shorter workshops are provided throughout the year offering specialized instruction in hand-building, throwing and glazing techniques.
NEXT LEVEL
Intermediate to advanced students can expect to be taught new techniques and concepts, and tackle projects that introduce an increasing level of complexity and challenge. Different clays, such as white and specked clay, Cone 10 stoneware, porcelain, raku and sculptural clay are presented as optional materials to work with. Our instructors, all of whom are also working artists, offer continual mentorship and creative guidance.
A demanding yet rewarding medium, pottery offers the opportunity to improve hand-eye coordination and work three-dimensionally to create shape and form – an essential foundation for developing artists. Many people find working with clay to be relaxing, almost meditative, and enjoy the collaborative social setting of the pottery studio as they work to bring their ideas to life.
Wondering if the art of pottery is for you? Spend the day “pottering” in our ceramics studio and find out. You’ll get to explore working with slabs, coils and the wheel as you determine if this hands-on medium might be for you. Absolutely no experience required. Clay and materials are all provided—just show up and let it happen. Warning: pottery can be very addictive...
Members: $116.57 + HST, Non-Members: $119 + HST (Prices include clay & firing fee). Saturday.
Create your own vibrant ceramic tile featuring a unique illustrative surface. You’ll learn pottery handbuilding and sgraffito techniques, along with how to apply slips, terra sigillata treatments, transfers and underglazes. We’ll also look at how to mix and customize your own materials. The result will be an artful tile ready to give as a gift or display in your home. For all levels—bring a friend and make it a weekend to remember.
Members: $116.57 + HST, Non-Members: $119 + HST (Prices include $15 firing & glazing fee and $15 material fee). Saturday.
Wondering if the art of pottery is for you? Spend the day “pottering” in our ceramics studio and find out. You’ll get to explore working with slabs, coils and the wheel as you determine if this hands-on medium might be for you. Absolutely no experience required. Clay and materials are all provided—just show up and let it happen. Warning: pottery can be very addictive...
Members: $116.57 + HST, Non-Members: $119 + HST (Prices include clay & firing fee). Sunday.
Explore raku glaze decoration and firing techniques in this fun one-day workshop. Bring your own bisqued pots and we’ll spend the morning working through different glazing and surface designs for your works. The afternoon will be spent out in the raku pit, firing the kiln and discovering how reduction and oxidation affect the glazes to produce glorious outcomes. Please refer to the materials list online for more course details before registering and attending.
Members: $102.54 + HST, Non-Members: $105 + HST (Prices include $15 firing fee). Sunday.
Our most popular pottery sessions, these classes are designed to accommodate all levels of learners as you hone your skills and transform your ideas into inspired, finished pottery. Students seeking ceramic fundamentals will learn the hand-forming techniques of working with clay, including pinch, coil, slab and the potter's wheel. Also covered are the basics of glazing and surface decoration. More advanced potters will receive feedback and guidance as they set their own goals. For adults and students 16+.*Please note: there will be no class on October 12*
Members: $379.64 + HST, Non-Members: $389 + HST (Prices include $65 firing & glazing fee) Clay extra. Monday.
This is a fun, free-form open studio format where you can work on a variety of clay processes under the guidance and mentorship of the instructor. Handbuilding and/or working on the wheel—it’s all fair game. Throughout the course, you’ll be guided in the development of a personal sense of style and by the later weeks, be encouraged to hone your skills. For all levels. *Please note: there will be no class on October 12*
Members: $379.64 + HST, Non-Members: $389 + HST (Prices include $65 firing & glazing fee) Clay extra. Monday.
Whether it’s lidded casseroles, teapots, cookie jars, cups, platters, plates, colanders or bowls, this course for intermediate to advanced potters is all about creating vessels intended for use in the kitchen. You’ll also be encouraged to experiment and pursue your own aesthetic sensibilities, challenging relationships between function and form. *Please note: there will be no class on October 12*
Members: $379.64 + HST, Non-Members: $389 + HST (Prices include $65 firing & glazing fee) Clay extra. Monday.
Our most popular pottery sessions, these classes are designed to accommodate all levels of learners as you hone your skills and transform your ideas into inspired, finished pottery. Students seeking ceramic fundamentals will learn the hand-forming techniques of working with clay, including pinch, coil, slab and the potter's wheel. Also covered are the basics of glazing and surface decoration. More advanced potters will receive feedback and guidance as they set their own goals. For adults and students 16+.
Members: $379.64 + HST, Non-Members: $389 + HST (Prices include $65 firing & glazing fee) Clay extra. Tuesday.
