Firebird Studios

We teach every aspect of pottery

Introductory Workshops

6 Week Introduction to Pottery Courses

10 Week Masterclasses

5 Week Advanced Courses

3 and 4 Week Mini Courses

Term One 2022

Courses start on January 24th – the first day of term 2022 for us!

Check out all of our options for first term before and book in early to avoid dissappointment.

Want To Try Your Hand At Pottery?

Many people start with one of our 2 hour workshops to have fun, try pottery, learn some new skills.

If you are looking for a good courses to teach you the basics of how to make things with clay an excellent place to start is our 6 week Introduction to Pottery Course. Most of our students follow that up with a wheel or hand building Masterclass (these are fine for beginners to start in as well).

Our flagship course for those with a little bit of pottery making experience is the Design and Decorate Masterclass – this course makes POTTERS!

Our students eventually do our advanced courses in Glaze Chemistry, Mould Making, Advanced Decoration, and Intermediate/Advanced Potters Wheel.

We also offer entry level courses in Dinner Setting, Potters Wheel, Sculpture, Porcelain Jewellery and more.

Introductory Level Courses

Introduction to Pottery

This course is the perfect beginner course – 6 weeks long, designed to learn the basic hand building techniques and basics of the potters wheel, as well as colours and glazing. We hold these courses in weekday morning and weekday evening time slots. To find out more click onto the dates below. (if the link is clickable the course is open for bookings)

January 25th 6 pm

February 9th 9:30 am

Hand Building Masterclass

Great follow on from the Intro to Pottery, or you can start here as well! This 10 week course takes you from beginner to a sloid level of hand building skills, working up in complexity week on week. follow this course with the Design and Decorate Masterclass and we have made professional potters from these two courses! To find out more click onto the dates below! (If the link is clickable the course is open for bookings)

January 27th 9:30 am

Potters Wheel Masterclass

This 10 week course will take you from complete beginner to being able to make a teapot (the pots in the image were made by students!). “Throwing” on the potter’s wheel is a high level skill and it takes time and a lot of practice to learn. Everyone is just a little proud of their teapots though! To find out more about this course click onto the dates below! (If the link is clickable the course is open for bookings)

January 24th 6 pm

Make Your Own Dinner Set

This is a 5 week introductory level course where you can plan, design, and make your own unique 4 setting dinner set! Want more settings? Join our Community Clay and keep going! To find our more click onto the dates below!

March 1st 9:30 am

Potters Wheel Short Course

In this 5 week course you will learn the basics of the Potters Wheel. “Throwing” on a potters wheel is a high level skill, however you will be amazed at what you make in this course! Begin with cups and bowls, move on to shallow plates, then bottles, jugs and lidded containers! (If the link is clickable the course is open for bookings)

January 25th 10 am

February 2nd 6 pm

March 3rd 10 am

Introduction to Sculpture Course

Sculpting in clay is so creative, tactile, free and fun! This course leads you through the basics of making sculptural work using clay as your primary material. Find out more by clicking the button below (if the ink is clickable the course is open for bookings)

January 27th 9:30 am

Advanced Courses

Design and Decorate Masterclass

We consider this 10 week masterclass to be our premier course! Why? It makes POTTERS! Many of our students have gone on from this course and started making and selling their work! They find their mojo, their passions and their talent! You need to have basic skills at making htings in clay – then we move into the processes of designing and planning your work, learning decoration techniques and a lot more about colour and finish! To find our more about this course click onto the dates below! (If the link is clickable the course is bookable!)

January 25th 9:30 am

Introduction to Glaze Chemistry

Want control on your processes? Learning the basics about glaze chemistry is a must! You will learn what to look for in a glaze recipe, what each fot he raw materials do and how to test and manipulate your glazes. To find out more about this course click on the dates below!

February 2nd 6 pm

Mould Making Short Course

Learn how to make a simple drop out mould, simple two part mould, and a drape mould. Learn about the properties of casting slip, how to make it, how to troubleshoot it and how to finish your work. Basic clay skills required. To find out more about this course click on a date below!

Advanced Decoration

Learn in depth advanced decoration techniques like majolica, washi, lustres and metallics, advanced glazing techniques and planning layers of your decoration for depth. You will need work at various levels of dryness and firing pre prepared for this 5 week course. To find out more click onto the dates below!

February 2nd 9:30 am

Intermediate and Advanced Potters Wheel

Take your throwing skills to the next level – each time we run this course we tackle different projects – you will achieve the results no matter where your throwing is at – you just need to be able to centre and control the rim to enjoy the challenges presented! To find out more click onto a date below! (If the link is clickable the course is open for bookings)

January 27th 6pm

March 3rd 6 pm

Porcelain Short Course

In this course we discover all the difficulties in using this wonderful material and learn how to overcome them! We will use hand building, wheel throwing (if you are a thrower), slip casting and sculptural techniques to explore the porcelain, in white, black and nerikome colour!

4 Week Course March 9th 6 pm

Intermediate and Advanced Hand Building Short Course

This 4 week course to investigates a few advanced hand building projects using slab building, coiling and pinch potting to extend your skills and make work you will be proud of! Click the link below for more information (if the link is clickable the course is open for bookings)

4 Week Course March 9th 9:30 am

Decoration Short Course

This 5 week course is great for a more introductory level than the Advanced Decoration Short Course. It will fast track you through all the major decoration techniques found in the Design and Decorate Masterclass, with less emphasis on making big projects! Suitable for follow on from Introduction To Pottery and Potters Wheel Short Course. Click the link below for more information. (If the link is clickable the course is open for bookings)

March 3rd 6 pm

Jewellery Short Course

Learn to make jewellery pieces from various clays including porcelain. Fire, glaze and decorate, and then use your own findings to finish your work1

Community Clay

Firebird Studios has developed a wonderful community of creative and happy potters who hang out with us and make their work.

You only need a few skills to come and join in – this program is term by term and you have unlimited access to the studio to make friends, make clay and be creative during Community Clay times!

Click through here to find out more!