Do I need prior experience to join?

Yes. The Adult Casual Class is tailored for people who already have some experience throwing or hand-building and can work with minimal step-by-step instruction.

How long is each session?

Each open session runs about two hours, enough for focused throwing or several small hand-built projects.

What does the studio provide?

The studio typically supplies clay, basic tools, glazes, and kiln firings, but check ahead if you plan to bring specialty materials.

When can I pick up finished pieces?

Finished pieces are usually ready after standard cooling and glaze cycles—ask the studio for current firing turnaround times when you book.

Is the class suitable for visitors to the area?

Yes. It’s a good option for visitors who want hands-on practice without committing to a multi-week class; allow time for firings before traveling.

Are there age restrictions?

Minimum age is 18 for the Adult Casual Class.

blackduckstudio Adult Casual Class — Towradgi Clay Sessions for Intermediate Potters

Adventure Brief

An open, two-hour clay session for adults with experience: blackduckstudio’s Adult Casual Class in Towradgi offers wheel time, glazing benches, and kiln firings in a communal, coach-supported setting. Bring a project, refine technique, and pick up fired work days later.

2 hours

moderate

From A$52.73

Towradgi’s short stretches to the surf frame a studio where creative practice meets practical craft. At blackduckstudio, the Adult Casual Class is a two-hour open session designed for adults with some clay experience. Held in Towradgi, New South Wales, Australia, this drop-in format invites wheel-throwers and hand-builders to refine form, solve design challenges, and finish pieces with the guidance of staff rather than step-by-step instruction. The room is a working ceramics lab: potter’s wheels in a row, slab tables for hand-building, a glazing bench with a selection of colors, and an electric kiln for bisque and glaze firings. That mix of equipment makes the class useful both for someone working on repeatable forms and for makers experimenting with surface techniques. What sets this class apart for the Illawarra coast is its community-oriented, pick-up-and-practice energy—an open studio where local makers and visiting adults share tips and stretches of bench space, and where occasional kiln firings mark the rhythm of studio life. Participants arrive with a project in mind or with a willingness to be led by trial. The instructor presence focuses on troubleshooting: resolving throwing shapes, suggesting trimming approaches, and advising on glaze fit rather than holding each hand through every step. That approach speeds a maker from idea to finished piece and suits adults who want coached independence. Sessions are two hours long, so bring a focused plan or several small projects. Towradgi itself is a short drive from Wollongong and offers a sharp coastal contrast to the focused interior of the studio; post-class, a walk along Towradgi Beach or a coffee at a local café makes for an easy wind-down. The class is also a good local entry point for people exploring the region’s creative scene, from weekend markets to small galleries in nearby towns. Practical notes: minimum age is 18; sessions assume prior clay experience; group size varies so booking ahead is recommended. Wear comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting clay on, and plan for an extra day or two for the studio to fire and return completed pieces. For visitors to the Illawarra who prefer hands-on learning without rigid lesson plans, this casual adult class is a productive, low-pressure way to spend a morning or evening building technique and finished work. Materials are typically supplied by the studio, which streamlines drop-in visits, but bringing your own specialty clays or tools is welcome if noted beforehand. Many visitors return over multiple sessions to develop a line of pieces or to test glaze combinations over successive firings. Expect finished work to be available for pickup after standard cooling and glaze cycles. Bring photo references, patience, and curiosity—this class rewards repeat practice and quiet experimentation and a bag for pieces.

About Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd

Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd operates a hands-on ceramics studio offering classes, workshops and a local firing service. The studio runs after-school and homeschool clay clubs, term-based kids programs, multi-week handbuilding courses, one-off open hand-building sessions, and school holiday workshops. Many classes accept deposits to secure places, including Term 1, 2026 bookings with limited availability; if a preferred day is full the studio offers alternatives or refunds deposits.

Programs include dedicated kids courses for ages eight to teens with materials provided, 10-week after-school terms, and casual homeschool sessions. Adult learners can join an 8-week handbuilding and glazing course with expert guidance, or participate in open workshops designed for experienced potters wanting 90 minutes of clay work plus a painting session. The studio also runs themed workshops such as make-a-mug, make-a-dish, make-a-platter, and seasonal Christmas activities.

Black Duck Studio accommodates NDIS clients with two-hour workshops offering hand-building or glazing and complimentary beverages. A firing service supports local artists and crafters from drop-off through firing with pick-up updates. Event inquiries include private parties, donut tower involvement, and bespoke bookings for celebrations.

Bookings, deposits, and workshop details are published for each offering, and all class descriptions list included materials, session lengths, and post-firing pickup times where applicable. Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd presents practical, activity-based ceramics experiences aimed at learning, creativity, and accessible studio access for students, hobbyists, and community participants. Finished pieces are typically fired and available for pickup within two weeks when specified in the class description. Bookings are required online.