Do I need prior pottery experience?

No—this is a beginner-friendly, guided hand‑building session that teaches simple slab and pinch techniques.

Are materials and firing included?

Yes—clay, basic tools, and kiln firing/glazing are handled by the studio; confirm pickup details at booking.

Can children join the session?

Yes—minimum age is 10; sessions accommodate mixed-age groups but younger children may need parental assistance.

How long until I can take my finished piece home?

Pieces are glazed and fired after the session; pickup timelines vary—typically within a few days to two weeks depending on the studio schedule.

Is the studio wheelchair accessible?

The front door is wheelchair friendly, but the bathroom is not large enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

How do I book this class?

Bookings are handled through the studio’s FareHarbor link provided in the listing; check availability and reserve a session online.

Craft a Shark Ramekin: Hands-On Clay Sessions in Shellharbour

On Wentworth Street in Shellharbour, New South Wales, a low-slung studio turns clay into something unexpectedly fierce: a shark‑mouth ramekin you sculpt and paint in a single 90‑minute session. Spring Sessions: Shark Ramekin offers hands-on instruction where beginners and families can learn slab and pinch techniques, add teeth and gills, and glaze a chip‑dip holder that looks ready to chomp. The studio sits a short drive from the Shellharbour coastline, so the scent of salt air and nearby rock shelves often drifts through the door.

This class is small, relaxed, and deliberately playful—its focus is technique rather than lore. Instructors walk you through step‑by‑step shaping, smoothing, and surface decoration, then give you time to paint your shark in-session. Clay firing and final glazing are handled by the studio; you collect your finished piece later. The experience is built for ages 10 to adult, and the pace fits mixed-ability groups and parents who want an engaging, supervised creative activity with kids.

What makes this offering stand out in the Illawarra region is its mix of craft and local flavor. Shellharbour’s coastal landscape—rock platforms, kelp-strewn beaches, and frequent seabirds—feeds the design inspiration; the shark theme taps that marine connection while keeping the project compact and transportable. It’s also a welcome indoor option on wet days when coastal hikes or surf sessions aren’t possible. The studio’s front door is wheelchair friendly, making the class reasonably accessible, though the bathroom is too small for wheelchair users.

Practicalities: sessions run about 1.5 hours, minimum age is 10, and tools and clay are provided. Come in clothes you don’t mind getting dusty, bring a water bottle, and plan to pick up your fired piece per the studio’s instructions. This is not a full ceramics course but an approachable single-session craft: expect guided skill-building in hand-building techniques and a keepsake that doubles as tableware.

For travelers, combine this session with a cliff walk, a visit to Shellharbour Village, or a coffee at a nearby café before or after class. Makers and families will appreciate the tactile focus, fast turnaround, and the novelty of taking home something you actually made. It’s a short, vivid, and memorable way to add local color to a coastal getaway.

Sessions are hosted at the studio address, Wentworth St, Shellharbour NSW 2529, Australia, making it easy to pair with nearby beaches and the harbour precinct. The teaching style emphasizes safe tool use and simple glazing chemistry so first-timers leave with a sturdy piece. Bookings use the studio’s FareHarbor link; supplies are included and pieces are fired in the studio kiln. If you’re visiting the Illawarra for a weekend, this is a compact, hands-on stop that leaves you with a functional, quirky souvenir today.

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.