Mishima Vase Two-Day Pottery Workshop Towradgi — Leatherhard Carving Experience

Mishima Vase — Two-day Workshop Towradgi unfolds in a small studio at 80b Towradgi Rd, Towradgi, New South Wales, Australia, where the raw, tactile world of clay meets a coastal light that makes surface textures readable. This two-day class focuses on hand-building a large mid‑fire clay form on day one, then returning the next afternoon to carve into the leatherhard stage — that narrow window when clay holds shape but still carves cleanly. Instructors guide you through templates, tools, wax resist inlay, and underglaze colour so you walk away with a piece that will be glazed and kiln-fired by the studio. The workshop schedule is compact and deliberate: two sessions from 2.30pm to 4.30pm across consecutive days, leaving pieces to partially dry overnight before carving. Included are aprons, all hand-building and carving tools, underglazes, and staff firings; finished work is dried, bisque-fired, glazed by staff, and returned 4–6 weeks later for pick up. The studio works in a “large” size allowance (up to 2000 cm³), enough for a generous mug, plate, or vase, and the hands-on format is ideal for makers who prefer tactile process over wheel work. What makes this class sing is the emphasis on the leatherhard moment. Many workshops miss that stage, shipping work straight to the kiln; here, the overnight lull becomes the creative hinge, turning simple forms into carved, inlaid surfaces that read like low bas-relief. The technical focus — wax resist, carving tools, and underglaze inlays — is taught in a relaxed, supportive environment suited to beginners and experienced hand-builders alike. The studio’s coastal location near Towradgi Beach and Towradgi Rock Pool gives an easy post-class reward: a walk along the shore to watch light catch textured clay and gather inspiration. Practically, the workshop requires a minimum of 10 tickets to run and is open to participants aged 12 and up. Pieces will be held by staff for drying and firing; delivery isn’t included. Bring curiosity, an idea sketched roughly, and clothes you don’t mind flecking with clay. For visitors staying in Wollongong, this makes an afternoon creative stop between beach walks and coastal lookouts. This experience is both a craft lesson and a portable souvenir: you leave not only with a glazed object but with a deeper understanding of clay’s stages and the quiet satisfaction of carving form from earth. Sessions are run by blackduckstudio instructors who emphasize good studio practice and safe kiln schedules, and while the class is friendly to beginners, it rewards attention to process and patient hands. The studio’s approach minimizes waste and encourages participants to consider glazing choices that suit coastal light and everyday use. Book early; sessions require minimum bookings and often sell out. Reserve your spot.