What is the minimum age?

Participants must be at least 10 years old for this specific workshop; younger children should check alternative family sessions.

How long is the workshop?

The session runs about 1.5 hours—shorter than standard workshops to match school holiday attention spans.

What is included in the price?

Materials for handbuilding (white midfire clay and hand tools), underglazes for painting, and studio time with instruction are included.

How long until I get my mug?

Pieces require kiln firing and typically take 4–6 weeks to be completed and made available for pickup in Shellharbour; you’ll receive an email with collection options.

Can adults join or watch?

Families are welcome to join or drop kids off; check with the studio about adult participation in the same session before booking.

Is the finished mug food-safe?

Yes—mugs are fired in a midfire process appropriate for functional ware; instructors confirm final glazing and firing to ensure kitchen safety.

School Holidays: Make & Paint a Mug at The Imaginarium in Shellharbour | Workshop

On a bright morning in Shellharbour Village, step into The Imaginarium at the corner of Addison and Wentworth Streets and you’ll find a hands-on ceramic session designed for younger makers. 'School Holidays - Make & Paint a Mug' lets kids ten and up shape a usable, food-safe mug using classic handbuilding techniques—pinch and coil—then finish it with vibrant underglazes. The room hums with background music, the clay is white midfire, and instructors guide simple score-and-slip joins so every handle survives the trip to the kiln.

This short 1.5-hour workshop is intentionally compact to keep attention sharp: students form a base with a pinch pot, build height with rolled coils, attach handles and refine edges before moving on to painting. Underglazes behave like acrylics on unfired clay, so designs stay crisp through bisque and midfire glaze firing. Pieces are fired over the next 4–6 weeks and held for pickup in Shellharbour—organizers email collection options once your mug is ready.

What makes this offering special is how it plugs into Shellharbour’s active coastal community. Located within Shellharbour Village, the studio is a few blocks from the harbor and beaches, so families can pair the workshop with a stroll along the jetty, an ice cream at the village or a visit to nearby parks. The Imaginarium’s approach emphasizes tactile learning and local craft culture rather than mass-produced activity: participants leave with a one-off household object, not a souvenir knockoff.

Key features: the handbuilding techniques (pinch and coil), white midfire clay, underglaze painting, kiln firing timeline, and a family-friendly classroom at The Imaginarium—meeting point listed as The Imaginarium - Corner Addison & Wentworth Streets Shellharbour Village. This is an accessible creative escape for holiday breaks and rainy days; children gain practical skills, hand–eye coordination, and a basic vocabulary of ceramic methods.

Cultural note: Shellharbour sits on Dharawal Country; local creative spaces increasingly recognize and collaborate with Indigenous communities on events and displays. Practical tip: book early during school holidays—session sizes are kept small to maintain instructor attention. Whether you’re dropping kids off to explore the village or joining them for a hands-on family morning, the workshop turns raw clay into a lasting object with a story tied to Shellharbour’s lively village center.

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.