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Spend two focused afternoons in Shellharbour learning sgraffito: hand-build a large piece, let it reach the leatherhard stage overnight, then return to carve precise, high-contrast designs. Finished pieces are glazed and fired by the studio and returned for pickup weeks later.
Spend two focused afternoons in Shellharbour learning sgraffito: hand-build a large piece, let it reach the leatherhard stage overnight, then return to carve precise, high-contrast designs. Finished pieces are glazed and fired by the studio and returned for pickup weeks later.
Book with Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd
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Operated by Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd · Shellharbour, New South Wales
Sgraffito Plate - Two-day Workshop sits on the South Coast in Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia, offering a close-up lesson in texture and timing. Over two afternoons at 80b Towradgi Rd Towradgi and studio pickup on Wentworth St, Shellharbour, makers move through hand-building, partial drying, and the distinctive leatherhard carving stage that defines sgraffito work. The schedule is compact — two sessions of two hours each, typically 2:30–4:30pm — which keeps the process focused and leaves time to live between steps.
On day one you press, coil and shape mid-fire clay into a large piece (the studio allows up to 2000cm³). Templates and tools are supplied, plus aprons, under teacher guidance. Overnight the piece stiffens to leatherhard, the ideal state for carving: firm enough to hold shape, soft enough to receive crisp incision. Day two is for design — carving tools and instructor-led demos help you translate sketch lines into sgraffito contrast. The studio handles the slow dry, two firings and a clear dip glaze; finished plates, vases or mugs return to Shellharbour about four to five weeks later for pickup.
What makes this workshop sing in a coastal town is the direct treatment of material and pace. These are not rushed demo sessions; the curriculum deliberately captures the mid-stage that many classes miss. The clay is mid-fire — sturdy, forgiving and well suited to utilitarian pieces — while the sgraffito technique rewards steady hands and a good line. The setting on the South Coast places the studio within a few minutes of ocean rock platforms and local ceramic communities, so the work feels regionally grounded rather than generic.
Practical notes: participants must be at least 12 years old, and pieces are volume-limited to the studio’s large size (up to 2000cm³). The class excludes food, delivery of finished pieces and requires a minimum of 10 tickets to proceed. Bring comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting clay on; aprons are provided.
For makers who travel to Shellharbour or nearby Wollongong, this workshop is a short, tactile way to leave with a hand-made object and a new technique. It’s ideal for beginners who want a structured introduction to sgraffito and for intermediate potters looking to perfect carving timing. Beyond technique, the workshop gives a clear loop: make, wait, carve, and collect a fired object that carries the mark of both patient drying and hands-on carving. You will be emailed with pickup details and the studio's instructions for collection, making this an accessible short-course that fits into a coastal weekend itinerary. Bring a small sketchbook and reference images to plan your sgraffito motif; simple repeat patterns and bold outlines translate best into crisp carved lines, especially at the studio's large piece scale. Enjoy.
easy.
4 hours (2 x 2-hr sessions).
Light — basic hand dexterity and the ability to stand or sit for two-hour sessions are sufficient.
The studio’s large size limit is 2000cm³ — examples include a 25cm plate, a 14x14x10cm vase, or a 12x15x10cm mug.
Materials, templates, tools, aprons, teacher guidance, two firings and a clear dip glaze are included; delivery of finished pieces is excluded.
Participants must be at least 12 years old to join this workshop.
Finished pieces typically return to Shellharbour about four to five weeks after the workshop; you will be emailed pickup details.
If the minimum of 10 tickets isn’t sold, you’ll be contacted within one week of the event and offered a refund or credit as a gift card.
No — the class suits beginners and intermediate makers; instruction covers hand-building and carving techniques used for sgraffito.
Shellharbour developed as a South Coast coastal village and port in the 19th century and retains a working arts community today.
The studio fires and glazes pieces in batches to reduce kiln energy per object; participants are encouraged to use reusable bottles and minimize single-use packaging.
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.
Book with Black Duck Studio Pty Ltd