What ages can attend?

This workshop is designed for kids aged 10 and up; younger children may find the techniques challenging.

Do pieces need to be fired in a kiln?

No — the studio uses air-dry clay, so pieces are painted the same day and brought home without firing.

Can caregivers stay in the room?

Yes — caregivers may observe or photograph but should avoid crowding workstations to let students work.

How long is the session?

Expect about 1.5–2 hours from introduction through painting and clean-up.

Are materials provided?

Yes — clay, templates and paints are supplied so participants can complete and paint their whale shark incense holder in class.

Is the studio wheelchair accessible?

The front door is wheelchair friendly; note that the bathroom is compact and may not accommodate all mobility needs.

Shellharbour School Holidays Whale Shark Incense Holder Workshop

On a bright school-holiday morning in Shellharbour, a compact teaching studio on Wentworth St turns lumps of air-dry clay into miniature ocean dwellers. School Holidays - Whale Shark Incense Holder is a focused, kid-friendly workshop for ages ten and up where young makers learn slab rolling, template tracing, joining seams and sculpting simple three-dimensional features before painting the final dotted pattern that makes whale sharks so distinctive. The class is short—about 1.5–2 hours—so it’s perfect for families pairing a creative stop with a harbor walk or a beach picnic nearby. The session emphasizes basic hand-building techniques rather than wheel throwing or kiln firing. Students roll slabs, cut shapes from templates, score and slip joins, and refine fins and mouthforms to make a functional incense holder that doubles as a small sculpture. Because the studio uses air-dry clay, pieces are painted the same day, which keeps momentum high and leaves kids with a ready-to-take home memento. The templates and stepwise approach make the project accessible to beginners while still offering room for personal touches. This workshop is a deliberately local experience: it cues into Shellharbour’s seaside character and the regional fascination with whale sharks seen offshore. The instructor-led format keeps groups small and hands-on, and the studio’s wheelchair-friendly entry makes it broadly accessible even though the bathroom is compact. For visitors based in town, the Wentworth St address puts you a short stroll from harbor views and family-friendly coastal edges, which makes this a tidy half-day outing. What makes the workshop stand out is the combination of sculpture and function—young artists leave with an object that smells faintly of the sea in its design inspiration but serves an everyday purpose at home. It’s a practical primer in ceramics vocabulary and joint technique without the wait for kilns or glazing. For parents, it’s a contained, creative activity that teaches process, patience and paint application in manageable chunks. Plan to dress for mess, bring a small towel for hands, and leave a little extra time after the class to stroll the nearby waterfront. Because the work uses non-fired materials, treat finished pieces gently for the first day, and display them indoors. For families exploring Shellharbour, this workshop offers a hands-on cultural stop that connects craft skills to local coastal life. Bookings are made through the studio’s FareHarbor page; expect limited seats during peak school holiday weeks so reserve early. The space welcomes caregivers to observe or photograph while staying out of workstations; staff outline safety around small tools and paints. Finished incense holders make lightweight carry-ons for flights. If weather’s fine, combine the session with harbour-side gelato or a short visit to the nearby playground for siblings who aren’t in the class 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.