Hooray!
Term 4 resumes from Saturday 6th November and we can’t wait to bring our classroom back to life!
If you’re currently enrolled you should have been receiving our updates by email. Here are our term dates from November - December
Hand-build at home FAQs
Developed a lockdown clay addiction and need to know more?
Here’s some answers to some of the most common questions we’re asked about hand-building at home:
Do you offer a firing service?
Yes, our ‘fire and glaze’ service is available to book here.
Can I glaze myself?
Yes, we offer glazing workshops, where you have 2 hours in the studio to finish your pieces using our glazes. New dates will be set once lockdown ends.
Do I need to fire my creations?
If you want to be able to use them, yes. To make functional ceramics you need to fire them in a kiln - luckily for you, we have a couple! We fire the clay all the way up to 1250°c, so it’s not something you can do at home. Clay that’s only left to air dry is not only super fragile, but it will crumble and return to its original, wet, sloppy state as soon as it makes contact with water.
What does the ‘fire & glaze’ fee cover?
Our $45 fee covers two firings and glaze for the 3kg worth of clay included in your hand-build-at-home kit. The first firing is the ‘bisque firing’, and the second is a ‘glaze’ or ‘stoneware’ firing. General firing services elsewhere charge around $9/kilo per firing, (so firing 3kg of clay would amount to $54 alone, plus the cost of a glaze.) Pottery kilns are specialist equipment so they’re expensive to buy, run and maintain. They use energy to run and time time to load and unload, but we think it’s worth the effort - once your work is fired and glazed, you can keep your creations forever and use them whichever way you’d like - coffee, flowers, candle holders, whatever!
Do I need to cover my work in plastic?
Only if you are still working on a piece! Once your masterpieces is done, uncover that baby and let it dry out.
Do my pieces need to be dry before firing?
Yes. Clay needs to ‘bone dry’ before we put in into our kilns or we run the risk of clay explosions! If you’re not sure if something is dry enough, you can still drop it off for firing. If needed, we’ll be able to tell, and we can just dry it out for longer in our studio before firing.
How long does clay take to dry?
This is a tricky one, the answer is that it’s completely weather and atmosphere dependent. In the depths of a Melbourne winter, it could take 2-weeks or even longer for large items. As our weather warms up, the best thing to do is take advantage and leave your work out to dry on a sunny, breezy Spring day.
Can you leave things drying for too long?
Nope! Even if you still have things waiting to be fired from lockdown 1, they are still completely fine to fire.
Do you use food safe glazes?
Yes, all of our glazes make your creations safe for eating and drinking.
Can I choose my glaze colour?
Unfortunately it’s not possible for us to glaze specific items in specific colours, so you do have to put your trust in us a little. We keep a stunning selection of house-made glazes on rotation at our studio and we only ever put glazes that pop into our selection. You are welcome to select ‘neutrals, colours or a mix’ when booking to give us an idea of what you like.
How can I stop my work from breaking in transit?
Before firing, dry clay or ‘greenware’ is at its most fragile. Try and limit any movement as you transport you work to us - we recommend lining your box and padding around your work with a bathroom towel, tea towel or excess packaging from all those online lockdown purchases! Any delicate attachments, like handles, can be supported with scrunched up tissue or newspaper.
Something else you’re not sure of? We’re happy to help! Get in touch below…
Connect with your team over clay!
If you need a fun, virtual team building event or are looking to send your staff a special treat during lockdown, why not try hand-building with clay? We can arrange delivery of our hand-building kits for your corporate team Australia wide.
To discuss pricing and live classes for medium- large groups, please get in touch below.
Our full kit includes:
3kg Stoneware clay
8 piece tool set
3-part video tutorial, available to access again and again and at your own pace
Hand-building kits are back in stock - with FREE POSTAGE Australia wide
Hand-build at home
Kits are back in stock!
Melbourne’s lockdown is extended, but we’ve got you!
Purchase a hand-building kit from us and enjoy FREE POSTAGE Australia wide, when you use the discount code:
GOODTIMES
Your kit includes access to our 3-part video tutorial series, so you can settle in at home and go at your own pace. When you’re done making, take advantage of our ‘fire & glaze’ service and drop your work off back to us. We’ll kiln fire your creations twice and finish them with one of our studio glazes so that you can use your creations at home!
More info here…
Hand-build at home with us!
Looking for a fun lockdown activity?
Try your hand at clay and get messy with us at home!
Purchase a full hand-building kit, which includes clay, tools and access to our online clay tutorials, or if you already have tools, purchase a clay only kit, which will still give you access to our online pottery videos!
We’re excited to announce some live classes in the coming weeks to get you through this lockdown! Follow us on Instagram to be the first to hear.
You can book into a glazing workshop to come to our studio IRL and complete the items you make once we re-open after lockdown. We’ll also be adding some fire & glaze options to our website soon, so you can just (contactlessly) hand your creations over to us and we’ll take care of the rest!
Thank you Melbourne!
In a brief period between lockdowns, we were so pleased to be able to host the Melbourne Ceramics Market Seconds Sale on Sunday 1st August 2021.
Thank you so much for bringing your positive, cheery vibes to our space while waiting patiently in line and co-operating with all the relevant Covid guidelines.
We are thrilled to announce that we raised a total of $6192, which will be split between ASRC and & Indigenous Literacy Foundation and around 30 local potters were able to clear their shelves and see good pots go to good homes!
We’ll certainly be collaborating Melbourne Ceramics Market on more events in the future. Be sure to follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on their future Melbourne ceramics sales!
Melbourne Ceramics Market Seconds Sale this Sunday 1st August
Melbourne Ceramics Market is going ahead, with some serious bargains to be had!
Melbourne Ceramics Market Seconds Sale is going ahead with additional Covid safe guidelines in place. Please observe the following if you plan on attending.
~ No mask, no entry
~ QR code must be used
~ Maximum of 16 customers in the space for an interval of 10 minutes
~ Wrapping station located outside. Bring your own bags and packaging material. We will provide a table for you to pack on but you will need to ensure you can carry your goods away safely.
Expect to queue, and bring cash, we'll see you there!
Sunday 1st August, 9am - 3pm
2A / 167 Beavers Road, Northcote
Melbourne Ceramics Market Seconds Sale
Melbourne Ceramics Market is back and we’re hosting their seconds sale!
Most of our talented teachers will have samples, minor faulted, not-quite-right & experimental work for sale at heavily reduced prices. Be sure to follow each of our teachers on Instagram for sneak peaks of what will be available on the day:
This event is CASH ONLY, due to Covid safety measures and high demand, please arrive early and be prepared to queue. See you there!
Sunday 1st August, 9am - 3pm
2A / 167 Beavers Road, Northcote
treat yourself this long weekend!
Looking for things to do this long weekend in Melbourne? Join us on Sunday for a hand-building pottery workshop in our Northcote studio.
Read moreCelebrating our students in lockdown
We love nothing more than having students in the classroom, the many lockdowns over the last year have only solidified this for us!
The image to the right shows a variety of stunning student work, larger vessels from our Amphora Vessel workshop and Advanced Throwing workshops, as well as colourful, textured vessels made in our hand-building term class. There's some beautiful wheel thrown work made in our 6-week term classes and a cute checkered piece by one of our studio access users - Tacky.
In an effort to spread a little positivity, encouragement and connection during Melbourne’s 4th lockdown, we’re asking our students to share images of their Bisque creations on Instagram.
Using #bisquestudiosathome, beginner to experienced students will be sharing their works with each other and with you - go and check it out!
July Intro Workshop, on sale now!
Treat yourself to an evening at Bisque as a fun pottery gift experience!
Fight away the winter blues over a glass of wine and some snacks in our Northcote pottery studio. You’ll try both hand-building and wheel throwing over a glass of wine and some snacks on a Friday night. Tickets for our popular, Friday night Intro Workshop in July are on sale now!
Friday 9th July
6pm - 9pm
$99pp
Beginner friendly
Treat Mum to a creative gift experience this Mother's Day!
Looking for something unique to give Mum this year?
Why not purchase a Bisque gift card, which can be used towards any of our classes or workshops! Mum will able to choose to visit us at our Melbourne pottery school, on a time and day that suits them. Whether they’d be interested in trying hand-building, making pottery on the wheel or playing with glaze and decoration, a gift card is the perfect way to treat them to something different.
Buy online and pick up a physical card from us in Northcote. If you’d like to purchase a specific amount different to those listed, just get in touch!
Three Day Clay - the popular Melbourne ceramics pop up sale is back this Mother's Day weekend!
Three Day Clay is back for its third instalment! The event features eight renowned and emerging Melbourne based artists, three of which are Bisque Studios resident artists - Asobimasu Clay, Oh Hey Grace and Usagi Ceramics.
Hosted in Plant Charmer’s serene, plant-filled retail space and gallery, Three Day Clay is the perfect opportunity to meet the artists and pick up some unique, handmade wares ahead of Mother’s Day.
There will be a treasure-trove of sculptural and functional wares on offer - from jewellery to tableware, sculptural art and objects – all created by hand using traditional and not-so-traditional techniques.
Read more about the eight Melbourne ceramic artists and their work here…
For three days only!
Three Day Clay @ the Plant Charmer Store
149 Nicholson St, Brunswick East
Friday 7th May 12pm – 8pm
Saturday 8th May 10am – 5pm
Sunday 9th May 9am – 5pm
Come to the launch party:
Friday 7th May from 6-8pm
Sponsored by local Italian wine merchants
Mountain & Row Wines
NEW Throw & Build Class for Term 3!
We're excited to announce our new combined throwing and hand-building pottery class for Term 3!
Float between hand-building and wheel throwing in our new class where the opportunities are endless. Throughout the 6-week term, you'll be able to go with the flow and do what you feel - get your head down the wheel, slow down and build by hand or combine the two - it's a great opportunity to explore manipulating, joining and embellishing your forms.
As always, you'll glaze your works in the final week and be able to take them home to enjoy a few weeks later.
This class is hosted by two teachers, with expertise in each particular area. Beginners and experienced students are welcome to join us in our Northcote pottery studio.
THROW & BUILD - 6-week combined wheel throwing & hand-building pottery course
Weds 12th May - Weds 16th June
4pm - 6pm
$430
Mother's Clay Workshop - now on sale!
Mother's Clay Workshop
Sunday 9th May
Looking for a unique gift experience for a Mum in your life this Mother’s Day? Whether you are a Mum, have a Mum or know a Mum, join us for special afternoon of vino, nibbles and clay at Bisque Studios, Northcote.
Tickets are $230 for two people, to take part in our 3 hour workshop. Each of you will be able to try your hand at both hand-building with clay and throwing on the wheel. We'll provide an afternoon tea to make your day extra special. After the workshop we'll fire and glaze your pieces which you'll be able to take home as a reminder of your day, a few weeks later.
Treat a Mum in your life and join us at our Northcote pottery studio this Mother’s Day for a fun and creative day out in Melbourne.
Find out more & book here
Our 6 week Hand-building course - final seats left!
Slow down and dive into the fundamentals of hand-building with clay in our 6 week hand-building course with Lucinda Florence. Join us in at our Northcote Pottery Studio for Term 2, starting Wednesday 17th March 2021. Our final seats in the classroom are available here.
With Lucinda's expertise, you'll be guided through building methods of pinching, coiling and slab building as well as decorative techniques like carving, working with slips and sgraffito and glazing. Each week of the 6 week program has a different focus:
Week 1 - Learn the foundations hand-building techniques with clay using pinching and coiling methods
Week 2 - Build upon foundational techniques, constructing and joining using slab rolling methods
Week 3 - Use and develop your preferred construction techniques to create sculptural forms
Week 4 - Explore surface decoration and texture through carving and use of oxides
Week 5 - Work with coloured and porcelain slips using pre-fire decoration Sgraffito techniques
Week 6 - Glaze and finish of all works completed in the term before final firing
Studio Program, Open to Independent Artists Seeking Space to Make & Create
At Bisque studios, our Melbourne pottery school and studio we offer classes, and space where you can learn wheel throwing and develop your skills as a potter. We're big believers in the value of independent exploration on any ceramicist's journey, which is why we've recently expanded our Studio Program for 2021.
Read moreOpen Studios - Sunday 15th March
Bisque Studios opens their roller door, inviting you to join them in the studio for a sneak peek into the world of a potter.
Sharing views into working artist studios, and an immersive visit to their classroom space. They’ll be hosting live demonstrations throughout the day, sharing the awe inspiring skill involved in a life-long passion of pottery.
There’ll be teachers on site to chat about classes and workshops, open studios and more. As well as a sneak peak into the private work spaces within the studio.
Resident artists Alana Casey of Usagi Ceramics & Kate Brouwer of Asobimasu Clay will have their wares available for purchase on the day.
As well as hosting a free 1hr workshop for 8 lucky participants. Follow Bisque Studios on Instagram to and keep an eye out for the competition.
Doors open: Sunday 15th March, 10am-3pm.
Melbourne Ceramics Market Seconds Sale
This Weekend we’re hosting,
The Melbourne Ceramics Market, second chance sale!
This seasons Second Chance Sale is donating 25% of all sales to Wildlife Victoria.
This organisation has been at the forefront of helping all animals effected by the terrible bushfires raging through Victoria this summer and their work will carry on well into the rest of this year and beyond, helping injured, misplaced and soon to be endangered animals recover and find new homes.
Come down to our new location of Bisque Studios in Northcote and have a rummage through over 25 makers seconds and samples pieces from 2019, all work is heavily discounted ranging from 30% - 90% discounts on most pieces. There will be tableware, vases, planters, jewellery and more to choose from.
This event is CASH ONLY so please bring your pennies, a bag to take your loot home in and have a great morning picking up some bargains, whilst supporting a worthwhile charity and taking home some beautiful ceramics that need a second chance too.
Bisque Summer Twilight Market
Across two summer evenings, find your fill of ceramics, artisan goods and gin cocktails. What more can you ask for, the weekend before Christmas.
Read more