Pottery for Beginners Adelaide review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

It’s something that’s been on my to-do list for a long time: join a pottery class and have my Patrick Swayze moment.

It’s something that’s been on my to-do list for a long time: join a pottery class and have my Patrick Swayze moment.

There’s not essentially a lack of pottery courses around Adelaide, but in terms of price I found it difficult to find one that wouldn’t set me back a small fortune.

After putting it off for months, I stumbled across the WEA and their five-week beginners course. The course will set you back $168, however this includes all your materials and firing in the kiln – which many courses need you to pay for on top – so it worked out to be a very good deal.

During the first class our wonderful teacher Alison Cooper took us through the basics of making a pinch pot (you use your thumbs) and almost immediately I realised those particular digits were not very fit or particularly artistic.

However, going into the second class I started to make progress, making items that resembled small pots and planters.

The best part of this course is the ability to try all the methods. You start off with pinch pots, move on to coils, slabs and finally throwing on the wheel – so there’s a chance to find your niche.

As the weeks went on it was encouraging to see other classmates flourishing in particular hand building methods and developing their own style. Personally, I found coil pots to be the best method and after three hours of coiling any stress from the working day had surely melted away.

When people sign up to these classes, they’re coming to have a go on the wheel so after almost three weeks of pinching, coiling and slabbing, everyone was keen to try it.

Straddling the wheel, I had every hope that a bowl would miraculously form before my eyes. But can I just say, even if Patrick Swayze was behind me directing my hands he wouldn’t have saved the day.

Luckily my teacher was kind enough to step in and help me shape a bowl, which left me with a new-found appreciation for ceramists who make the process look easy.

Chloe Metcalfe’s finished pottery.

The last week of the course was set aside for decorating and painting our dried wares. This also seems like a simple task, but given paint is absorbed by the clay you can’t tell the shade your pot or bowl will become, meaning collection week is all the more exciting.

Two weeks after the course had ended the pots had been fired and were ready for collection. I’ve got to say, although I was happy my items had made it through the kiln, I was hit by a wave of accomplishment to see a bunch of bowls and plant pots made by my own hands.

Unfortunately my only thrown item was taken by another class member, meaning I’ve lost all ability to gloat to friends and family. So, if the bowl thief is reading this, I hope you’re taking care of my shabbily painted baby blue bowl.

Overall, I had a fantastic five weeks and was genuinely sad to see the course coming to an end. However, I’m now motivated to find another course and keep learning.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed getting my hands dirty, what I loved most was going into the Monday night class, hiding my phone away for three hours and just taking the time to relax and focus on something creative.

However, if Monday nights don’t work for you there’s plenty of other night classes available and a Saturday morning as well. Just be aware it books out very quickly.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in September 2018 and details updated in March 2021.

• 223 Angas St, Adelaide
• [phone]
• wea-sa.com.au
• [e-mail]
• LOCATION Four minutes from Adelaide CBD.
• WHAT Learn from an experienced ceramist how to hand build, throw (wheel) and glaze your own wares. The course is held over three hours, once a week for five weeks. Beginners through to advanced are welcome.
• FACILITIES In a classroom, with all clay, paints, tools and firing included.
• PRICE $203, or $187 with discount, for a five-week course.