The Pottery Shed is exactly that: a warehouse with everything you need to make your pottery dreams come to life. Walking through the atrium, you’ll see pieces for sale that were made on-site in an intimate seating space that opens to high ceilings and clay covered floors.
There are allocated areas for each step. You’ll find pottery wheels for throwing clay, an area for trimming and another for glazing your finished creations. As you explore the space, you’ll come across shelving with hundreds of pre-fired vessels wrapped and ready for the next part in the process as well as a dedicated shelf for finished works. The artistry, imagery and vibrant colours are a delightful contrast next to the yet-to-be-glazed pieces.
Charismatic owner Joe Darling has a history of making pottery dating back to 1976 in California, and is on hand to assist you with any queries. He may even share a story or two, like how he won the Army Commendation medal for the best pottery tea set.
The rest of the energetic staff will teach you step by step how to make your own bowls and cups with earthenware clay. Beginners tend to get messy and make a few mistakes, however broken pieces and excess clay is recycled on the premises. You can expect to jam out to sweet tunes and have plenty of laughs while you create a new star for your mantelpiece.
The classes run for two hours, and the studio operates seven days a week with flexible class times in the morning and evening. Students can learn at their own pace, without committing to a course.