Clay Education
Clay Education is a comprehensive and immersive course designed for individuals who are passionate about ceramics and want to take their skills to the next level.
This ongoing course spans from February 2026 to mid December 2026, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the world of clay. The Clay Education program is divided into two semesters, each offering in-depth learning and exploration of ceramics. This program provides the perfect platform for personal growth and creative development alongside a wide range of teachers and a supportive community.
Throughout the course, participants will have the opportunity to learn various hand-building or wheel-throwing techniques. Our experienced instructors will guide and support you every step of the way, offering valuable insights and personalised feedback to help you enhance your skills.
Participants have the flexibility to enroll per semester or for the whole year. Whether you want to commit to one semester to explore a specific aspect of ceramics or dedicate the entire year to comprehensive learning, the choice is yours.
By enrolling in our Clay Education program, you will gain access to a supportive community of like-minded individuals who share your passion for ceramics. You will also have the opportunity to participate in exhibitions and showcases to display your work.
Designed for emerging and committed ceramic artists ready to deepen their craft, broaden their technical knowledge, and develop a cohesive artistic voice. Across two semesters, students learn from a team of practising ceramicists—Danny Cox, Joe Say, Emma Rose, Jessie Pittard and Gabie Mello—through a sequence of focused subjects that build skills progressively. The program culminates in a curated end-of-year exhibition, showcasing each student’s development.
Clay Education 2026 Details
Teachers, Subjects & Dates
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Danny Cox
Danny Cox is a ceramic artist and potter based on Wadawurrung Country (Geelong), Australia. Inspired by traditional pottery techniques, he creates contemporary, functional ceramics informed by the landscapes and geology of the Geelong and Surf Coast regions. Locally sourced clay, volcanic rock, and wood ash are central to his practice, shaping both the form and the palette of his work.
He creates art for everyday use—pieces that elevate daily rituals through material honesty, subtle detail, and a mindful connection to place.
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Joe Say
Joe (He/They) is a self taught potter and maker. Joe’s passion for ceramics is inspired by the fluidity and versatility of the medium. The dream is to be able to marry design with function and to push the boundaries of what their hands can create. Combining different techniques such as carving and sculpting with wheel throwing ensures that each piece is unique. They work with the guiding principles of accessibility and sustainability. Joe strongly believes in the power of art to bring communities together and is open to collaborations and commissions.
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Emma Rose
Currently spending half of her year in Japan, half in Australia, Emma Rose works between pottery centres & residency spaces as teacher & facilitator.
Her personal work centres around study of found materials in glaze and clay, as well as Japanese woodfiring traditions. -
Gabie Mello
Gabriela Mello (she/her) is a Latinx multidisciplinary artist, Arts Therapist, and the owner and director of Warrandyte Pottery, a vibrant gallery and ceramics studio nestled in the heart of Warrandyte.
With a Master’s in Therapeutic Arts with a specialisation in Arts-Based Research, Gabie brings a rare blend of creative depth, professional insight, and relational care to everything she does. Her life’s work is dedicated to fostering community, exploring the nuances of clay and art, and honouring the intricate relational threads that connect individuals to themselves, each other, the human and more then human world. -
Jessie Pittard
Jessie Pittard is Melbourne based artist, printmaker and ceramicist. Working across various modalities and local studios, Jessie brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Course Details
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Course Details 〰️
When and Where:
Classes: Mondays 6pm - 8:30pm
Studio Access: Fridays and Sundays 10am - 4pm
*Studio access is available weekly for the duration of the elected course unless in the case of a private function, workshop or planned studio closure. You will be notified via our WhatsApp group in advance.
*No classes run on public holidays
Includes:
2.5 hour comprehensive course with a class once a week: Mondays 6pm - 8:30pm and some weekend intensives
Small class size, limited to 9 participants
Studio Access every Friday and Sunday 10am - 4pm (except the first Sunday of each month)
Includes reclaim clay, tools, use of equipment, studio glazes and some raw materials
HIGHLY discounted firing rates
Invitation to attend specialty workshops and events
Prerequisites: Must have at least 1 terms of wheel throwing with WPS or equivalent and be able to centre and throw a cylinder using 500g clay
Semester 1: 2026
February 2nd - June 22nd
Mid year student showcase: June 26th
Break: June 29 – July 6
Semester 2: 2026
16 July - December 7th
Student Exhibition: December 12th
Course Overview and Dates:
Orientation
Monday, January 16
Meet your teachers, tour the studio, review studio etiquette, and connect with your cohort. A fun evening to get to know each other and the space.
Semester 1: February – June
Subject 1: Production Throwing with Danny Cox
February 2nd – March 9th
In this subject you will explore production-based techniques that build fluency, flow, and confidence at the wheel, improving rhythm and consistency while opening new possibilities for playful, expressive forms.
Through practical methods, you’ll develop a smoother workflow, a deeper understanding of your clay, and the space to push your forms further, making your throwing more effective and creatively expansive.
Subject 2: Demystifying Glaze Chemistry with Emma Rose
March 16 – April 20 or Weekend Intensive TBC
In this subject, Emma Rose will demystify the fundamentals of glaze chemistry by tracing materials back to their geological origins. Students will explore stones, minerals, and raw materials—where they come from, how they break down, and the roles they play in glaze structure. From there, the course moves into practical, accessible methods for creating your own glazes at home using a simple palette of around ten core materials. The subject then expands into working with colourants and additives, showing how small adjustments can unlock a wide range of surface possibilities.
Subject 3: Introduction to aleternative firing with Joe Say
April 20th – May 25th
Explore the fundamentals of woodfiring and raku firing. Create work specifically designed for a collaborative firing at Montsalvat. Learn form considerations, clays, slips, and stacking principles relevant to atmospheric firing.
Subject 4: Clay and Design with Joe Say
June 1st – June 22nd
Combine wheel throwing and handbuilding to design and construct more complex forms. Students will investigate structure, proportion, and intentional design choices across multiple techniques.
Semester 2: July 13 – December 7th
Subject 1: Production Revisited with Danny Cox
July 13 – August 17
Build on Semester 1’s production practice with a deeper focus on consistency, refinement, and expanding personal form libraries and refining your throwing consistency and flow.
Subject 2: Surface Decoration with Jessie Pittard
August 24 – September 14
Explore a range of surface techniques including mono-printing, screen printing, sgraffito and more. This subject encourages experimentation and development of personal surface language.
Subject 3: Coil and Throw with Gabie Mello
Weekend Intensive: September 18–20 (Fri–Sun)
Expand your making vocabulary by combining coil-building with wheel-thrown components. A focused weekend of hands-on exploration in form and scale.
Break from regular Monday evenings during this period.
Subject 4: Refinement + Final Project with Gabie Mello
October 5 – December 7
A guided period of review, critique, and project development. Students bring together the skills learned throughout the year to refine their aesthetic direction and produce a resolved work for the end-of-year exhibition.
Investment
We understand that we all find ourselves in varying degrees of financial ability. To keep our course accessible we can create individual payment plans outside of the ones offered. More details will be sent with enrolment confirmation.
Full year commitment: offered a spot first priority
$2,100 per semester : with various payment plans available.
Per semester commitment: offered a spot second priority
$2,600 per semester: with various payment plans available
Per subject commitment: only available if a spot becomes available.
$150 per week the subject of each subject.
Apply Now
Applications are accessed on a first come basis until the course is full.
Limited to 10 participants per subject.
WAIT LIST APPLICATION ONLY: PROGRAM SOLD OUT
