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The CRAFT COUNCIL CLAY STUDIO

The Craft Council Clay Studio is a facility where the general public can become more closely acquainted with the craft community and where they can learn the skills necessary to working with clay. It is also a centre where professional craftspeople can expand their skills. The studio introduces younger people to the artistic and craft communities and assists developing craftspeople in obtaining a local profile and hands-on experience with clay. Promotion of the craft of pottery is a major focus for the Clay Studio. The Clay Studio endeavours to heighten public awareness of the professional potters in the community, their skills and level of expertise.

Sculpting at the Craft Council Clay Studio, Devon House Craft Centre

Current Clay Studio Course Listing

Birthday Parties in the Clay Studio

Open Studio and Studio Rental Information

Clay Prices

Artist in Residence Program

General Programming

The Craft Council Clay Studio offers pottery classes for students of all ages. Classes may be recreational or professional and range from introductory to advanced levels. Topics include hand building, throwing on the wheel, sculpture, raku firing and glaze chemistry.

Children’s programming is a priority and the studio hosts weeklong activity camps during Easter and summer vacations. In addition, weekly classes for children and teens are available throughout the school year.

Welcome to the Clay Studio!

in the Studio

Our 8th Annual Beachfiring was a huge success by all accounts! Thank you to everybody who volunteered and those who just came to be at the beach for the day! We raised a whopping $2,350 to help support our Clay Studio. Thank you everybody!


The Fall Schedule is now up!
Check out our classes and camps for the young and the young at heart. Here's what was on offer this season:

Specialty Workshops

September Workshop: Teapots
Dates: Two Sundays, September 19 from 9:30am-12:30pm and September 26 from 9:30am-11:30am
Facilitator: Christina Dove
Cost: $85 including HST and clay
Christina will demonstrate various approaches to making fun and functional teapots. Beginning with the wheel, we will explore the rich possibilities of faceting, altering, pulling, texturing and decorating. This in an intermediate to advanced workshop.


Hallowe’en Week Activities
Monday, October 25th from 7-9pm. all ages
Ghastly lanterns and luninaries
$30.00 including HST and clay

Thursday, October 28th from 7-10pm, ages 15 and up
Make a monster with John Bear
$60.00 including HST and clay

Friday, October 29 from 7-9pm, ages 7-12
Ghost stories and clay pumpkins with Andrea Cnuddle
$30 including HST and clay


November Workshop: Slab Built Pottery
Dates: Two Saturdays, November 20 from 10am-6pm and & November 27 from 10am-1pm
Facilitator: Florence Donaway
Cost: $140 including HST and clay
Discover the versatility of using slabs as a method of handbuilding pottery forms. Learn the techniques used in constructing these forms and become aquainted with ways to finish and decorate the surfaces of pieces you have created, including: texturing, impressing and sprigging.


December Workshop: Handmade Ornaments
Dates: Two Sundays, December 12 from 11am-1pm and December 19 from 11:30am-1pm
Facilitator: Maaike Charron
Cost: $40 including HST and clay
Make your own hand mand ornaments and gift tags. Personalize this year in a small but big way!


Saturday Morning Kids
Five Saturdays:
Starting September 11 from 9–11:30am with Andrea Cnuddle facilitating AND Starting October 16 from 9-11:30am with Christina Dove facilitating
Ages 7 - 13
Have your children enjoy creative fun with clay. They’ll learn to make small animals, tiles, coil pots, and much more in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.
Cost $150, including HST and materials

Fall Classes

Clay Sculpture - An Introduction
Eight weeks, beginning September 16 (no class Oct 30)
Cost: $275 including HST and 10 kg clay (Additional clay may be purchased as needed)
Facilitator: John Bear
Thursday Evenings from 7–10pm
These sessions will emphasize sculpture and the realization of sculptural ideas in clay. As an introduction to clay sculpture technique, participants will work on projects of their own choosing in the first half of the course. We will then proceed to work on a portrait bust as an introduction to modelling from life. For beginners and those with clay experience.

Clay in the Day, Drop-In
Beginning September 22
Cost: $10 per hour plus clay
Facilitator: Rochelle Young
Wednesday mornings from 9am-noon
A general introduction to pottery techniques, including hand building and wheel throwing. This class is suitable for beginners as well as experienced potters, as students will be encouraged to work out their individual ideas.

Introduction to Clay
Eight weeks, beginning September 14th
Cost: $250 including HST and clay
Facilitator: Rochelle Young
Tuesday Evenings from 7-10pm
A general introduction to pottery techniques. Students will learn hand-building methods as well as the basics of throwing on the potter’s wheel. Decorating techniques will also be introduced. Discover the challenges and joys of working on the pottery wheel.

The Next Step - Intermediate
Eight weeks, beginning September 15th
Cost: $250 including HST and clay
Facilitator: Christina Dove
Wednesdays evenings, 7 - 10pm
Take your clay to the next level. Students who have completed introductory classes are encouraged to develop and refine their skills. From hand building to throwing, focus on the area that interests you most. Strengthen you throwing and learn advanced techniques. Projects may include beer steins, plates, casserole dishes, canister sets, teapots, garden planters and even chess sets.

If you would like to sign up for one of these classes, please give us a call (753.2534), an email or drop by.

Important Information

A $50 deposit is necessary to sign up for a class. Deposits are transferable up to one week before class starts, but non-refundable. Open studio vouchers will be given for a total of one missed class. Refunds may be given for medical reasons only. Classes are subject to adequate enrolment.

To register, call 753.2749, or email claystudio@craftcouncil.nl.ca


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Birthday Parties

Host your next special event in the Clay Studio. Enjoy a workshop designed for you and your group. Birthday parties are typically 2 hours in length and the projects made range from jewellery and sculpture to work made on the pottery wheel. Due to the nature of clay artwork needs to be left with us to dry and be fired twice, we will contact you when it is ready to be picked up.

Prices start at $150. This would cover most 2 hour parties including a qualified instructor for 2 hours, studio use for 10 participants, 20 LBS of clay and all firing and glazing fees.

Party times have to be booked in advance. For inquires or to book your special day, please call 753-2534 or emailing claystudio@craftcouncil.nl.ca

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Equipment

The clay studio is equipped with two electric kilns. There are regular weekly firings of both bisque and glaze ware. Eight electric wheels are available for general use. The studio also has a clay mixer, slab roller, clay extruder, fully stocked glaze kitchen, two large work tables and storage space for students.

Open Studio/Studio Rental

Open Studio sessions are available to anyone who wants to drop in and be creative.  Costs are $4/hour, HST included. Clay is not included. Times do not have to be booked.

Monday
1 pm - 4 pm
Tuesday
1pm -  4 pm
Thursday
1 pm - 4 pm
Friday
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Saturday
1 pm - 4 pm
Sunday
1 pm - 4 pm

These hours may change for the summer depending on programming. Please call to inquire.

Both shelf space and studio space are available to rent. Studio rental includes 24-hour access to the clay studio. Rental is on a month to month basis.

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Clay Prices

Prices include HST. Glazes and firings are also included in the cost of the clay. Some clays may not be available at all times. Clay is sold in 5 kg blocks.

Reclaim Clay
$20
Reclaim Porcelain
$22
White Stoneware
$25
Red Stoneware
$25
Raku Clay
$25
Sculpture Clay
$25
Porcelain Clay
$25
Black Clay
$25

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A raku firing at the Clay Studio


Artist in Residence
Space is available throughout July and August for an artist-in-residence. This space is free of charge; however materials will be the responsibility of the artist. The resident artist will have 24-hour access to the studio plus use of wheels, kilns, glaze kitchen and other necessary equipment. In exchange for studio use, the artist will lead a workshop for the students of the studio. The topic should be based in the artist’s own construction methods.

The Craft Council Clay Studio is located in the Devon House Craft Centre.

59 Duckworth Street,
St. John’s, NL A1C 1E6
Phone: (709) 753-2534
Fax: (709) 753-2766
Email: claystudio@craftcouncil.nl.ca

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