Pottery Hand Building Workshop

Join us at Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street in the heart of beautiful Mangawhai Village, for a relaxed and creative pottery experience led by local potter Lael Read.

In this 2.5-hour session, you’ll learn the basics of hand building and create your own ceramic piece from scratch. We’ll focus on one main item (like a mug, tumbler or vase), and you’re welcome to use any leftover clay to make something extra with my guidance.

👐 What’s included:
– 1kg of Speckled stoneware clay
– Shared tools & guidance
– Glazing & firing of your finished pieces

🎨 What you’ll create:
Choose your focus—mug, vase, tumbler, or trinket dishes—and shape it by hand using simple, beginner-friendly techniques. Hand building is super flexible and a great way to explore your creativity—no pottery wheel required.

⏰ Time: 2.5 hours
📍 Location: Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street
👩‍🎨 Ages: 14 and up

🧼 Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or bring an apron.
🕐 Your finished piece will be ready for pick-up approx. 5 weeks after the workshop – I’ll email you when they’re ready.

✨ Please note: Pottery is a beautiful but delicate craft. While I take every care in drying and firing your work slowly, occasional cracks can happen. I’ll guide you through how to avoid this as best we can.

I can’t wait to create with you!