Colour, Glaze, and Grand Finales

In the final week of term at Clay Hands, afree adding the final finishing touches, our studio was transformed into a rainbow of possibilities! Students enjoyed the most satisfying (and challenging) part of the pottery process—watching their tea ceremony creations come alive with color and glaze.

The Magic of Glazing

There’s something truly magical about this stage. Milk jugs and sugar pots that seemed like separate entities are coming together as harmonious pairs, united by glaze choices and complementary finishes. Students are using a shared color palette or similar surface treatment to make two distinct forms sing together in perfect harmony.

And the teapots are moving from subtle earth tones to bold, vibrant glazes that transform clay into jewel-like treasures, each piece is becoming a unique expression of its maker’s vision.

Watching students grapple with the huge question of how to glaze has been tenuous but then seeing them apply their chosen glazes has been joyous—tentative brush strokes giving way to confident coverage as they commit to their colour stories.

Kiln Secrets

We’ve already unloaded a few finished pieces from the kiln, and… well, they’re amazing! But we’re keeping you in delicious suspense until our official reveal! The transformation from raw clay to finished ceramic never fails to amaze, and this round of work has produced some genuinely stunning results.

Exciting Announcements

We’re thrilled to announce that renowned ceramicist Hennie Meyer will be our tea set selector for the inaugural Clay Hands Showdown! Hennie’s keen eye for both technical skill and playful expression makes him a great choice to help us celebrate our students’ creations.

But that’s not all—we’re planning to make the most of our tea appreciation with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in early August with a whimsical celebration where our beautiful handmade tea sets get their moment to shine, filled with steaming tea and surrounded by the community that created them.

Students, keep your eyes peeled for date announcements and party details. After all this hard work, it’s time to celebrate in style!