Parho Beginners Pottery Workshop

Join us for a one-off beginner pottery class where we’ll try both wheel throwing and handbuilding.
You'll also receive a copy of 'The Healing Season of Pottery' by Yeon Somin.
⏰ 6 - 9 PM
📍Cernamic, Deptford, SE8 4DQ
This is beginners workshop has been arranged by Yasser, who attends most Parho book clubs and enjoys pottery as a hobby. He has kindly shared a discounted rate for the workshop at his local pottery studio.
What to Expect
Over three hours, we’ll split our time between:
Wheel throwing (2 hours) – learning the basics of shaping clay on a spinning wheel
Handbuilding (1 hour) – more freeform techniques for sculpting and creating by hand
The idea is to give you a feel for both sides of ceramics, with plenty of time to experiment and play around.
By the end of the session, you’ll have created multiple pieces of your own. You’ll have the option to fire and glaze as many pieces as you’d like to keep for £5 each.
We recommend you wear clothes that you don’t mind getting clay on. Clay comes off super easily with warm water but better to not risk any expensive clothing and shoes.
What to Make
Often times beginners on the wheel aim for the three ‘basic’ shapes - mugs, bowls, and vases. But in addition to this you could make a candle holder for a reading atmosphere, a trinket pot or ring dish for a desk/pens, ceramic bookmarks, or bookends for your shelves.
Ceramics is extremely open-ended so you can make whatever you can imagine!
FAQ
Do I get to keep what I make?
 Yes, if you’d like to keep your pieces, there’s a £5 fee per item, payable on the day (cash or bank transfer). This is to cover the costs of the materials and kiln firing.
When will my piece be ready?
 Around 4 weeks after the class. You’ll get an email when it’s ready.
What if I can’t collect it?
 Pieces are stored for up to one month after notification. After that, they may be disposed of.
Can my piece be delivered?
 Yes, delivery is available for £15, arranged at the end of the class.
Will my piece look exactly how I imagined?
 Probably not, and that’s part of the charm. A few things to keep in mind:
Glazes fire slightly differently every time
Clay shrinks by ~15%
What happens if my piece breaks in the kiln?
In rare cases, items can crack or explode in the kiln. We do our best to minimise this, but ceramics is inherently unpredictable. If your work explodes during firing, you’ll be reimbursed. Otherwise, the class itself is non-refundable.