Turning clay into ceramic treasures feels like an incredible, alchemical transformation. It’s all about the craft at Clae and General Pottery, an Essex Street creative pottery collective.

The studio is full of pottery tools, and the resident experts Tatyanna and Gwen are quick to help out with suggestions and inspiration to help you make the magic happen. The space is a collaboration between supplies store General Pottery, and Clae, where you can learn and improve the craft. Sure, you can buy pottery items here, but it’s really about helping people create their own ceramic masterpieces.

General Pottery stocks books, tools, kitsets, materials, clay, and a pinch of knowledgeable advice to help you achieve your pottery goals. Further into the large, light-infused studio, Clae teaches a variety of classes with sustainable methods and materials to produce treasures, not trash.

Clae’s expert tutors run classes for all levels of potters, and help throw or hand-build items from simple cups and plates to intricate decorative ceramic pieces. There are one-night classes to create a single beautiful item, or four-week and eight-week classes for mastering some serious skills in a warm and welcoming environment.

Clae makes its own small-batch boutique clay blends, hand-made tools, and slips and glazes with no nasty chemicals. There’s also an upcoming class on how to make your own clay and recycle every piece of your leftover clay. Looking for a creative gift? General Pottery has a range of make-your-own Clae kitsets that include local clay, canvas working surface, instructions, reusable and recyclable tools and tips for making different ceramic objects.

Once you’ve shaped your clay, you can use General Pottery’s glazing and firing service to finish off your creations professionally. If you’ve got an inkling ceramics might be the creative outlet for you, we suggest seeking out this unique space to be inspired by the ancient craft of pottery.

generalpottery.co.nz