A fully equipped family studio in Wilkoppies, Klerksdorp. Complete beginners welcome. Ages 6 and up. All materials included — just bring yourself.
Our story
Clay Craft Studio was born from a simple belief: that working with your hands is good for your soul. We are a family-run pottery studio in the heart of Wilkoppies, fully equipped with pottery wheels, kilns, glazing facilities, and everything you need to discover the joy of making something from nothing.
Whether you've never touched clay before or you're a seasoned thrower looking for a creative home, you'll find your place here. We teach wheel throwing, hand-building, surface decoration, and glazing — from the first clumsy attempt to confident, finished pieces you'll want to use every day.
We keep our classes small so everyone gets proper attention. We keep our prices honest. And we keep the studio stocked with good clay, good glazes, and good company.
"Nobody makes a perfect pot on their first session. But everyone leaves with clay under their fingernails and a smile on their face. That's the only requirement."
Regular classes
Our regular classes run weekly and are designed to build skill progressively. Beginners are welcome in all classes — our teaching adapts to where you are. All clay, glazes, tools, apron, and kiln firing are included in every session.
Learn to centre, open, and pull clay on an electric wheel. From wonky first pots to bowls, mugs, and cylinders — the wheel is endlessly rewarding and genuinely therapeutic. Classes suit complete beginners through to intermediate throwers. You progress at your own pace with ongoing guidance from our instructors.
Pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction — hand-building is where many people discover their truest expression in clay. No wheel required. Create sculptural pieces, functional homeware, or decorative objects using your hands and simple tools. A wonderful class for those who prefer a meditative, unhurried approach to making.
Our most popular class for new students. Each session alternates between wheel throwing and hand-building techniques, giving you a broad foundation in ceramics before you decide which direction you'd like to focus on. Ideal if you're not sure where to start — most beginners discover a clear preference within a few sessions.
A creative and playful class designed specifically for young potters. Kids explore pinching, coiling, slab work, and basic wheel throwing in a safe, supervised environment. Projects are age-appropriate and designed to build confidence alongside skill. Parents are welcome to wait in the studio. A wonderful after-school or weekend activity.
About collecting your work: Once you've made and glazed your piece, it goes through two firings — bisque and glaze. Each firing cycle takes approximately 1–2 weeks from greenware stage. Please allow 2–4 weeks from your last session before collecting your finished piece. We'll let you know by WhatsApp when it's ready. Pieces can be collected during studio hours at any time.
Workshops
Workshops are once-off sessions — no commitment, no experience needed. Perfect for special occasions, team-building, or just wanting to try pottery for the first time. All materials included. All kiln firing included. Pieces ready in 2–4 weeks.
Your first time on the pottery wheel. Learn to centre clay, open a base, and pull up the walls of a simple cylinder or bowl. You'll make at least one piece — possibly more. The most popular session we run. Completely beginner-friendly.
Create a functional or decorative piece using pinch, coil, and slab techniques. No wheel involved — perfect for those who want a more controlled, meditative experience. You'll leave with 1–2 hand-built pieces ready for firing. Great for all ages and abilities.
A romantic, playful session on the wheel — just the two of you. Make your own piece or collaborate on one together. Soft lighting, good music, and the genuine laughter that comes from getting covered in clay with someone you like. One of the most memorable date experiences in Klerksdorp. Book ahead — slots are limited.
An unforgettable birthday party in the studio. Each child creates their own hand-built piece — a pinch pot, a small sculpture, or a decorated tile — which goes through our kiln and is ready to collect 2–4 weeks later. A take-home keepsake everyone will treasure. We handle the clay, tools, and instruction. You handle the cake.
Get your team off their screens and into the studio. Pottery is one of the most effective team-building activities available — it requires focus, patience, collaboration, and a sense of humour. Each participant creates their own piece on the wheel or by hand. Perfect for building connection outside the office. Fully customisable to your group size and requirements.
A deep-dive session for students who want to push their skills further. Topics rotate — centring and pulling tall forms, trimming and foot-ring work, surface texture and decoration techniques, or glaze chemistry and application. Masterclass topics are announced monthly. Small groups only to ensure maximum individual attention.
Parents and kids in the studio together. Everyone makes their own piece using hand-building techniques. A Saturday morning spent without screens, making something tangible and creative as a family. The clay connects ages — six-year-olds and sixty-year-olds work side by side and the studio fills with laughter. A firm favourite.
The pottery scene from Ghost but for a whole group. Wheel throwing, hand-building, drinks, laughter, and clay absolutely everywhere. One of the best pre-wedding activities available — a relaxed, creative memory the whole party will talk about. Enquire about our full package including decorations and BYO catering arrangements.
What to expect
Every piece of pottery goes through a journey before it's ready to take home. Here's what happens between your hands and your shelf.
On the wheel or by hand, you create your piece during your class or workshop session. Our instructors guide you through the process from start to finish. Don't worry about perfection — imperfection is what makes handmade pottery beautiful.
Your finished piece is left in the studio to dry completely. This takes approximately 1–2 weeks depending on thickness. We never rush drying — pieces that dry too fast crack. Slow and steady makes strong ceramics.
Once dry, your piece goes into the kiln for its first firing — the bisque fire. This burns out all remaining moisture and organic material, transforming the clay into a hard, porous ceramic. Fired to approximately 1000°C. Takes about a week with loading, firing, and cooling.
For regular class students, glazing is part of your session — you choose colours and apply glazes to your bisque-fired piece. Workshop pieces are glazed by our team in your chosen colours (or we make a choice that suits the piece). Glazing transforms the surface from matte clay to glassy, food-safe ceramic.
The second and final firing takes the piece to cone 6 (approximately 1220°C), vitrifying the clay and melting the glaze into a smooth, durable surface. This firing cycle takes another week. The results are always a little surprising — colours shift and surfaces transform in the kiln heat.
We'll message you on WhatsApp when your piece is ready. Please allow 2–4 weeks from your making session. Pieces can be collected from the studio during opening hours. We take great care to store and handle your work, but remind you that pottery is fragile — handle with pride when you collect!
Gallery
Every piece in our studio was made by a real person who started with a lump of clay and a bit of curiosity. This is where your work will appear too.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see the latest work from our studio.
Join the team
One position. Small studio. Big opportunity to grow into something real.
Get in touch
Please wear clothes you're comfortable getting clay on. Everything else — clay, tools, aprons, glazes, and firing — is provided by us. Just bring yourself and your curiosity.
Book a class, enquire about workshops, or ask any question. We'll get back to you on WhatsApp or email.
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