Beldari Pottery Studio in Echuca offers a range of engaging pottery classes, inviting locals and visitors to unleash their creativity and connect through the timeless craft of ceramics.
Nestled in the charming historic port area, the studio provides a welcoming and supportive environment for pottery enthusiasts, from complete beginners to experienced artisans.
Beldari Pottery Studio owner Chris Stephens shared his passion for the craft.
“I probably fell in love with pottery 40 years ago,'’ he said.
“I like to make somewhat organic items, fairly weighty and use a lot of earthy colours.”
The studio offers a diverse range of hands-on classes, meaning there is something for every interest and skill level.
“We are a teaching studio,” Chris said.
“We run classes for wheel pottery, hand building and teach people how to glaze.”
One of their popular offerings is the four-week wheel throwing pottery course, perfect for beginners.
The course consists of weekly two-hour sessions, with all materials provided.
“Beginners classes run as two-hour sessions over four weeks, and each week, you delve a little bit further into the fundamentals,” Chris said.
Participants find engaging in pottery offers many benefits, including stress relief, a boost to creativity, and a sense of accomplishment.
Many participants find the tactile nature of working with clay both meditative and invigorating, providing a perfect escape from daily pressures.
For those seeking a unique and social experience, Beldari Pottery Studio hosts popular 'Pot and Pizza' nights once a month, combining creativity, delicious food, and a fun atmosphere.
At Pot and Pizza nights, you spend an hour or more on the pottery wheel, about the same time hand-building clay and in between, everyone has pizza, walking away with two or three of your own handcrafted pottery pieces.
The studio also caters to private functions, corporate events, and team-building sessions, having held hens parties, baby showers and quite a few work Christmas parties, and corporate team-building events.
The studio also features a retail section comprising home decor, giftware, high quality artificial plants, jewellery, occasional furniture and Beldari pottery creations.
Beldari Pottery Studio opened at its current location, 495 High St, Echuca, on November 1, 2024.
The studio is open six days a week, from 10am to 4pm, with additional evening class times available.
For more information or to book into a pottery class, go to www.beldaripottery.com.au