Our Workshops
2-hour Wheel Workshop
$85 +tax (8 spots/ workshop)
Upcoming Dates:
Saturday, June 20 from 10am-12pm
Saturday, June 20 from 1pm-3pm
Sunday, June 28 from 11am-1pm
Sunday, June 28 from 2pm-4pm
Saturday, July 18 from: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Saturday, July 18 from: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Sunday, July 19 from: 11am-1pm
Sunday, July 19 from: 2pm-4pm
Saturday, August 1 from: 10am-12pm
Saturday, August 1 from: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Workshop Description: Try your hand at the potter’s wheel in this one- time workshop! These workshops are a great opportunity to see if this is your next hobby, or simply cross off your bucket list! You will be guided through making 2 cups or bowls. You will get the full experience of centering the clay, building the foundation of your pot to then stretch the sides and see how high you can get it! The workshop is approximately 2 hours. Your pots will be finished and fired for you, in the colour of your choice, ready to be picked up within 4-6 weeks. They will be food safe, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe.
Please be sure to review our cancellation and date change policy prior to booking. Click here.
3-hour Pottery Birdhouse Workshop
$95+tax
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 6pm-9pm
Cost: $95+tax
Includes: 3hours of making time, instruction, materials, tools, glazes, and firings.
Minimum Age: 16
The warmer months are here and the birds are chirping away! Build our feathered friends a one of a kind home out of clay at our 3hour beginner friendly workshop.
Participants will be guided through the making process using slabs of clay, templates, textures, and coloured slips (pottery “paints”).
No previous experience needed. Beginners are welcome and encouraged.
Please be sure to review our cancellation and date change policy prior to booking. Click here.
2-hour Handbuilt Serving Bowl Workshop
$85+tax
4-day Level Up Wheel Experience
$750+tax
Start Date: Tuesday August 11 – Friday, August 14
Time: 10am – 4:30pm (each day)
Cost: $750+tax includes all materials, tools, firings, glazes, etc.
Instructor: Angela Patterson
Workshop Description: Over 4 days Zenfire Pottery owner, Angela Patterson, will level up your throwing game! Angela will provide live demos, give one to one support and advice, and help each participant meet their unique pottery goals.
Participants will play with clay and practice the following: throwing bigger, getting more out of your clay, creating multiples, mastering trimming to create lighter and more balanced pieces, and so much more. There will also be a surprise guest artist! Creators will come back at a later date to glaze, or Angela can do it for you. Shipping of finished pieces is available for those who live out of town.
Please note: Makeup classes are not available due to our limited space, the structured nature of the program schedule, and the need to maintain consistency and quality across all sessions. This policy ensures that all participants receive a uniform learning experience and allows instructors to focus on delivering the highest standard of instruction without disruption. We appreciate your understanding and support.
2-hour Leaf Bowl or Platter Workshop
$85+tax
Glazed & Confused with Visiting Artist Chris Snedden
$225 +tax
Join us for this hands-on workshop to answer all of these questions. Visiting artist Chris Snedden will be lending his many years of clay and glaze experience to teach participants how to develop a variety of glaze colours with just 1 base glaze. Chris will also troubleshoot how to glaze those tricky pottery pieces for a perfectly glazed finish.
There will be a short break for lunch. Lunch is not provided, but there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance. We also have a fridge, microwave, and kettle available for use.
Please be sure to review our cancellation and date change policy prior to booking. Click here.
2-hour Handbuilt Pumpkin Workshop
$85+tax
1pm – 3pm OR 4:30pm-6:30pm
Casual Pots & Extreme Handles with Tony Clennell
$525+tax (8 spots)
Workshop Description:
This 2-day workshop will focus on larger than life, utilitarian pottery for occasional use. We will pay attention to the details on large casseroles, pitchers, bowls, baskets and plates so they may be used for celebration and presentation.
Tony Clennell,MFA, RCA:
Tony is a second generation potter who has taught workshops in Canada, USA, Japan, China, Korea, Wales, Portugal, Italy and Mexico. He has a Master of Fine Arts from Utah State University and is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. He has written extensively for ceramic journals and is exhibited in museums and collections in North America, Europe and Asia. He is the author of “Stuck in the Mud”. He has also maintained a blog: smokieclennell.blogspot.com since 2007.
The workshop will focus on larger than life, utilitarian pottery for occasional use. We will pay attention to the details on large casseroles, pitchers, bowls, baskets and plates so they may be used for celebration and presentation.
Statement from the Artist:
My specialty over the years has been sectional or composite throwing where I add many pieces together to make one vessel. I have also developed a signature with the use of thrown, pulled and hand built handles. Extreme handles are my specialty.
Recent work has included gestural marks and brushwork for a tactile geological surface to the work. The maker’s marks and details of process are what I am interested in leaving in the finished work. Although I wood fire, I have made my living for the past 2 decades with high temperature stoneware fired in a gas kiln. This is a participatory throwing workshop so potters should be working at the intermediate to advanced level. You can expect to be making pieces 2-3 times larger than your current work. Mark making and gesture are a big part of what I do, so loosen up and enjoy the ride.
Please be sure to review our cancellation and date change policy prior to booking. Click here.
Coming from out of town, or want to host a creative weekend?
Below are some fabulous places you can stay:
St. Marys:
The Flour Mill
Westover Inn
Riverside B&B
Airbnb options
Stratford
(20min drive to St. Mary’s):
Grand Trunk Guest House
Arden Park
Airbnb options
Edison’s Inn
The Bradshaw Lofts
Birmingham Manor B&B
