Creative Hand-Building Pottery Workshops
Step into our studio in North Bangalore to slow down and create. Whether you are making your first pinch pot or sculpting intricate pieces, our hand-building sessions are all about patience, practice, and the joy of working with clay.
This video shows a student using the paddling technique on a large pinch pot. This method helps to shape and strengthen the walls of hand-built vessels.
The pinch pot is the simplest hand-building technique and a great starting point. Here, a student carefully pinches and shapes a small bowl, learning to feel the thickness of the clay.
Coiling is a versatile technique used to build larger forms. This student is creating a decorative plate by arranging and joining small clay coils, a patient and meditative process.
Using slabs of clay allows you to create pieces with flat sides and sharp angles. This clip demonstrates how to join scored and slipped slabs to construct a geometric form.
This video shows the fundamental process of creating a simple plate using the slab hand-building technique. It's a great way to make functional tableware.
A student adds delicate, hand-formed flowers to a soft slab plate. Our customized one-on-one sessions allow you to create decorative pieces that match your personal style.
In our hand-building classes, you can create anything you can imagine. This student is assembling a beautiful butterfly sculpture from carefully cut clay slabs.
Carving is a wonderful way to add texture and personality to your work. This close-up shows a student using a loop tool to carve a repeating pattern into their hand-built piece.
A student intently carves a design into their piece during a single-session Clayplay workshop. It's amazing to see the unique textures that emerge.
This video shows the creation of a charming acorn box using a double pinch pot method. It's a fun project we explore in our 5-session hand-building course.
About Creative Hand-Building Workshops
We keep our batches intentionally small, with just 4 to 6 students per session. This ensures you get real, hands-on guidance as we work through techniques like slab building and coiling, rather than just watching a demonstration. It is the perfect setting to troubleshoot your projects—from balancing weight in pinch pots to getting your slab edges clean—in a quiet, focused environment.
Why Hand-Building Matters
Unlike the wheel, which requires a specific rhythm and speed, hand-building allows you to slow down and really understand the structure of clay. At Oriri Studio, we focus on the fundamental techniques that let you create without the pressure of achieving perfect symmetry.
What You Will Learn
- Pinch Pots: The most grounding way to start. You will learn to feel the thickness of the clay and shape it entirely by hand.
- Coiling: A meditative process used to build larger vessels, plates, or decorative sculptures by layering coils of clay.
- Slab Building: We use flat slabs of clay to construct boxes, mugs, or geometric platters, focusing on scoring, slipping, and joining edges for stability.
Our Classes in Nagashetty Halli
We offer a few ways to start your journey. If you want a quick introduction to see if clay is for you, our single-session 'Clayplay' workshops are the best way to get your hands dirty and take home a fired piece. For those who want to build a skill set, our multi-session courses go deeper into techniques like carving and surface decoration.
Every session is hosted in our North Bangalore studio, designed to be a sanctuary away from the city noise. We provide all the tools, aprons, and clay you need. All you need to bring is a bit of patience and a willingness to get a little messy.
Oriri Studio
At Oriri Studio, we believe clay is meant to be felt, not rushed. I created this space in Nagashetty Halli so you could find a quiet corner to breathe and build something unique with your own two hands.
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