Looking for Pottery Classes Near Buford?
Unleash your creativity in our welcoming studio, just a short drive from the Mall of Georgia. We offer classes and workshops for adults, kids, and teens.
Burning Time? or Doing Something?
We've all had those days. You have a free afternoon, so you head out to burn some time at the Mall of Georgia. You walk, you browse, you see a lot of beautiful things. There's nothing wrong with that.
But sometimes, you want to do more than just look. You want to make.
You want to turn a free afternoon into a lasting memory. Something you can hold in your hands weeks later and say, "I made this." That's a different kind of feeling. That's what our studio is for.
It's a place to stop being a shopper and start being a creator. Here, just a short drive from Buford, you can trade the polished floors of a department store for the satisfying mess of a pottery studio. You can turn a lump of simple clay into a coffee mug that’s all yours.
You don't need to be an "artist" to do it. You just need to be ready to try something new. We invite our friends and neighbors in Buford to come get your hands dirty and discover how good it feels to create.
A True Creative Playground: Our Art Studio
We want you to know that Suwanee Clayworks is a real art studio. What does that mean for you? It means this is not a quiet, stuffy gallery. It’s a living, breathing space for making things. Think of it as a creative playground. When you walk in, you’ll hear the hum of the pottery wheels. You’ll see the colorful glazes lined up on the shelves. You’ll see the work of other students, each piece with its own story. An art studio is a place of energy and inspiration. It’s a community where you can learn from our amazing instructors and from the other people working alongside you.
A Class for Everyone: Our Pottery Classes
The best way to jump into this world is through our pottery classes. We have a class for every schedule and every skill level. The most important thing to know is that you do not need any experience at all! Most people who come to our beginner classes have never touched clay before. Our wonderful instructors will guide you through every step of the process. Whether you want to join a multi-week course to really learn the craft, or just try a fun, single-day workshop, we have an option that will work for you. Our goal is to make learning pottery fun and accessible for everyone.
Your First Class: From a Lump of Clay to a Piece of Art
It’s normal to feel a little nervous before your first class. But that feeling goes away as soon as you get your hands on the clay. Let’s imagine what it will be like.
You’ll come in wearing comfortable clothes. You’ll say hi to your instructor and find your spot. Then, you’ll get your clay. It’s soft, but also solid. You can press your fingers into it and leave a mark. It smells earthy and clean.
Your instructor will show you the first step. Maybe it’s how to knead the clay to get the air bubbles out. Or maybe it’s how to center it on the spinning wheel. They will show you, and then you will try. Your hands will get messy. You’ll feel the clay move and change as you work with it. The rest of the world will just fade away.
By the end of the class, that simple lump of clay will be something new. It might be a small bowl, a little cup, or a funny-looking sculpture. You made it. You will choose a color for your glaze, and we will fire it for you in our kiln. A week or two later, you will come back to pick it up. You will hold in your hands a finished, shiny piece of pottery that you made yourself. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Which Way to Go? Wheel Throwing vs. Hand-building
There are two main ways to make pottery. There is no right or wrong way, just the way that sounds most fun to you!
Wheel Throwing This is a very active and focused way to work. You use a potter’s wheel that spins the clay around. You use your hands and water to pull the clay up and shape it. It can be a little tricky at first, but it is so much fun. It is how you make things that are round and even, like bowls, mugs, and vases. If you like a fun challenge, you will love the wheel.
Hand-building This is a calmer, more freeform way to work. You use your hands, simple tools, and your imagination. You can make almost anything! You can roll the clay into long coils to build a vase. You can flatten the clay into a slab to make a plate or a box. You can pinch it and shape it into a small sculpture. If you like to work at a slower pace and want to make things that are not perfectly round, hand-building is a great choice.
If you’re not sure if either of those is right for you, maybe you just want to try your hand at painting bisque ceramics. We have a wide range of pieces you can purchase to paint and decorate. We’ll take care of the firing to turn your work into a piece you can treasure.
A Creative Getaway for the Buford Community
Our studio is just a short drive from Buford, making it a perfect creative escape. We love being a go-to spot for the families and individuals that make Buford such a vibrant place. Whether you’re coming from near Buford High School or the growing neighborhoods around the Mall of Georgia, you’ll find our studio is a convenient and welcoming destination. We are proud to be part of the larger Gwinnett County arts scene. For more information about the great things happening in Buford, you can visit the official City of Buford website.
Host Your Next Get-Together: Our Event Venue
Did you know our studio is also a fantastic event venue? If you are looking for a new idea for a birthday party, a girls' night out, or even a fun corporate event, a pottery party is something everyone will remember. We host private groups where you and your friends get the studio to yourselves. An instructor will guide your group through a fun project from start to finish. Everyone leaves with a party favor they made themselves! It’s a great way to celebrate and make a lasting memory.
The Tools for Your Journey: Our Art Supply Store
Once you start making pottery, you might get hooked! We have a small art supply store in our studio to help you on your journey. We sell the same high-quality tools that our instructors use, from beginner kits to special carving tools. We also sell different types of our favorite clay and a variety of colorful glazes. This is great for our students and members who want to take their creativity to the next level. We can help you get the right supplies for your projects.
Ready to Make Something?
Sometimes, the best way to feel good is to create something with your own two hands. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours. That’s the feeling we want to share with our friends and neighbors in Buford.
We invite you to come take a break, learn a new skill, and be a part of our creative community.