The Best Pottery Experience for the Duluth Community
From fun family workshops and kids' classes to adult courses and date nights, our studio is the perfect creative destination just minutes from Duluth.
Duluth is a city that loves art. You can see it in the beautiful murals that brighten our downtown. You can feel it in the energy of a live show at the Eddie Owen Presents venue. You can touch it in the sculptures that decorate the Town Green. It’s a place where creativity is part of the community.
So, when you think to yourself, "I should take an art class," your mind might jump to painting or drawing.
But what if you could make art you can hold in your hands? What if you could create a sculpture you can use for your morning coffee?
That’s pottery. It’s not just a craft; it’s a three-dimensional art form. It’s a way to turn a simple, earthy material into something lasting and beautiful. At Suwanee Clayworks, we offer a welcoming space for our creative neighbors in Duluth to explore this amazing art form. It doesn't matter if you can't draw a straight line. All you need is a little curiosity.
An Extension of Your Creative Community: Our Art Studio
We know that a great art studio is more than just a place with supplies. It’s a hub of energy and inspiration. We’ve designed our studio to be an extension of the vibrant arts scene you already love in Duluth. It’s a bright, open, and friendly place where artists of all levels can feel comfortable. You’ll see the works of students and instructors on our shelves, you'll hear the happy chatter of a class in session, and you'll feel the shared passion for making things. It’s a space where you can learn from us, and from each other.
Your Next Art Class: Our Pottery Classes
Think of our pottery classes as your next great art class, with a fun twist. We focus on teaching the fundamental techniques that allow you to bring your vision to life in clay. Our expert instructors are artists themselves, and they are passionate about sharing their knowledge. We offer a wide range of classes and workshops designed to fit your life. Whether you’re looking for a serious, multi-week course to build your skills or a fun, single-day workshop to try something new, we have a path for you. Our classes are all about the joy of the process.
The Journey of a Pot
Creating a piece of pottery is a journey. It’s a process with many simple, rewarding steps.
You start with a bag of wet clay. It is dark and heavy. You cut off a piece with a wire. You sit down to work. You might be at a potter’s wheel, feeling the spin under your hands. Or you might be at a quiet table, rolling the clay into long coils.
You work with the clay. You shape it. It might become a mug, a bowl, or a small sculpture of an animal. This is the "greenware" stage. It is still soft and fragile. You let it dry slowly until it is hard but still cool to the touch. This is called "bone dry."
Then, it goes into the kiln for the first time. This is the bisque firing. The kiln gets very hot, over 1,800 degrees! This firing makes your piece hard and strong, like a terra cotta pot. It is now called "bisqueware."
Now for the color! You paint your piece with special paints called glazes. They might look dull and chalky when you put them on. But this is where the magic happens. Your piece goes back into the kiln for a second time, the glaze firing. This time, the kiln gets even hotter. The heat melts the glaze into a beautiful, glassy coating. When it comes out, the colors are bright and shiny. Your piece is finished. It’s a journey from soft earth to a hard, beautiful, and useful piece of art.
Functional Art vs. Expressive Art
There are two main ways to approach your work in our studio. Both are art.
The Potter’s Wheel: Functional Sculpture The wheel is perfect for making functional art. These are beautiful things that you can use every day. A mug for your tea. A bowl for your soup. A vase for flowers. Making a perfect shape on the wheel is a skill that takes practice. It is a beautiful art form that has been around for thousands of years.
Hand-building: Expressive Sculpture Hand-building lets you create more expressive art. You are not limited to round shapes. You can build anything you can imagine. This is the path for making sculptures, wall hangings, and unique decorative pieces. It is a very personal and direct way to put your own style and story into the clay.
Suwanee Clayworks: Your Neighbor in the Arts
We are proud to be just next door to the amazing community of Duluth. Our studio is an easy drive, giving you one more great option for arts and culture in our shared corner of Gwinnett County. We know you value a vibrant local scene, from the events at the Duluth Town Green to the wonderful Duluth Fall Festival. Think of us as your new, nearby spot for hands-on creativity.
We invite all our neighbors from Duluth to come see what we’re about. For more information on the public art in your community, you can visit the Duluth Public Art Commission website.
A Hub for Artful Events and Supplies
Our studio is also an ideal event venue for your creative get-togethers. If you’re planning a birthday party or a group outing for people who already love the arts, what could be better than making some art together? Our private parties are fun, interactive, and perfect for any celebration.
For artists who want to continue their work, our art supply store has what you need. We sell artist-grade clay, a wide variety of glazes, and all the essential tools. We are here to support your creative journey, whether it’s in one of our classes or in your own home studio.
Ready to Try a New Art Form?
If you love the creative energy of Duluth and have been thinking about taking an art class, we invite you to think about clay. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, and at the end, you have a beautiful piece of art that you made yourself.
Come join our community and see what you can create.