An informal, creative pottery studio in the quiet of Merry Rocks Street, Durbanville ~ for anyone who wants to learn ceramics, work on their own projects, and enjoy the earth on their hands.
~ House Motto, Merry Rocks
Ceramics is a fine-arts exploration of forms produced from the physical elements of earth itself ~ earth, water, fire, wind and ether. To feel and work with modest, malleable clay has made us want to share the experience with anyone curious about pottery.
We recycle every scrap of clay and glaze we can. We think, work and create differently, and we encourage the enjoyment of each other's pottery without prejudice ~ always learning from one another rather than criticising. Playing with clay is a privilege and a joy.
A wide and varied range of methods to explore ~ or bring in your own ideas and sketches, and we will build the process around them. Every arrangement is composed by hand.
Bella OdendaalFrom as early as she can remember, Bella has had art on her mind and in her life ~ making little clay pots from the turf ground on the farm she grew up on. She later procured her own kiln and pottery wheel, and the studio has kept growing ever since. Pottery is Bella's biggest passion.
Le Roux OdendaalLe Roux got into clay after digging it up from the Merry Rocks backyard in 2016. He makes ollas for water-wise gardening and mushroom sculptures to invite friendly fungi into the garden. On the wheel he takes large inspiration from Japanese pottery traditions.
We facilitate, we don't lecture ~ introducing every step at the pace you set. A good day is walking out with a fresh pot from the kiln. An excellent day is walking out with light feet and a smile on your face.
We introduce the processes at the level you want ~ press moulds, pinch pots, wheel, casting, decoration and glaze. All raw materials and tools are provided, from clay through to stencils and banding wheels.
You work at your own pace with coffee, tea and a bit of music. Two potter's wheels, a slab roller, and an electric kiln between you and a finished piece. Attend as many sessions per week as you want.
Bisque and glaze firings over roughly two weeks. Then a piece comes home ~ a plate or cup you made yourself, impossible to compare to anything an industrial line could ever put out.
Beginners and experienced potters both welcome. No structured program ~ we facilitate, and you explore at your own pace. Bring nothing but a willingness to get clay on your hands.
Includes all tools, decorating materials and firings. Only clay is priced separately depending on the type you choose. No make-up sessions needed; come as often as you like.
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“A good day is walking out with a new pot fresh from the kiln. An excellent day is walking out with light feet and a smile on your face.”
~ House Motto, Merry Rocks Clay Play
Tailored parties around a practical, educational theme ~ demonstrations of the different clays, glazes and methods, plus the potter's wheel and casting. Each guest walks away with something they made themselves, fired and returned in about two weeks.
Each child presses their own slab into a plate or bowl, then paints a bisqued mug. Halfway through, drinks and snacks on the veranda and the fairy garden to explore. Free-form clay play to end the day.
Paint bisqued mugs, cups, bowls or plates ~ or build from scratch with hand-building or press-moulding. Wall-tiling projects, festive decorations, potted plant holders and more, all with a proper intro to clay and ceramics.
Every session includes raw materials, tools, firings, decorating supplies and access to the studio's larger equipment ~ so you can walk in empty-handed and walk out with a piece.
There is beauty in how people use the same method or materials and end up somewhere entirely their own. Every piece here was made by a clay player at the Merry Rocks studio.
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Interested in a trial class, throwing a pottery party, or simply finding out more about the studio? Drop us a note and we will come back to you personally.
Wed & Thu · 16 – 21
Fri & Sat · 09 – 12
