Discover Clay — Morning Summer Ceramics Course 6–10 July 2026
29.900kr
A Five-Day Summer Ceramics Course for Young Makers
6–10 June 2026
Daily from 9:00 to 16:00
Studio Esja, Mosfellsbær
Recommended age: 7–16 years
Price: 29,900 ISK per child
Give your child a summer experience filled with creativity, discovery and meaningful hands-on work.
Discover Clay is an immersive five-day ceramics course created for children who love making, experimenting and bringing their ideas to life. Throughout the week, each child will explore the complete creative journey—from their first piece of clay to a collection of personal ceramic works.
Guided in a welcoming professional pottery studio, children will learn traditional ceramic techniques while developing patience, confidence, imagination and practical skills. No previous pottery experience is required.
What We Will Explore
Pottery Wheel
Children will experience the excitement of working on a real pottery wheel. They will learn how to centre clay, form simple vessels and gradually develop greater control over the material.
Hand-Building
Using pinching, coiling and slab-building techniques, children will create functional and sculptural pieces entirely by hand.
Creative Design
Each participant will be encouraged to develop original ideas, sketch designs and turn their imagination into three-dimensional ceramic work.
Surface Decoration
Children will experiment with textures, patterns, coloured slips and decorative details to give every piece its own character.
Understanding Clay
Along the way, we will learn where clay comes from, how it behaves, why it must dry slowly and how fire permanently transforms it into ceramic.
More Than a Craft Activity
Working with clay gives children something increasingly rare: the opportunity to slow down, concentrate deeply and create something real with their own hands.
The course is designed to support:
- Creative confidence
- Fine motor skills
- Patience and concentration
- Independent thinking
- Practical problem-solving
- Respect for materials and craftsmanship
- The courage to experiment without fearing mistakes
Monday — Discovering Clay
We begin by becoming familiar with the studio, the tools and the material. Children will explore clay through playful exercises and begin their first hand-built projects.
Tuesday — Learning the Pottery Wheel
Children will learn the foundations of wheel throwing and create their first small bowls, cups or vessels.
Wednesday — Building and Sculpting
We will explore slab building, coils, sculptural forms and imaginative three-dimensional projects.
Thursday — Design and Decoration
Children will refine their pieces and experiment with textures, patterns, coloured slips and surface decoration.
Friday — The Young Makers’ Studio
The final day brings everything together. Children will complete their projects, share their work and celebrate a week of creativity and craftsmanship.
What Each Child Will Make
Every child will create several individual ceramic pieces. The exact collection will depend on each child’s ideas and working pace, but may include:
- A wheel-thrown cup or bowl
- A hand-built vessel
- A small ceramic sculpture
- A decorated plate or tile
- An original personal project
Creativity is valued more highly than producing identical objects. Every collection will be different.
Everything Is Included
The course price includes:
- Five full studio days
- Professional instruction
- Clay and ceramic materials
- Use of pottery wheels and studio tools
- Decorative slips and glazes
- Bisque firing
- Glaze firing
- Finishing of the children’s work
After the course, all pieces will be carefully dried, fired and glazed where required. Because ceramics must dry slowly and undergo multiple firings, completed work will be ready for collection approximately two to four weeks later.
What Children Should Bring
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01
A packed lunch
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02
One or two snacks
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03
A refillable water bottle
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04
Comfortable clothes that may become dirty
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05
Suitable outdoor clothing for the day
Small Group, Personal Guidance
Places are intentionally limited so that every child receives proper instruction, support and safe access to the pottery wheels and studio equipment.
This is not a mass-produced activity camp. It is a focused creative experience inside a working ceramics studio.
Important Information for Parents
Please inform us before the course about any allergies, medical considerations, learning needs or other information that could help us support your child safely and appropriately.
Children must be collected promptly at 16:00. Earlier drop-off or later collection is not included unless agreed in advance.
Ceramics is an organic process. Clay pieces can occasionally crack, warp or change during drying and firing. We handle every piece carefully, but successful firing cannot be guaranteed. Learning to work with this natural unpredictability is part of the ceramic process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need previous pottery experience?
No. The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as children who have worked with clay before.
Will every child use the pottery wheel?
Yes. Every participant will be introduced to wheel throwing and will receive guided time on the pottery wheel.
Can the finished pottery be taken home on Friday?
No. The work must first dry completely and then be fired in the kiln. Finished pieces will normally be ready for collection within two to four weeks.
Are lunch and snacks included?
No. Each child should bring a packed lunch, snacks and a water bottle every day.
What should my child wear?
Comfortable clothes suitable for creative work.
Is the course suitable for younger children?
The recommended age is 7–16. Please contact Studio Esja before booking for a child outside this age range.
How many children will attend?
The group will remain small so that children can receive close guidance and safely use the studio equipment.