Mudlark Pottery is a community space for learning and expression with clay. We offer pottery classes and studio memberships to people of all experience levels. Located at unit 1, 33 Manzanita road, Galiano Island, the studio also features a retail space with pottery from local artists for sale. The studio is geared toward hobbyists and small batch potters, limited kiln and storage space can’t accommodate production volumes or overly large pieces. There are no wait lists for classes or memberships.

Classes

The studio offers a variety of beginner and intermediate classes in wheel throwing and hand building that take students through the entire process of making vessels out of clay. We now offer short workshops focusing on more specific pottery techniques such as surface design. These classes and workshops are open to teens (aged 13-17) and adults. Please visit the “classes” page for detailed descriptions and pricing.

Students typically use Plainsman m340 which is fired to cone 6. This buff coloured stoneware is very durable and is commonly used for dish ware. All of our glazes are food safe and made in house. We also have a variety of underglazes and coloured slips for surface decoration.

There are currently have 4 Shimpo VL Lite wheels in the space that can centre up to 25lbs of clay and can accommodate both right and left handed users. There are 2 large counters for wedging and hand building, storage shelves for clay and projects, 2 kilns, and a wide variety of tools and other equipment used for many pottery making and glazing techniques.

The studio is a small space! Students are asked to respect that there are many people using it and to please not leave projects behind, finished or unfinished.

Kids’ drop in classes

Fridays from 2-4pm starting September 13th. Youth aged 8-12 can use the studio in a semi self directed way, getting help and instruction as needed in wheel throwing or hand building. Projects can be stored at the studio and completed over multiple weeks, all materials and firing are provided. Space is limited to 4 participants per session. Please check the calendar each week for availability, then contact the studio to reserve space. The cost for kids’ drop in is $35 plus tax per session.

Mudlark memberships are available for adults (18+) who have previous pottery experience or have taken a series of wheel throwing classes at the studio.

There are 2 membership tiers: tier 1 costs $120 per month plus tax and includes 24 studio hours per month, or 6 hours per week. Tier 2 costs $80 plus tax per month and includes 16 studio hours per month, or 4 hours per week.

After hours access is available to members who are comfortable using the studio on their own. The cost is an additional $20 plus tax per month. Members with after hours access should check the calendar for studio availability before coming in.

There is a 2 month minimum commitment at the start of either tier. Unused studio hours each month cannot be banked and applied to future months but a membership can be paused for a minimum of 1 week, maximum 2 months in the event of illness, travel or unexpected life stuff.

Included in both tiers are the use of all studio equipment, wheels, a variety of slab moulds, dipping glazes, a wide variety of coloured slips and underglaze, storage of clay and projects, purchase of up to one 22lb bag of clay per month (with a choice of buff, white or red stoneware), regular firing of your work, and access to a knowledgeable staff person during all open hours. Instruction is not included in a membership.

The Studio is a small space! in order to keep it running smoothly, PLEASE try not to leave projects for more than a month, finished or unfinished. Members can store one reclaim bucket per clay type; once a bucket is full, please process your clay in a timely manner.

MEMBERSHIPS