This is a very exciting post because it is one of my favourite things i’ve sculpted for a couple of reasons ill go into more detail about here.
Warm Welcome to the Studio
I have a wonderful memory for somethings, and not for others, one being that i can’t remember exactly the name of the pottery place, but likely Merseyway Workshop in Stockport. I found it on eventbrite looking for experiences that coud be a gift, and bought it for someone as a present (that could also join!) and is something we do often as a nice way to connect and share experiences and connect. These days gifts are more difficult to find what is useful now that everything is 1 click purchase (but enough of that).
There’s something timeless and grounding about working with your hands to sculpt and shape something to life, especially in clay. Its a beautiful process and actually VERY difficult to achieve clean results, especially when throwing (making pottery on a wheel).
For this Moon Gazing Hare, I spent an afternoon at a MerseyWay Workshop pottery and paint sculpting class. Theres a few companies and crafts studios in there and its very welcoming and engaging throughout. There are installations, and even a cafe with home baed goods which was nice to have an afternoon tea at the break, and is a consistent theme with pottery places i’ve been to.
The studios were a place where the industrial past meets a vibrant creative future, with some exposed bricks but largely segmented workshop studio areas and collaborative installation areas. There was community work in there too and i think thats a brilliant and stimulating place for it.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or just need a relaxing creative outlet, this class was a perfect escape from the noise of everyday life. I think we got an absolute bargain because the tickets were around £50 each at the time (and for the price of tuition, materials, and firing, is unbelievable. I haven’t seen the class offered since and likely due to it being unsustainable to offer the quality of that class for that price).
Meaning of the Moon Gazing Hare
The “Moon Gazing Hare” is a symbolic representation found in various cultures, often associated with good fortune, rebirth, and abundance. Hares, especially those gazing at the moon, are seen as positive symbols, linked to the lunar cycle and fertility.
Step 1: Arriving & Getting Settled
The studio space in Stockport Mill is warm, homely and floral, and buzzing with quiet creativity (think barnyard craft market with throws over the tables, decorative bowls that don’t match one bit, and pinny aprons with florals and nature prints).
We sat at stubby tables with the plastic throws over to protect them and were scattered with tools, sponges, paintbrushes, and bowls of slip (a liquid clay mixture). Friendly instructors welcomed us with a quick overview of what we’d be making.
Step 2: Rolling Out the Clay
The first real hands-on step was wedging the clay, kneading it to remove air bubbles and get a consistent texture. Once it felt soft and pliable, I rolled it out evenly using wooden slats on either side to guide the thickness (about 1cm). The wooden slats help you to rest the rolling pin on and get the same thickness throughout, and is important for consistency and especially working with larger pieces. It also reduces waste and ensures the work is thick enough to withstand the firing process and be durable after it.
This part was surprisingly calming, like rolling out bread dough or making dumplings.
Step 3: Sculpting & Shaping
Using a scoring tool and slip, I joined different pieces of clay together and smoothed the seams with a damp sponge. I rolled out balls of the clay into shapes similar to how you would build a snowman, then rolled sausage style rolls for the arms and legs, then again used a my hands to press and a sponge to smooth and create the legs and neck forms.
Small wooden and plastic sculpting tools had a soft blunt edge and helped to create the creases in the legs and paws, we also had a paint brush with a blunt end that was useful, and also a sharper craft knife for cuts and incisions. All useful for for the ears and eyes by using it to softly indent and relief the clay, then smooth with the sponge and water, and fingers.
After some time we continued the snowman process and used the tools to carve out eye sockets, and then small balls were inserted inside and then soothed over. This gave a ‘realistic’ form to the rabbit and life/character to it flatter or carved eyes would have looked even more abstract and smoother form.
Step 4: Painting with Underglaze
After letting it settle and the water that we’d used to smooth it to dry for around 30 mins, we returned to the studio. Our sculptures were a little lighter, chalky, and more firm to the touch. We used underglaze paints in matte pastel colours, earthy tones.
With pottery paints it is quite deceiving at times, as they look matte, but become more vivid and bold when fired (the process to heat the clay and strengthen it). Especially when there is a glaze. In the video you can see that the glaze is blotchy and almost like painting invisible ink. You paint it and highlight areas but you could quite easily forget where you have painted if you’re busy chatting…
A transparent glaze can also be used to give something that ‘ceramic-y’ finish and so, for example, with bowls and cups you can drink and clean easily without it coming away.
The final glaze firing would take another few days. Once fired, the glaze becomes glassy and waterproof, and we couldn’t wait to collect them!
The Final Result
A week later, I picked up my finished piece. It had a beautiful sheen and weight to it. It was surreal to think that just two weekends earlier, it was a lump of clay and a messy table. Now, it’s one of my favourite little sculptures.
Go Try It
It might not be the bargain price it once was, but if you’re in or around Greater Manchester there are quite a few pottery and paint workshops in Town, Cheadle, Chorlton, and other areas. I highly recommend going together with someone if you can and making something you can take home and use. Solo is also good because you can really focus on your own process.
It’s ideal for solo creativity, dates, friends, or even as a family activity or as i did, a gift experience that you can also join. You don’t need ANY experience, just curiosity and the willingness to get a bit muddy. Good teachers will guide you through and give you a solid process to work from.
Have you tried a pottery class before? Or are you planning to? Let me know in the comments or tag me if you share your creation!
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