Pottery Classes Melbourne Southeast | Kingston Clay Studio.
Formerly McCanless Pottery
Kingston Clay Studio has arrived! We are thrilled to introduce you to our brand new, refined look and expanded mission, featuring our new local icon, the Kookaburra!
This design tells the story of our journey: honoring our roots and history (left, 'Our Beginning'), while embracing an exciting new era of creativity and community (right, 'Our Evolution Now').
We're incredibly excited to announce this transition into becoming a community-based pottery studio. Our change in name and logo reflects this shift, focusing on what really matters: community building, the joy of a shared, experiential connection, and the simply real, human connections forged through art. We want to be a vibrant space in South East Melbourne dedicated to fostering these bonds through the art of clay!
While our name and logo have evolved to better reflect this new vision, our passion remains identical. Join us at Kingston Clay Studio to discover (or rediscover!) the magic of wheel throwing, hand building, and ceramics. This isn't just a new look—it's a fresh start for artistic exploration, collaboration, and building lasting human connections, one piece of clay at a time.
Same passion, new name, and a warm, inviting community space to unwind, connect, and express yourself. Let's make something amazing together!
A Creative Hub for Melbourne’s Southeast
Kingston Clay Studio is proud to be a central part of the local arts community. Located in Braeside, our studio is a convenient destination for pottery enthusiasts and NDIS participants across Moorabbin, Cheltenham, and the Bayside suburbs. Whether you're coming from Mordialloc, Mentone, or Parkdale, our doors are open for classes, kiln hire, and studio access.
Centrally located in the Kingston business district, we are just a 10-minute drive for ceramic enthusiasts in Cheltenham and a short hop from the Dingley Bypass for our Moorabbin students.
The Best Paint Your Own Pottery & Sculpting Cafe in Melbourne’s Southeast.
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1. Paint Your Own Pottery Pick a piece from our rotating stock of bisque—from classic mugs and cereal bowls to decorative objects.
The Details: $10 studio fee + the price of your piece (typically $20–$30). You’ll have one and half hours to create your work. Just $5 for an additional hour if needed!
What’s Included: Use of our professional underglazes, all tools, and the final firing. We’ll notify you when your masterpiece is ready to head home.
2. Hand-Building from Scratch Feeling more tactile? Grab a slab of clay and build something entirely your own, like a rustic pinch pot or a unique sculpture.
The Details: $10 studio fee per person+ $25 for 500 grams of clay. Additional clay can be purchased for larger works at $25 per 500 grams.
What’s Included: Sculpting tools, and our "How-To" laminate guides to walk you through the basics.
The Finish: This covers your first firing and our house white glaze. Want to add custom colors? Come back for a "Paint Your Own" session once it's fired for just the $10 studio fee.
E-mail or call to reserve your session. hello@kingstonclaystudio.com.au 03 9008 4506
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How it Works
Reservation: $10 to reserve your seat and use our professional tools.
Choose Your Craft:
Paint a Piece: Choose from our curated selection of bisque pieces. Prices range from $10 to $40 depending on the size. This price covers all your underglazes and the final clear-glaze firing.
Sculpt from Scratch: $25 for 500g of clay and tools to build your own masterpiece. This includes the bisque and glaze firing and our house white glaze.
Pro-Tip:When you are finished, just leave your pieces right here on the table. We will collect them and safely transport them to the kiln room for you
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Palette Etiquette: Our underglazes are professional, lab-formulated pigments. They are highly concentrated, so please only pour a small amount into your palette at a time. A little goes a long way!
The Smooth Finish: Apply color in smooth, even layers. Avoid over-thickening (like frosting), as it can result in a rough, matte texture after firing.
The "Bare Bottom" Rule: Paint your initials on the bottom, but no other color. If the bottom of your piece is painted, it will fuse to the kiln shelf and ruin the finish.
Need Ideas? Feel free to use your phone to search for inspiration or design references while you work.
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The 15mm Rule: Keep your walls and base roughly 15mm (1.5cm) thick. If it’s too chunky, moisture gets trapped and can cause cracking.
Joining (Score & Water): We don’t use liquid slip!
Score: Scratch a "cross-hatch" pattern into both surfaces.
Water: Apply a tiny drop of water to the scratched areas.
Press: Push the pieces together firmly until they "lock."
Stay Sturdy: Avoid thin, fragile parts (like long, thin limbs or tiny antennae). They are prone to breaking off during the drying process.
Your Signature: Carve your name or initials clearly into the bottom of your sculpture.
The Ultimate Creative Social Space for Paint and Sculpt in Melbourne’s Southeast
Find your center, then lose it in the clay. Unwind, play, and stay a while.
Frequently Asked Questions about our Southeast Melbourne Studio
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We are located at Unit 3, 35-37 Canterbury Road, Braeside. Our studio is the central hub for pottery enthusiasts in Melbourne’s Southeast, easily accessible for students in Moorabbin, Cheltenham, Mentone, and Mordialloc.
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Absolutely! We specialize in weekly pottery classes for all skill levels. Whether you’re interested in wheel throwing or hand-building, our Braeside studio provides a supportive environment to learn and create.
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Yes, we are a dedicated community space for NDIS creative workshops. Our studio is designed to be inclusive, fostering human connection and artistic expression for all participants in the Kingston and Bayside areas.
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We do! Beyond our classes and the Paint and Sculpt Cafe, we offer professional kiln hire and studio space for local ceramicists. We are a proud Shimpo dealer and a one-stop-shop for clay and pottery supplies in Melbourne.
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