Perfect art? If you made it, it is.
4Cats is all about being happy, making cool (sometimes totally wonky) art, and spending time with people you like. Our workshops and parties are made for beginners, good vibes, and good company.
start with the basics
how the workshops work
catch up with friends, bond with family, make stuff, and wonder how 1.5 hours flew by in what felt like ten happy minutes
see below so you know what to expect š
workshop timeline
first 15 minutes
Arrive 5 minutes early! We start on time. You come in, and for the first 15 minutes, someone explains the project, shows you the tools, and gives you just enough info to feel ready to start (or at leastĀ mostlyĀ confident with strong āletās wing itā energy).
next 30 mins
Then you get about 30 minutes to work on your pieceāchatting, relaxing, and if working with clay, getting surprisingly emotionally attached to a slightly lumpy shape that now feels like your creative soulmate.
still here for you!
Instructors wander around like friendly art fairiesāchecking in, sharing tips, and jumping in when you raise your hand. If youāve done it before, you can say āI got this,ā and theyāll let you vibe uninterrupted. š§āāļø š§āāļø
the finale
Once youāre ready, theyāll show you the final steps.
Then youāll have a few minutes to add finishing touches, admire your creation, and maybe wonder why you donāt do this every weekend. ā
finally
Your piece stays with us to dry, fire, or setādepending on the project.
Youāll come back to glaze (paint it) if clay, or if not clay just float out feeling good about making something real instead of scrolling through other peopleās weekends. š
the magic number 14
āļø when can i book my glazing?
āļø when can i pick up my art after glazing?
āļø when can i pick up my oven bake clay?
āļø when can i pick up my painting?
answer: after 14 days {unless we call you with some not so great news about cracking, mild explosions or kiln errors we need to deal with (all a natural part of a potter's life) in which cases we will give you a new timeline}
just remember 14 - got it? šŖ
book your glazing
clay workshop glazing
we charge for glazing by the hour ā itās like booking a seat at the glaze bar. not sure how much time youāll need? start with one hour and top it up if needed!
šØ youāll need 3 coats
except for black and red ā those only need 2! trust the process and donāt skimp, or your piece might come out lookinā a little... meh.
šØ let it dry between coats
glaze layers need to dry before you add more ā otherwise it can crawl, peel, and throw a tiny tantrum in the kiln. patience = pretty results.
š« donāt paint the bottom
no glaze on the base, please! it can stick to the kiln shelf (yikes) and cover your name, which means your piece could go missing. if it ends up there anyway, weāll wipe it off before firing.
š² surprise! it's unpredictable
glaze can be wild. colours may shift, things might drip, and occasionally youāll get a happy accident. part of the magic!
š„ glaze. fire. cool. magic.
your piece will be ready for pickup in 14 days. weāll do the kiln part ā you just mark your calendar!
clay workshops: we build from scratch
What makes our workshops different? You donāt start with some pre-made thing and pretend you made it. You start with a lump of clay. Just clay. Then you turn it into something real, something yours, something that didnāt exist before you walked in the door.
beginning
finale š
ā ļø the rules & what you need to do...
raise your right hand and say...
ā° i will arrive on time
more than 10 mins late? we may need to reschedule ā or you'll have to rush. neither is fun, so please be on time š
š i will listen to the 15-minute demo
talking over the instructor = not cool. youāll have plenty of time to catch up once we start creating ā deal? š¤
š i understand this is for fun
4cats is fun, affordable, and all about enjoying the process. no grades, no pressure ā just a joyful way to make art part of your life. this isnāt a college-level course (and we think thatās a good thing) š
š iāll follow the project plan
our projects are carefully designed to fit the drying racks and kiln and give your piece the best shot at success. adding extra stuff? it probably wonāt make it ā and we want your piece to succeed!
š§ iāve read the policies ā and iāll email if i have questions
our hands are usually full (literally), so email is the best way to get clear answers. plus, itās hard to answer questions when weāre elbow-deep in clay.
š¦ i know pickup is sat & sun, 2ā6pm
unless itās a long weekend or staff break ā weāll always update the calendar and send a note if things shift šļø
š iāll dress for mess
we donāt have aprons ā so wear something you wonāt cry over if it gets painty, clay-y, or glazed.
š i know things donāt always go as planned
sometimes we cancel for weather or staff illness. no refunds, but weāll credit or reschedule ā promise!
šÆ iāll make sure my crew knows the rules too
bringing friends or family? iāll fill them in ā no surprises, no confusion, just good vibes all around.
š§± clay workshop promises
because clay is fragile (and sneaky)
š§± iāll make clay thick & smooth
weāre not bossy ā just good clay coaches. your piece needs to be thick enough to survive the kiln. too thin? itāll crack. too sharp? it might cut. smooth + sturdy = success.
š i promise not to add tiny bits
theyāre cute, but they crack. long ears, spiky tails, and delicate extras rarely survive ā and seeing them broken is the worst š¢
š iāll scratch, slip, and stick it like i mean it
just pressing clay together wonāt cut it. scratch + slip = staying power (and less heartbreak later).
š iāll keep my hands off other peopleās art
please donāt touch the art shelves or display demos ā theyāre for eyes only. every piece deserves a safe trip through the studio.
āØ communication + mindset
weāre here to help ā but we need your help too
šŖ iāll speak up if iām stuck
weāre always checking in, but if you need help, donāt wait ā raise a hand and weāll be right there āØ
š iām making art, not perfection
every piece is a step forward ā even the weird ones. itās all part of the journey āØ
ā±ļø i understand art takes the time it takes
each project takes about 1 hour to make, plus 20ā30 minutes for smoothing or finishing details. some folks work fast, some take their time ā either way, enjoy the process!
š«š§ i wonāt sneak into the wrong age group
adults-only means 16+. other grown-ups came for quiet vibes and no tiny voices ā but donāt worry, weāve got family sessions for that! š
š§ iāll supervise my kids during the workshop
in family workshops, grown-ups stay too ā to help, supervise, and create together. no observers, please ā everyone is a paid participant, whether you're making your own project or sharing one with your child.
