Pottery Course in India
A 3-month, residential pottery course for beginners and intermediates.
3 Month Pottery Course
A full-spectrum residential pottery course on a private farm near Chandigarh
The 12-week pottery course at Aura Pottery takes you from your current skill with clay to confident, complex, personalized making — across six progressive modules covering hand-building, wheel throwing, surface decoration, mold-making, advanced form, and glaze chemistry.
The course is fully residential, with accommodation and meals included, so you can focus on making real progress in your ceramic journey.
This course is for beginners and intermediates - by application.
You don’t need prior pottery experience to apply. What you need is a creative background — in design, fine art, craft, or another practice — and the time and commitment to show up every day. Not every applicant is offered a place: Andy’s team reviews each one individually.
Who it's a fit for:
You'd like to become a serious, selling ceramic artist
You want to open your own pottery studio
You'd like to become a pottery teacher or instructor
You'd like to combine pottery with an existing practice — modalities, cognitive behavioural work
You've worked in a creative field before — design, art, craft, or otherwise
Meet Andy
Before clay, there was almost everything else. Andy’s creative career started in advertising, print and web design, then moved into architecture — she designed her own home from the ground up — and from there into lighting, furniture and functional decor. Ceramics entered the picture in 2016, and it’s the one that stayed.
Aura is, in many ways, the sum of everything that came before it. Andy is both the instructor and the architect of the place — the studio, the farm, the way a three-month course is structured week to week. When she teaches, it comes from someone who has spent a career making things exist.
Most of the time, she’s working on her own projects right alongside you — closer to how a real creative practice runs. When she does join you at the makers table, feedback is direct and hands-on.
The 12-week pottery course is structured across six modules. Each builds directly on the previous one.
Foundations
You begin with stoneware clay and the core techniques every potter needs. Wedging, pinching, coiling, slab building, scoring, slipping, and joinery. By the end of this module, you are building with confidence and understanding why each step matters. Wheel throwing is introduced here as a parallel practice. While you may know all of this already, we go over the basics again to build a strong foundation, Andy style.
Surface and Decoration
The focus shifts to what happens on the surface of a piece. You will work with sgraffito, carving tools, coloured slips and oxide washes. This module develops your eye as much as your hand. Practice and refining your skill and approach is key.
Materials and Firing
You will build with molds, work with groggy clay and explore sand slips as a surface material. You will complete your first bisque and glaze firings here, learning how clay and glaze behave in the kiln.
Form and Design
This is where technical skill meets creative thinking. With Andy's guidance, you'll sketch and ideate forms, work through design templates, and begin combining techniques to build more complex pieces. Through this hands-on feedback, you'll start to develop a visual language that's distinctly your own.
Advanced Making
You will alter and combine forms and learn to build large, working up to 24-inch pieces. Building larger complex pieces comes with understanding joinery and thinking outside the box with your forms and designs. Think sculptural pieces, artworks, and more.
Glaze Chemistry and Kiln Management
The final module covers glaze chemistry from the ground up — you'll learn to formulate and mix your own glazes, then apply them by dipping, brushing, and spraying. You will fire a gas kiln and manage a firing chart from start to finish. By the time you leave, you understand the complete ceramic cycle.
Bonus:
- Observe and learn the workings of a studio from administrative to packing
- Learn how to organize and maintain a working studio
- Pricing and costing a piece — clay, labour, firing, breakage margin
- Batch planning & kiln scheduling for ongoing production
- Packing and shipping fragile ceramic work for sale/export
- One-on-one time with Andy on your path forward
Intake and availability
The 3-month pottery course runs in three cohorts a year. Seats are limited to 6 students per cohort, and admission is by application — we recommend applying at least 3-6 months before your intended cohort to allow time for review.
Upcoming Dates:
Autumn/Winter 2026
Spring 2027
Summer 2027
Autumn/Winter 2027
What is included
- 12 weeks of full-time instruction with Andy
- A body of finished work to take home
- A 1:1 session with Andy on where clay could take you next
- Residential accommodation on the farm
- Farm-fresh meals, daily
- Weekly yoga & meditation sessions
- All clay, tools, materials & firings — up to 10kg included
- 24/7 studio access, beyond class hours
- Round-trip transfers (Chandigarh to Aura)
- Letter of invitation for visa purposes
- Curated, research-backed city recommendations
A day at Aura
Three months sounds like a long time — until you see how the days are actually shaped. Structured enough to keep you moving forward, spacious enough that it never turns into burnout.
9:30 AM
A slow breakfast
Start unhurried, with farm-fresh food and no reason to rush.
11:00 AM
Studio time
Structured time to build, explore, and experiment, with Andy close by.
2:00 PM
Lunch, then rest
A real break — eat, read, nap, swim or just sit outside for a while.
2:30 PM
Open studio
The wheel and the tables are yours — work, pause, or step away entirely.
4:30–6:30 PM
Reviews with Andy
One-on-one feedback on what you made that day. Setting the tone for tomorrow.
7:45 PM
Dinner and wind-down
The day closes the way it opened — together, at the table. Return to the studio if you like. Remember, its open 24/7.
This rhythm repeats, module after module, for twelve weeks.
Arriving
Arrive on a Monday — it lets you settle in smoothly and step straight into this flow.
Weekends
Instruction-free. The studio stays open, so you can work independently at your own pace.
Fee Structure
Accommodation, farm-fresh meals, clay, tools, and materials included. Firing included up to 10kg.
Shared room
USD 9750
per person • 2 sharing
EUR 8355 • GBP 7150
Single room
USD 10725
per person • private
EUR 9190 • GBP 7865
Not Included: Beyond the 10kg included in the fee, firing charge of INR 100/USD 1.05/100g, shipping (varies by final address)
Payment: 50% deposit required to confirm your place. Remaining balance due 30 days before arrival.
Accommodation
Accommodation, farm-fresh meals, clay, tools, and materials included.
Shared Room
Perfect for bringing a friend or sharing with a fellow potter, making connections and memories. All rooms are air-conditioned, cozy, and equipped with attached bathrooms and private porches.
Single Room
Ideal for those seeking a peaceful and private retreat. All rooms are air-conditioned, cozy, and equipped with attached bathrooms and private porches.
In their words, and what came after.
I came to Aura Pottery for what I thought would be a pottery retreat and ended up leaving with so much more. I spent three months here, and this place flourished me in ways I never expected: creatively, personally, and spiritually.
When I arrived, I was going through one of the lowest periods of my life. Andy met me exactly where I was. Her unwavering optimism, wisdom, patience, and generosity slowly but surely helped me see things differently. Every conversation, every lesson in ceramics, and every shared moment carried something valuable. She has a remarkable gift for teaching not only pottery, but also perspective.
Read Lara's full story
Anya deserves just as much recognition. Behind the scenes, she is the heart of the operation, making everything run seamlessly. Her dedication, patience, kindness, and constant support are felt in every corner of Aura. She is the kind of person who quietly inspires everyone around her through her work ethic and presence.
Simply being there feels like a privilege.
Whether you come to learn pottery, reconnect with yourself, find inspiration, or simply slow down for a while, Aura offers something rare and genuine. It is more than a retreat, it is a community, a sanctuary, and a place that stays with you long after you leave.
Thank you, Andy & Anya, and the entire Aura family for an unforgettable chapter of my life. I will carry a piece of Aura with me wherever i go 
PS: i now consider myself a proud aunt of four. Fifi, Bosh, Bono and Mylo. These doggos are one of the many things that makes this place so special.
Lara Abi Torbey
3-month course, 2026
From us · where Lara is now
After finishing her course at Aura, Lara opened her own ceramic studio in Lebanon, Stoned Ceramics. She’s since shown work in a small exhibition and now runs her own pottery workshops.
Where the bigger questions start.
Many students who complete the course leave with more than technical skills — a body of work, a making practice, and a clearer sense of where they want to take clay next. Several have gone on to set up their own studios, launch ceramic lines, or pursue further study in ceramics. If you want to think through what a future in ceramics could look like, Andy is available for a one-on-one conversation after the course completion — from setting up a home studio to building a ceramic line.
Get in Touch
Pottery course, answered.
Eligibility & Fit
Is this course for beginners, or do I need prior experience?
Both. Aura’s 3-month pottery course is open to beginners and intermediate students — you don’t need prior pottery experience, but a creative background (design, fine art, craft, or similar) is required.
What does "by application" mean — will everyone who applies get a seat?
Every applicant is reviewed individually by Andy’s team; not everyone is offered a place. Seats are limited to 7 students per course.
What kind of creative background do I need to apply?
Any prior creative practice counts — design, fine art, craft, architecture, or another hands-on discipline. What matters most is genuine commitment to showing up daily for 12 weeks.
I'm a complete beginner with no creative background at all — can I still apply?
You can apply, but admission isn’t guaranteed without some creative background. Share your interest and any relevant experience in your application and Andy’s team will assess fit.
Is there an age limit or fitness requirement?
Yes, you must be 18+ to be a part of this course. Pottery is physically demanding — expect several hours a day of hands-on studio work, including time at the wheel — so it’s worth keeping your own fitness and stamina in mind when applying.
Course & Start Dates
When can I start the course?
Aura runs three 3-month course a year, with fixed start dates. The Spring, Summer & Autumn/Winter Course. Please check the dates here.
How many course run per year, and when are they?
Three course a year- the Spring, Summer & Autumn/Winter Course. Please check the dates here.
Exact dates are listed on the course page and update as seats fill.
How far in advance should I apply?
Apply at least 3-6 months before your intended course start date to allow time for application review.
What happens if a course fills up before I apply?
You’ll be offered the next available course. Seats fill on a first-accepted basis, so applying early is recommended.
Can I choose which course I join, or am I assigned one?
You choose your preferred course when applying, subject to seat availability at the time of review.
Application Process
How do I apply?
Fill out the application form on the course page with your details, course preference, clay experience, and a portfolio link (Instagram, portfolio site, or Google Drive).
What do I need to submit with my application?
Your contact details, room preference, how long you’ve worked with clay, what you’re hoping to get out of the course, and 5–10 images of recent creative work.
How long does the application review take?
Our team takes 1-2 weeks to review your application. Once our internal discussions are confirmed, you’ll hear from us.
What happens after I'm accepted?
You’ll receive confirmation along with payment instructions — a 50% deposit secures your seat, with the balance due on arrival.
Curriculum
What does the course actually cover, module by module?
Six modules over 12 weeks: Foundations, Surface and Decoration, Materials and Firing, Form and Design, Advanced Making, and Glaze Chemistry with Kiln Management — each building on the last.
Will I finish with pieces I can sell or exhibit?
Yes. You’ll leave with a body of finished, fired work, and the course also covers pricing, costing, and packing pieces for sale. However, an ‘exhibit’ is not provided by Aura.
Do I get individual attention, or is it mostly group instruction?
Both — group instruction covers core technique, with Andy working alongside you and giving direct, hands-on feedback rather than supervising every hour.
Firing & Materials
Is firing included in the course fee?
Yes, the course fee includes firing upto 10Kg of finished work. Firing beyond this allowance is charged at INR 100/100g.
What happens if I go over the included firing allowance?
Any firing beyond the included 10kg is billed at INR 100/100g and settled before you leave or at shipping. There is no limit to how much you would like to create.
What clay and glaze materials are provided?
Stoneware clay, tools, and materials used during the course are included in the fee — you formulate and mix glazes as part of Module 6.
Can I bring my own tools, or is everything provided?
Everything you need is provided. You’re welcome to bring personal tools if you have preferred ones. We recommend taking good care of your belongings and take no responsibility for any lost or stolen items.
Cost & Payment
What's included in the course fee?
12 weeks of instruction, all clay/tools/materials/firings (up to 10kg), residential accommodation, daily meals, daily yoga and meditation, 24/7 studio access, airport/station transfers, a visa letter of invitation, and city tours. Check the full list of inclusions here.
What's NOT included?
Firing beyond the 10kg allowance (INR 100/100g) and shipping of finished pieces, which varies by destination. Flights, travel charges, visas, city shopping, etc. are not included in the course fee.
What's the payment structure?
A 50% deposit confirms your seat; the remaining balance due 30 days before arrival.
Is the deposit refundable if my plans change?
No, the deposit is not refundable if your plan change. We will simply request you to reschedule your dates to your next preferred course.
What's your cancellation policy?
We have a strong, fair and flexible rescheduling policy. In case you are unable to make it for your intended course, you can defer to your next preferred course. All cancellations should be made in writing at hello@aurapottery.com
Accommodation & Daily Life
What are the accommodation options?
Shared or single air-conditioned rooms, each with an attached bathroom and private porch, on Aura’s private farm near Chandigarh.
What's a typical day like?
Structured studio time with Andy, daily yoga and meditation, farm-fresh meals, and 24/7 studio access for independent practice outside class hours.
What meals are provided, and can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Farm-fresh meals are provided daily. Aura provides both vegetarian and no vegetarian meals. Any allergies are tended to. However, vegan options and gluten free options remain limited. We encourage you to carry your own snacks, alcohol, and other indulgences.
Is there wifi/connectivity on the farm?
Yes, the farm has stable and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. Since we are located on the outskirts of the city, we do face occasional power cuts, however, we have a generator for back up.
What should I pack/bring?
This is a good time to read some of of weather based FAQ’s here.
Travel & Visa
Where is Aura Pottery located, and how do I get there?
Aura Pottery is on a private farm near Chandigarh, Punjab, India. Full directions are on our Getting Here page.
Do you help with airport/station transfers?
Yes, two airport/railway transfers are included in the course fee — from Chandigarh (IXC) Airport or Railway station to Aura and back.
Do you provide a letter of invitation for visa purposes?
Yes, a letter of invitation for visa purposes is included with your course.
Do international students need any special documentation?
International students typically need a valid visa for India; Aura provides a letter of invitation to support your visa application. We also recommend that you carry USD currency and some Indian currency for your time here.
After the Course
Can I ship my finished work home?
Yes, shipping is available at an additional cost that varies by destination. It is calculated based on the final shipping address and final weight of the package.
What kind of support do you offer after the course ends?
Andy offers a one-on-one conversation after the course on next steps — from setting up a home studio to building a ceramic line. Rest assured, we keep in touch and look forward to following your journey hereafter.
Have past students gone on to open their own studios?
Yes, several past students have gone on to set up their own studios, launch ceramic lines, or pursue further ceramics study. We look forward to introducing you to our community at ‘The Aura Circle’ upon completion of your 3 month pottery course.