Why everyone in Ottawa, artist or not, needs to visit the Hintonburg Pottery Shop

Greetings fellow potters, artists, Ottawans, and Ottawa lovers. Looking for a truly unique experience in Ottawa West? Between Westboro and Little Italy, you’ll find the quaint neighbourhood of Hintonburg, which has a mix of local businesses, heritage buildings, older residential areas, and newer establishments. Home to the QUAD (Quartier des artistes / Arts District), Hintonburg is full of art, culture, and community spirit. It is also where you'll find a very special store.

About the Hintonburg Pottery Shop

Located just off the corner of Holland Avenue and Wellington Street, the Hintonburg Pottery Shop showcases a variety of beautiful, unique, hand-crafted pieces made by local and regional potters. It opened up shop in the spring of 2012 by a very sweet, passionate, and experienced artist named Ginger. She has a team of very skilled and creative potters, Ottawa-based and elsewhere, with diverse backgrounds in art, brought together by their passion for pottery. This adorable shop is filled with natural lighting, greenery, warmth and coziness. It is a very welcoming space for all artists and art enthusiasts alike. 

If coming in to see these wonderful works of art isn’t enough, the earthen vessels clay studio within the shop offers a number of different pottery classes, workshops, and more. 

Their studio space holds 11 Japanese Whisper Wheels, hand building stations, and a cozy, carpeted area with comfy chairs to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. In addition, there is a whole separate area for storing, glazing, and firing the pieces. They have every tool under the sun and over 40 different in-house glazes available to express your creativity and make your unique pieces come to life.

Here's what they offer:

• Hand building classes and workshops (including Sgraffito, whimsical creations, and family workshops)
• Wheel throwing classes (various levels)
• Kids programs (including weekend, after school, and camps)
• Private events (private parties and kids birthday parties)

Want to learn more? Please visit their website.

What does this shop have to do with me?

I started taking wheel throwing classes at the studio in the Spring of 2017 thanks to my mom. When I was younger, we always talked about taking an art class together, but time got away from us (as it always seems to do). Once my mom retired, she finally had the time and energy to try new things and do what she was interested in, one of them being pottery. She discovered Hintonburg Pottery and the earthen vessels clay studio and fell in love with the craft. I was always so excited for her to come home and show my dad and me the new pieces she made, so I decided to join her. We have taken three beginner classes together, and we are now studio members.

Why pottery, anyway?

Like many art forms, pottery is such a great way to express yourself creatively. While wheel throwing does require some technique and patience, there aren’t many rules. You have pretty much free reign in what sizes, shapes, designs, and colours you want for your pieces. I will admit that I made some door stoppers when I first started (no really, I actually used one as a door stopper), but it was all part of the learning experience. It helps that the environment in the studio is so welcoming and supportive. I had wonderful instructors that provided the right amount of instruction, advice, support, and freedom to allow me to create many different pieces, each of which I love so much.

There is something about physically creating something with your own two hands and getting them dirty that is very therapeutic and satisfying. It is also something to be very proud of, being able to bring home something beautiful that you created from a lump of clay and actually put it to use. Most of the pieces my mom and I made have their own home, whether they are in our cupboards and on our shelves ready to be used again, displayed around our house, in the garden, or were gifted to friends and family.

Aside from being able to express myself creatively, taking these pottery classes gave me a full two and a half hours of stress relief every week. Juggling university classes, work, volunteering, and trying to make enough time to spend with friends and family turned out to be not such an easy feat, at least not for me. I am very grateful for having the opportunity to have a time and space where everything quiets down for a little while.

Next time you’re in Ottawa West, do yourself a big favour and check out the Hintonburg Pottery Shop! You won’t regret it.

I would love to hear about your thoughts and impressions, or if you have any questions about the studio or my experience. Please feel free to send me a message below! :)