6-Week Intro to Pottery Wheel | Session 2: Feb 17 - Mar 30 2025

Class Description

Have you always been curious about what it is like to use a pottery wheel? Or perhaps you took a pottery class in high school and/or college and have been dying to sink your fingers back into clay ever since. Look no further! No prior experience needed for this 6-week introduction to working on the pottery wheel. We introduce each step slowly to optimize learning and retention of skills week over week. 

We start with the basics of how to prepare the clay with a technique called wedging. This process will set us up for success once we jump onto the wheel! After preparing our clay, each class will begin with a short demonstration before students are guided step-by-step through each skill, and provided hands-on-corrections as needed. During the first week we focus on coning the clay, and centering. During week two, we move onto opening and pulling up the walls. Weeks three and four we continue on to practice putting all the "throwing" steps together to make a small bowl. Our stretch goal for the class is to build skill-level so students can make a cylinder that is 3 inches wide by 4 inches tall. This cylinder can then be made into a mug! 

During week five we trim the bottoms of our pots and add decorative elements such as handles, stamping, or sculpted elements. 

Between weeks five and six, the pots will be dried out and put through the 30+ hour bisque firing so that they can be "painted" with glaze during the last and final class during week six. 

Finished pots are usually ready for pick up within 2 weeks of the last class.

2025 Session 2 will run from Monday February 17th through Sunday March 30th. The class will be held weekly for two hours on Saturday mornings from 10am-12pm. 

Who Can Participate

This class is designed for adults, however we welcome responsible teens aged 13-17 as well. Children aged 9-12 may enroll as long as an adult guardian enrolls in the same class time.

Weekly Focus

• Week 1: Wedging, Coning, Centering
• Week 2: Opening & Pulling Up the Walls
• Week 3: Practice Throwing
• Week 4: Practice Throwing; Challenge Week!
• Week 5: Trimming, Handles & Decor
• Week 6: Glazing

What's Included

• 12-hours of instruction
• Small class size of up to 8 people
• 25 lbs of white clay
• Shared shelf storage for the duration of the class
• Unlimited access to Open Studio to practice skills between classes
• Unlimited bisque firings while enrolled in the class
• 10% discount on pottery purchased from the studio gallery

Extras

• Brushing glaze can be purchased in volumes of 2 oz, 4 oz, and 16 oz. Dipping glaze is billed by the piece's weight.
• Glaze firings will be billed at a rate of $1/lbs/piece (rounded up to the nearest pound)
• Additional clay can be purchased as needed. Pricing available in the studio.
• Select pottery tools can be purchased at the studio as desired.

Make Up Policy

Students must notify the studio in advance via email if they are unable to attend a class. If space allows in another class time slot, a make-up class will be offered. If no space is available in another class, the student can make up studio time during Open Studio, with limited to no instruction. Credits and refunds are not provided for missed classes.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made 8 days or more in advance will be fully refunded. Cancellations made 7 days or less prior to the class start date are non-refundable. 

Preferred Payment Methods

RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT PER REGISTRATION IF PAYING WITH CASH OR ZELLE

Preferred payment methods are cash and zelle. To pay using either of these methods, please select "COD or Cash on Delivery" as your payment method. Payment must be received within 7 days of registration or your registration will be cancelled and your spot will be opened up to someone else. Cash payments can be dropped off at the studio during any Open Studio time listed on the website. An email will be sent within 48 hours of registration with zelle information if that is your preference. 

We also accept credit and debit card.

Any card payments made at the studio will be subject to a 3.5% service fee.