Handbuilding in Clay

This ceramics class is perfect for beginners who want to learn to create bowls, dishes, vases, tiles and sculptures without the use of the potter’s wheel. Experienced potters are also welcome. We will create basic but fun forms using the building methods of pinch, coil and slab and additional techniques will be demonstrated to add a personal touch to your work by using sculpting, alteration, stencils, painting, slip, stains, sgraffito, and inlay. Subject matter will be student directed with instructor guidance.

Many of the student projects will be self directed but these will contain hollow forms (pinch method), coil methods, and slab methods including slump, drape and tar paper slab building method.

Are you ready to get your hands dirty? Join our beginner's wheel class to learn the basics of creating your own cups and bowls! Instructors teach through demonstrations to show you correct throwing posture, centering, and pulling up cylinders. This class is designed for students with no prior experience and focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of throwing. If you are ready to fall in love with pottery, this is the class you are looking for!

Wheel Throwing 1/2 will be an introduction to wheel-thrown pottery and an extension of W1 for all skill levels. We will explore clay’s main components, creating forms on the wheel, and surface decoration. Skills taught within the workshops will encompass wedging, centering on the wheel, throwing, trimming, surface decoration techniques, and glazing finished work. For advanced students, we will incorporate lid making! It is the goal for each student to take at least 10 pieces of finished work home. We will meet once a week for instruction, demos, and hands-on practice. All pieces will be food, microwave, and dishwasher safe for students to enjoy at home!