Wheel Throwing Pottery Class
Modified conduct for attending classes after June 1st 2020:
*If you've signed up for a class, that then is postponed or canceled due to the studio shutting for COVID-19 exposure, we will move your enrollment forward to a future class.
If you have been exposed and need to postpone attendance (before a class has started on the first night), your class enrollment will be moved to a forward future class based on availability of space. You may return after you have tested negative twice.
If exposure occurs after the class has started for the month and you are absent, we cannot move your enrollment forward.
- If you are not feeling well for any reason, do not attend class. Notify the studio of your condition and absence.
- We do not offer make-up classes for your absences*.
- Everyone will wash their hands before starting clay activities.
- Everyone will wear a good-fitting, hands-free, appropriate respiratory Face Mask while on the premises. Bandanas do not suffice during classes because they need to be adjusted and touched often. Make sure your mask stays on well.
- All Sneezes must be contained.
- You will be provided your own buckets of water to clean up the wheels with.
- Class sizes are limited.
- Please be sure you test negative after any airplane travel before visiting the studio. Plan accordingly before signing up for a class to allow time for test results. If you have tested positive for covid-19, do not sign up for a class until you have tested negative twice.
- Please be well and stop the spread.
*If you've signed up for a class, that then is postponed or canceled due to the studio shutting for COVID-19 exposure, we will move your enrollment forward to a future class.
If you have been exposed and need to postpone attendance (before a class has started on the first night), your class enrollment will be moved to a forward future class based on availability of space. You may return after you have tested negative twice.
If exposure occurs after the class has started for the month and you are absent, we cannot move your enrollment forward.
Classes have been filling up a couple months before they start. There is a Wait List Form below. We encourage you to submit the form for a full class, as openings are possible with covid still flying around. If the class month you want has availability now, please click the Shop button to purchase your spot in the class you want. The Wait List does NOT hold a spot for you. See below.
Adult Wheel Throwing & Glazing
8 classes, twice a week, for 4 consecutive weeks on Monday & Wednesday, 6 pm – 9 pm.
This class includes:
8 classes, twice a week, for 4 consecutive weeks on Monday & Wednesday, 6 pm – 9 pm.
This class includes:
- 25 lbs. of clay
- Kiln firing and glazing for up to 10 pieces of average size (4x4x4). Extra costs for larger items and more than 10 pieces
- Use of studio throwing tools
- Instructions for throwing, starting with wedging & centering clay on the wheel for beginners, and further development for intermediate to advance levels
- Projects include bowls and mugs with handles, and other requests like plates, jars & lids
- Learn the rules of the studio to work & clean up safely
- This is for all levels of experience, including new clay artists with no experience or with high school or college level experience
- Class size: 6 maximum
- Adults 18 and older
- Fill out a Registration Form & sign a Liability Waiver at the studio
- Long hair must be secured so it won't dangle forward. Jewelry and watches should be stowed. Fingernails should be trimmed before class.
Go here for information on Private Lessons.
FAQ:
What are the classes like?
While music plays in the background, instructions are physically shown so everyone sees what to do. Then everyone gives it a try at their own wheel space. You learn where the tools are, where to get water to throw with and what to do with the muddy water at the end of the class. Everyone cleans up their own work area thoroughly in every class. The first 3 weeks are for clay work: throwing and trimming. The 4th week is for waxing & glazing using buckets of glaze to dip pieces into.
What do we learn in this class?
That throwing clay is harder to do than it looks, but also to wedge clay, then center the clay on the wheel when the correct pressures are applied. Beginners make bowls, cups, and pull a handle. In glazing, you learn how to apply a special wax to the bottom of your pieces, then dip them in a bucket of glaze. There are combinations of glazes that do and don't work.
Is it ok if we are a beginner?
Yes, we teach lots of beginners.
Is the clay, glaze, and kiln time included?
Yes, the class includes one bag of clay which is 25 lbs. Class fees cover glazing and kiln firing up to 10 pieces of average size which is appx. 4"x4"x4". If more pieces are made, more fees are assessed for each piece. Beginners make and keep between 2-10 pieces usually.
How many times can I sign up for a class?
As many as you like. People who like to make pottery usually sign up for more than one class throughout the year. Their skills improve by practicing continuously. With each class, more stuff is learned, and progress is made towards making the pottery you want.
I just want to use a wheel without taking a class. Can I do that in this studio?
We think it's great that you know how to throw clay on a wheel already, but do you know how to clean up afterwards in our studio? This is what we go over and practice when you take our wheel throwing class. Our cleaning regimen keeps our studio working like a well oiled machine. Taking care of our equipment is very important to us. Recycling as much material as possible is also important to our organization and budget. Learning this studio's techniques and navigating safer ways to use clay are also part of what we teach in our classes. Anyone who knows what they are doing with clay on a wheel will know this is an important part of the process of wheel throwing and will appreciate what they learn in our month long class so that they can be a successful studio member who has earned the skills to use our space safely and correctly.
The class seems expensive to me; Is there a cheaper way to learn?
Unfortunately, this craft is spendy! It requires renting space, buying expensive equipment, shipping countless supplies to our state, and the knowledge and time from the teacher. However, our classes cover a plethora of skills to get you started on wheel throwing, and will allow you to walk away with some beautiful pieces of hand crafted pottery. Our teacher has over 35 years of experience and has made a class that incorporates these long-time learned skills. Students will not have to pay for their tools or clay (25 lbs), as they are provided for use within the class fee (to use, not keep), and you will find an enjoyable atmosphere with a small class size so you will get a highly informative hands on learning experience.
What are the classes like?
While music plays in the background, instructions are physically shown so everyone sees what to do. Then everyone gives it a try at their own wheel space. You learn where the tools are, where to get water to throw with and what to do with the muddy water at the end of the class. Everyone cleans up their own work area thoroughly in every class. The first 3 weeks are for clay work: throwing and trimming. The 4th week is for waxing & glazing using buckets of glaze to dip pieces into.
What do we learn in this class?
That throwing clay is harder to do than it looks, but also to wedge clay, then center the clay on the wheel when the correct pressures are applied. Beginners make bowls, cups, and pull a handle. In glazing, you learn how to apply a special wax to the bottom of your pieces, then dip them in a bucket of glaze. There are combinations of glazes that do and don't work.
Is it ok if we are a beginner?
Yes, we teach lots of beginners.
Is the clay, glaze, and kiln time included?
Yes, the class includes one bag of clay which is 25 lbs. Class fees cover glazing and kiln firing up to 10 pieces of average size which is appx. 4"x4"x4". If more pieces are made, more fees are assessed for each piece. Beginners make and keep between 2-10 pieces usually.
How many times can I sign up for a class?
As many as you like. People who like to make pottery usually sign up for more than one class throughout the year. Their skills improve by practicing continuously. With each class, more stuff is learned, and progress is made towards making the pottery you want.
I just want to use a wheel without taking a class. Can I do that in this studio?
We think it's great that you know how to throw clay on a wheel already, but do you know how to clean up afterwards in our studio? This is what we go over and practice when you take our wheel throwing class. Our cleaning regimen keeps our studio working like a well oiled machine. Taking care of our equipment is very important to us. Recycling as much material as possible is also important to our organization and budget. Learning this studio's techniques and navigating safer ways to use clay are also part of what we teach in our classes. Anyone who knows what they are doing with clay on a wheel will know this is an important part of the process of wheel throwing and will appreciate what they learn in our month long class so that they can be a successful studio member who has earned the skills to use our space safely and correctly.
The class seems expensive to me; Is there a cheaper way to learn?
Unfortunately, this craft is spendy! It requires renting space, buying expensive equipment, shipping countless supplies to our state, and the knowledge and time from the teacher. However, our classes cover a plethora of skills to get you started on wheel throwing, and will allow you to walk away with some beautiful pieces of hand crafted pottery. Our teacher has over 35 years of experience and has made a class that incorporates these long-time learned skills. Students will not have to pay for their tools or clay (25 lbs), as they are provided for use within the class fee (to use, not keep), and you will find an enjoyable atmosphere with a small class size so you will get a highly informative hands on learning experience.
Waitlist Form
Pottery Wheel Throwing Classes are filling up a couple of months in advance through 2021-2022. Spaces are available in January 2022. Do not waitlist for a class that has availability. Use this form if you would like to be waitlisted for notification in case there is a cancellation in a FULL class. Submit the form below. Indicate in the comment box which MONTH you would like to be waitlisted for. Otherwise, please click the Shop button above to sign up for a class that has availability today. This form does not hold a spot for you in any class. We will contact you via email to alert you of an opening. Please respond promptly if you are contacted. We will move to the next person in line after 24 hours.
Pottery Wheel Throwing Classes are filling up a couple of months in advance through 2021-2022. Spaces are available in January 2022. Do not waitlist for a class that has availability. Use this form if you would like to be waitlisted for notification in case there is a cancellation in a FULL class. Submit the form below. Indicate in the comment box which MONTH you would like to be waitlisted for. Otherwise, please click the Shop button above to sign up for a class that has availability today. This form does not hold a spot for you in any class. We will contact you via email to alert you of an opening. Please respond promptly if you are contacted. We will move to the next person in line after 24 hours.
Considerations:
- Covid-risk: Each class allows up to 6 people to sign up. This means you will be in a room with other people you don't know.
- Plan to get messy. Remove rings, jewelry, long necklaces and watches before throwing. Do not wear perfume. Trim your fingernails.
- Everyone must wear a "hands-free" face mask on the premises (No bandanas or buffs) and in the clay work areas of the studio. Masks must cover nose and mouth at all times. Everyone must wash their hands in a sink prior to starting. After clay is used, hand washing is done only in the buckets of water provided. Clay, of any amount, does not go in any of our sinks and drains. If clay is found in a sink, an extra charge of $300 will be added to your party or to an individual.
- The instructor will be on hand to verbally coach you along, at a distance.
- Quality of work produced is not guaranteed. There are health hazards associated with clay activities and each person is responsible for their ability to participate in this activity. Please be aware of our fragrance and pet allergy policies, meaning don't wear perfumes and pets are not allowed in our facility, especially furry ones. We ask for your consideration to wear clothing that does not have pet hairs clinging to them. We are also a Glitter-Free zone.
- Long hair must be tied up in a braid or a secure ponytail that won't fall forward. Hair can get caught by the motion of the wheel and quickly cause serious injury. Jewelry such as long necklaces, finger rings, bracelets, and watches should be removed before sitting at a wheel. Fingernails should be trimmed or cut short. Long or fancy fingernails interfere with producing pottery.
- Please refrain from using perfumes and other man-made scents when planning to visit the studio.
- Face-Masks are required at all times in the clay areas of the studio.
- For everyone's safety and well being, you must certify that you are in good health and have not been exposed to covid-19 or have other signs of illness. If you have tested positive, or suspect you have covid-19, we ask that you not enter our premises at all. If you have been contacted after being near someone who has tested positive, please complete a 14 day quarantine and get tested at least twice to show two negative results.
- Due to allergies, please ensure your clothing is free of fragrances, perfumes, pet hairs and dander.