New 6 Week Wheel Throwing Course

Education
1

Our newest 6 week wheel throwing course is now available for registration! @GreggWillman brings years of ceramics experience to the table and is a fantastic teacher. Read below to see what each week will offer students.

This beginner-friendly course meets once a week for six weeks and is designed to give new ceramicists a strong foundation while offering returning potters a chance to deepen their skills with hands-on support. Through structured lessons and guided studio time, students will learn the full workflow of wheel-thrown pottery, from shaping wet clay to finishing glazed pieces.

Each session follows a consistent format to support skill-building:

  1. Teacher Demonstration
  2. Discussion & Best Practice Tips
  3. Student Work Time with One-on-One Support
  4. Studio Cleanup (last 30 minutes of class)

Week 1: Getting Started at the Wheel (7/12/25 9am - 12pm)

  • Intro: Understanding clay properties, kneading, centering, and throwing a straight-sided cylinder
  • Studio Overview: Wheel setup, tool introduction, and safety best practices
  • Demo: Throwing a 1lb cup
    • Techniques Covered: Centering, pulling walls, and removing the piece from the wheel
  • Discussion:
    • Wedging, cutting and measuring clay
    • Proper body positioning for efficient throwing
    • Importance of moisture control
  • Student Work:
    • Throwing practice with individualized teacher support

Week 2: Trimming & Bowl Throwing (7/19/25 9am - 12pm)

  • Demo: Trimming techniques
    • Topics: Timing, centering, trimming methods, tool handling
  • Discussion:
    • Foot styles and trimming best practices
    • Drying stages and timing considerations
  • Student Work:
    • Trim pieces from Week 1
    • Additional throwing time to refine basic forms
  • New Project:
    • Throwing a 2lb bowl
    • Exploring curved forms and wall thickness

Week 3: Lidded Pots & Handles (7/26/25 9am - 12pm)

  • Project: Throwing a pot with a lid
  • Demo: Creating well-fitting lids
    • Techniques: Measuring, shaping, trimming for a snug fit
  • Optional: Attaching handles
  • Demo: Pulling and attaching handles using the score-and-slip method
  • Discussion:
    • Handle shapes and creative attachments
    • Structural integrity and aesthetic choices
  • Student Work:
    • Throwing, trimming, or attaching handles to previous pieces

Week 4: Large-Scale Throwing & Advanced Techniques (8/2/25 9am - 12pm)

  • Project: Throwing a 4-5lb pot of their choice
  • Demo: Techniques for handling larger clay amounts
    • Coning & Collaring: Methods for centering and shaping heavy clay
    • Managing Weight & Thickness: Balancing structure and aesthetics
    • Drying Considerations: Preventing cracking and warping in larger pieces
  • Student Work
    • Individual throwing time with instructor guidance
    • Opportunity to refine throwing techniques from previous weeks
  • Optional Exploration:
    • Experimenting with altered forms—stretching, texturing, faceting, etc.

Week 5: Personal Design & Concept Development (8/9/25 9am - 12pm)

  • Exercise: Students bring a drawing of a pot they want to create
    • Discussion: Understanding form, function, and translating ideas into clay
  • Guidance:
    • One-on-one help with executing student designs
    • Problem-solving structural challenges
    • Refining aesthetic choices (balance, proportion, surface texture)
  • Student Work
    • Throwing and assembling their envisioned piece
    • Additional trimming and finishing as needed
  • Reflection & Critique:
    • Group discussion on artistic choices, difficulties, and breakthroughs

Skip a Week: This time is for bisque firing before glazing.

Week 6: Glazing & Alternative Firing Techniques (8/23/25 9am - 12pm)

  • Glazing Techniques:
    • Applying traditional glazes—dipping, brushing, spraying**
    • Layering, resist methods, and experimental applications**
    • Surface decoration techniques—wax resist, slips, stains, carving
  • Discussion:
    • Alternative firing techniques beyond standard studio methods
      • Pit Firing: Effects of combustible materials on clay surfaces
      • Saggar Firing: Creating atmospheric effects within a contained chamber
      • Terra Sigillata & Burnishing: Achieving high-gloss surfaces without glaze
      • Raku Firing: Quick cooling methods for crackled and smoky finishes
  • Student Work:
    • Glazing all finished pots
    • Optional experimentation with alternative surface treatments

Students will leave with multiple completed pieces and a foundational understanding of the wheel-throwing process, supported each step of the way by their instructor. (The class has a minimum requirement of 2 students to run. If less than two students sign up, we will reschedule.)

Register Here: Asmbly Makerspace

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