Wheel Throwing Course (6 Weeks) - Next Session Open for Registration!

Education
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The 6 Week Wheel Throwing course is back in session next month! If you want to improve your throwing skills, this course is the best place to start! This session will run from 5/30/26 to 7/11/26 (skipping the 4th of July weekend for bisque firing).

Specific Details:

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. As a benefit to students enrolled in our 6-week throwing classes who do not currently hold an Asmbly Ceramics membership, we’re offering up to 12 hours of additional studio access during the course.

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)

Weekly Breakdown:

Week 1: Getting Started at the Wheel (5/30/26 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 (6/6/26 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: Large-Scale Throwing and Advanced Techniques (6/13/26 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 4: Lidded Pots and Handles (6/20/26 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 5: Personal Design & Concept Development (6/27/26 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 (7/11/26 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.)

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Next Session is Open for Registration! Post above edited with correct details.