Firings and other services for students and artists
Classes
Enroll now for September 29 through November 8 Session
All classes include additional Open Studio hours (Fri, Sat, Sun 1-4) to practice on your own.
All materials and supplies are included.
Call us at (415) 272-9932
Our classes rotate throughout the year so that each time slot moves from beginner to more advanced classes.
Monday 6 - 8 PM
$249 for six weeks
Intermediate Wheel Throwing with Deb Hagar
Deb Hagar Lidded jars and underglaze
We welcome @claybynature ceramic artist Deb Hagar who will join us in house to teach Monday nights Intermediate Wheel class.
Deb’s interest in the nature she finds around her are often recorded in small sketches, pastels, and watercolor images as she encounters birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and fish! She then translates that onto her pottery cups, bowls, and other forms with underglazes. Her work speaks directly of her artistic gaze, of what is immediate and near to her as a source of inspiration.
This is a great opportunity to bring your skills to the next level, and learn from Deb Hagar’s philosophy, concepts and techniques. It is a small class – limited to 8 participants.
Your skill level should be about intermediate. You already know how to center and throw basic forms.
Tuesday 1 - 3 PM
$249 for six weeks
All Levels Wheel Throwing
All Levels Wheel Throwing for adults beginning through advanced levels. Due to small class size, we can offer enough individual attention to teach multiple techniques to everyone. This is a great class for those who had a class awhile ago or intermediate potters just getting back into it. We cover an introduction to basic studio knowledge and continued instruction in glazing. Students can repeat a few times as they advance.
Tuesday 6 - 8 PM
$249 for six weeks
Mixed class with some students choosing beginning wheel and some choosing hand building projects.
Beginning Wheel Throwing
This class was first taught by Ellen to first year students at University of Michigan. It is for adults that want to learn how to make pottery, cups, bowls, and plates on the Potter's Wheel. If you have never tried this before, or maybe it has been awhile since you took another class, this is the best class to sign up for. You will learn basic studio knowledge, learn to center clay on the wheel, and create cups, bowls, and plates. You will learn the basics of glazing to finish your work. My teaching methods help you achieve confidence in beginning pottery during your first 6 week session.
Handbuilding with Slabs and Coils
I realized very early that pottery made on the wheel wasn't going to get me to the ideas I wanted to express. Then I had to develop techniques in hand building that could get me there. After getting my MFA in Michigan, I took a teaching job near Chicago. I first exhibited my slab work in juried shows and small gallery shows in Chicago. One of those led to a commissioned project for a large mural!
I enjoy teaching students to start with an idea and then get the clay to create that idea, sticking closely to their desired outcome and not giving way to letting the clay decide what it will be. This introduces the idea of having a mental concept and a vision for a piece before you begin. Then students will be presented with techniques for creating in clay using hand building forming methods. It will be their choice to do each assignment with slabs or coils. Direction will be given in coming up with an inspiration or idea for the project and then the techniques to carry out that vision.
Wednesday 10 - Noon
$249 for six weeks
All Levels Wheel Throwing
All Levels Wheel Throwing for adults beginning through advanced levels. Due to small class size, we can offer enough individual attention to teach multiple techniques to everyone. This is a great class for those who had a class awhile ago or intermediate potters just getting back into it. We cover an introduction to basic studio knowledge and continued instruction in glazing. Students can repeat a few times as they advance.
Wednesday 1 - 3 PM
$249 for six weeks
Handbuilding with Slabs and Coils
I realized very early that pottery made on the wheel wasn't going to get me to the ideas I wanted to express. Then I had to develop techniques in hand building that could get me there. After getting my MFA in Michigan, I took a teaching job near Chicago. I first exhibited my slab work in juried shows and small gallery shows in Chicago. One of those led to a commissioned project for a large mural!
I enjoy teaching students to start with an idea and then get the clay to create that idea, sticking closely to their desired outcome and not giving way to letting the clay decide what it will be. This introduces the idea of having a mental concept and a vision for a piece before you begin. Then students will be presented with techniques for creating in clay using hand building forming methods. It will be their choice to do each assignment with slabs or coils. Direction will be given in coming up with an inspiration or idea for the project and then the techniques to carry out that vision.
Wednesday 6 - 8 PM
$249 for six weeks
Platters and Serving Bowls
Celebrations throughout the year highlight serving bowls, platters, and special plates from the potter's repertoire. These were always on the list of my production pottery at Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Ketchum Idaho. Specific forms will be demonstrated and taught over the next six weeks. It's fun, freeing, and extremely gratifying to explore these forms.
Thursday 1 - 3 PM
$249 for six weeks
All Levels Wheel Throwing
All Levels Wheel Throwing for adults beginning through advanced levels. Due to small class size, we can offer enough individual attention to teach multiple techniques to everyone. This is a great class for those who had a class awhile ago or intermediate potters just getting back into it. We cover an introduction to basic studio knowledge and continued instruction in glazing. Students can repeat a few times as they advance.
Thursday 6 - 8 PM
$249 for six weeks
Beginning Wheel Throwing
This class was first taught by Ellen to first year students at University of Michigan. It is for adults that want to learn how to make pottery, cups, bowls, and plates on the Potter's Wheel. If you have never tried this before, or maybe it has been awhile since you took another class, this is the best class to sign up for. You will learn basic studio knowledge, learn to center clay on the wheel, and create cups, bowls, and plates. You will learn the basics of glazing to finish your work. My teaching methods help you achieve confidence in beginning pottery during your first 6 week session.
Saturday 10 - Noon
$249 for six weeks
Beginning Wheel Throwing
This class was first taught by Ellen to first year students at University of Michigan. It is for adults that want to learn how to make pottery, cups, bowls, and plates on the Potter's Wheel. If you have never tried this before, or maybe it has been awhile since you took another class, this is the best class to sign up for. You will learn basic studio knowledge, learn to center clay on the wheel, and create cups, bowls, and plates. You will learn the basics of glazing to finish your work. My teaching methods help you achieve confidence in beginning pottery during your first 6 week session.
Open Studio Hours
Open Studio Hours are included with each of the above classes so you can come in and practice what you learned in class. This will give you about 2 hours of practice in addition to your class time at no extra charge. All studio equipment is available but no formal instruction is taking place. This is the very best way to make the most out of your class experience and help you to achieve the results you want. You must be registered in one of the above classes to attend Open Studio hours.
Open Studios Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 1 – 4pm.