Course Description: This course offers students a 6-week introduction to the potter’s wheel. Participants will experience basic methods of centering clay, forming cylinders as well as bowl, plate, and vase forms, and refining work through trimming and adding handles. Students will also learn how to finish their pots using standard decorating and glazing techniques. This class is for students with no prior pottery wheel experience, all are welcome.
Course fee includes 25lbs of clay, tools, bisque firing and glaze firing. Open studios for independent study time on Saturday are also included for students currently enrolled in a class.
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Syllabus:
All weeks consist of a teacher demonstration as well as Q&A/one-on-one help during practice time.
Week 1:
- Studio orientation and introductions
- Understanding the stages of clay
- Centering, opening, raising, and cylinder demonstration
- Unlimited practice clay on Week 1: all work will be cut in half to progress our learning
Week 2:
- Wedging demonstration
- Coning, throwing, and shaping demonstration (throwing different forms)
Week 3:
- Discussion on optimal trimming firmness/timing
- Trimming demonstration
Week 4:
- Handle demonstrations: Pinch, pull, coil
- Last week to work with wet clay (unless registered for next session)
Week 5:
- Surface decoration demonstration
- Last week for trimming, handles, greenware clay. All work must be on the cart for bisque firing by the end of class on Week 5.
- All non-continuing work and clay will be reclaimed and recycled at the end of Week 5.
Week 6:
- Discussion on glaze and firing
- Glazing demonstration
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