Ceramics: Wheel Throwing (6 Week Course) w/ Corinne

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)

Weekly Breakdown:

Week 1: Getting Started at the Wheel (5/14/25 6PM - 9PM)

• Studio overview, wheel setup, and tool introduction

• Demo: Throwing a 1lb cup — centering, pulling walls, and removing from the wheel

• Discussion: Wedging, cutting and measuring clay, proper body positioning

• Student time: Throwing with individualized teacher support

Week 2: Trimming Basics (5/21/25 6PM - 9PM)

• Demo: Trimming (timing, centering, trimming techniques, and tool tips)

• Discussion: Foot styles and trimming best practices

• Student time: Trim pieces from Week 1, additional throwing time as available

Week 3: Handles and Attachments (5/28/25 6PM - 9PM)

• Demo: Pulling and attaching handles using the score-and-slip method

• Discussion: Handle shapes and creative attachments

• Student time: Throw, trim, or attach handles to previous pieces

Week 4: Bigger Clay, Bowl Forms (6/4/25 6PM - 9PM)

• Demo: Throwing a 2lb bowl — managing more clay and adjusting pulling techniques

• Student time: Continue working on bowls or previous projects

Week 5: Plates and Warping Prevention (6/11/25 6PM - 9PM)

• Demo: Throwing plates — techniques for even forms and minimizing warping

• Student time: Throw, trim, or continue work on existing pieces

Skip a Week for Bisque Firings

Week 6: Glazing and Finishing (6/25/25 6PM - 9PM)

• Demo: Studio-specific glazing techniques and tools

• Discussion: Underglazes, layering, glaze safety, and kiln cookies

• Student time: Glaze finished pieces from prior weeks

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.)