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

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 (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.)