Clay Classes

Portland Pottery Studios, part of our Portland, Maine location, offers exciting, fun and relaxing classes. Learn all about clay, wheel-throwing techniques, hand building, and the process of glazing and firing.

Our 8-week classes includes group and individual instruction, weekly talks, demonstrations, and critiques of finished pieces. We will be using cone 10 clay and firing in the reduction kiln.  Classes meet for three hours once per week for eight weeks (i.e. Beginner Clay meets every Monday, 6pm-9pm)

Tuition: $295.00 , unless otherwise noted

All 8-week classes include: 50lbs of cone 10 clay, studio glaze and slips, firing, open studio time, and discount workshops.  We encourage students to take classes that match their skill level and interest, however we understand that scheduling is a major factor for most students.  As a result most classes are mixed level students, all levels are welcome in any classes that fit your schedule.

(B) BEGINNING CLAY
MONDAYS 6pm-9pm • TUESDAYS 10am-1pm • TUESDAYS 6pm-9pm • THURSDAYS 10am-1pm • THURSDAYS 6pm-9pm 
An exciting, fun and relaxing class. Learn all about clay, wheel-throwing techniques, hand building, and the process of glazing and firing.

(I) INTERMEDIATE CLAY
MONDAYS 6pm-9pm •  TUESDAYS 2-5 • WEDNESDAYS 10am-1pm• WEDNESDAYS 6pm-9pm • THURSDAYS 10am-1pm• THURSDAYS 6pm-9pm
Intermediate students will expand upon skills learned in the beginning class, creating larger, more individualized pieces and incorporating hand-building skills. Concentration will be on decorative surfaces using slips, stamps, stencils and more!

(I) INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED WHEEL THROWING
MONDAYS 10:00-1:00 , TUESDAYS 10:00-1:00,  SUNDAY 3:00-6:00 
Instructors, Brian Buckland on Mon and Tues 10-1  and Dennis Chouinard on Sundays 3-6,  will help experienced students explore various wheel throwing techniques and help students improve their throwing habits.  Altered and joined forms will be explored as well as handles, pouring vessels and lids. Glazing and surface design will also be covered.

(A) ADVANCED CLAY
WEDNESDAYS 10am-1pm• WEDNESDAYS 6pm-9pm
Personal projects and goals will be emphasized as you work with an instructor on increasingly complex forms. Class includes individual instruction, weekly talks, demonstrations, and critiques of finished pieces. We will be using cone 10 clay and firing in the reduction kiln, although students may also choose to explore other clay bodies.

(H) HANDBUILDING
MONDAYS 10am-1pm
The possibilities are endless when handbuilding. Students will pinch, coil, slab, extrude, carve and sculpt clay and explore surface decoration, texture and design. This class is geared toward a beginner and intermediate students.  Your creations will surprise you!

EARTHENWARE CLAY FOR ALL LEVELS
WEDNESDAYS 10am-1pm –   (may not run every session)
Instructor  Julie Cunningham will work with students to explore handbuilding techniques, introduction to wheel throwing, surface textures, and surface design.  The class will explore a wide range of finishing techniques utilizing terra sigilatta, majolica, slip, underglaze, oxide wash, glaze and more.

ALL LEVELS
FRIDAY 10AM-1PM• SUNDAYS 10AM-1PM
Friday and Sunday clay is a relaxed mixed level clay class perfect for anyone too busy during the week to join in a class. Wheel throwing and handbuilding students are welcomed, demonstrations will include various forming methods, surface treatment, design and glazing will all be covered.  The weekly demonstrations will be catered to the interest of the class as determined at the first class of each session.  All levels welcome.

2020 Session Start Dates