8-Week Beginner Pottery Class! (Wheel Throwing) April 5 - May 24

Our beginner's pottery class is specially designed to teach you the basics of wheel throwing. We will cover proper posture, breathing techniques, motor functions, form, and - of course - how to make safe functional pieces (mugs, cups, bowls, plates, etc)! Our goal in this class is to give you the best possible clay education while keeping the vibe and atmosphere fun and inviting. Specifically, you'll learn centering via coning up and down, opening the form, pulling the walls of the clay pot, trimming your pots (carving and finishing the bottoms), and finally glazing them (the top coat). This 8-week course will meet every Saturday beginning April 5th from 10 am - 1 pm with the final class being held on May 24th. There is one make-up session per person per class if you are sick or life gets in the way. Please email us if you need to reschedule and we will coordinate with you! :)

Check out the agenda section next for a breakdown of what we have planned for each week. Additionally, we have multiple specialty 4-week classes, and 1-day pottery workshops, all listed now through the end of May 2025! Visit our events page for a full list of happenings :)

All classes and workshops are open to anyone over the age of 10 years old (unless otherwise stated), any person under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Note: Shahane will be the instructor! She has taught pottery since 2016, got her BFA in ceramic arts in 2015 with a double minor in art history and psychology, and owns Pudgy's Place with her husband Phillip :)

Address: Pudgy's Place, 119R Foster St. Bldg. 13 Unit 1E, Peabody MA, 01960

Info: Week 1: We jump right in! First, you'll learn how to cut, weigh, and wedge the clay. Next, you'll be guided through posture, breathing techniques, and operating your wheel. The exciting part - we throw! You'll be taught how to center the clay by coming up and down, opening the form's interior shape, and pulling the walls of the pot. The goal today is to understand this new world - not to make a finished piece :) - though props if you do!

Info: Week 2: A recap of the first lesson and practice centering and throwing. There is a heavy emphasis on posture, breathwork, and centering today. Ideally, by the end of this class, you would have crafted a couple of pieces. Additionally, we will go over the difference between throwing a bowl and a cup.

Info: Week 3: Trimming! When pieces are made on the potter's wheel they need time to slowly dry to a halfway state called "leather-hard" before being trimmed. Once the pieces are dry enough to handle they're flipped upside down, placed back on the wheel, and cleaned up on the bottom officially finishing the basic form. Beginner alterations and attachments will be introduced today (handled and small details).

Info: Week 4: Introduction to glazing! Glaze is the top coat on pottery that makes it functional for everyday use :)

Info: Week 5: Refresher on wheel throwing and a Plate Demonstrations; you'll learn how to throw the 3 basic plate/ dish forms on the potter wheel and which shape plate is best for your lifestyle and diet. Once you've thrown a plate you can keep throwing and having fun :)

Info: Week 6: Refresher + Throw-a-thon! Create to your heart's content as this is the last day for any new pieces to be made on the wheel. You'll still be given pointers, refreshers, guidance, and encouragement! :)

Info: Week 7: This is the last day to trim, and make any alterations or additions to existing pieces. Once dry the pieces will be bisque-fired in the kiln for next week's final lesson - glazing!

Info: Week 8: The final day of this session - glaze, glaze, glaze it all! We will go over the basics of glazing and some cool alterations and tricks. *NOTE: none of our glazes have toxic or dangerous minerals. If you'd like to continue taking classes we encourage you to visit our events page or website to see our current offerings! If you'd like to continue independently join our multimedia studio Pudgy's Place as a member! :) *Pieces glazed today will have to be picked up the following week or can be shipped to you for an additional fee.

Host or Publisher Pudgy's Place