Beginner Wheel Throwing

Welcome to Beginner Wheel Throwing! This eight-week immersive course introduces the foundational skills of working with clay on the potter’s wheel. Designed for total beginners, the class offers a hands-on, supportive, and creatively inspiring environment. You’ll learn how to center clay, throw functional forms, trim and finish your work, and explore glazing and decoration techniques.

More than just technique, this class invites you to slow down, connect with the clay, and discover a personal rhythm in your creative process. Whether you’re aiming to make your first mug or simply want to understand what it means to “center,” this course will give you both the skills and confidence to begin your ceramics journey.

As your instructor, Grey's goal is to meet you where you are, offer thoughtful guidance, and celebrate every messy, beautiful moment of learning.

Beginner Wheel Throwing with Grey Barona
• Dates: Fridays, July 11 – August 29, 2025
• Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Level: Beginner (no prior experience necessary)
• Location: d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
• Class Size: 5 students maximum
• Focus: Centering, throwing fundamentals, basic functional forms, trimming, glazing, and personal creative development.

Course Fees:

Contact Deanna at [email protected] to verify membership and receive your code

Materials Provided (included in fee):

Participants Bring:

Supplies & Materials 

All materials—clay, studio tools, glazes, and rings—are included in the course fee. Bring a towel, apron, and a sketchbook or journal for reflection, design, and note-taking.

Studio Etiquette 

● Be kind to yourself and others—this is a learning space 

● Clean your wheel, tools, and floor before leaving 

● Label your work clearly (initials) 

● Ask for help! Learning ceramics is a process, and support is always available

Final Notes 

This course is meant to ground you in the fundamentals of wheel throwing while also inviting creativity and experimentation. As your instructor, I am honored to help you begin this journey into clay. Be patient with yourself, lean into curiosity, and remember—progress is rarely linear, but always worthwhile. 

With warmth and excitement, 

Grey Barona 

Instructor | Potter | Founder of Lockhart Arts

Learning Objectives 

By the end of the course, students will be able to: 

● Understand clay properties, preparation, and stages (plastic to glaze) 

● Condently center, open, and pull clay on the wheel 

● Throw basic functional forms: cylinders, bowls, cups, mugs 

● Trim leather-hard pieces and create foot rings 

● Attach handles and experiment with alterations 

● Understand drying and ring stages: greenware, bisque, glaze 

● Use underglaze, glaze, and textural tools for surface decoration 

● Practice safe and respectful studio habits 

Weekly Outline (see Agenda below)

Each session includes a balance of demos, hands-on practice, individual coaching, and critique. Students are encouraged to ask questions, take notes, and embrace the learning process. Clay is a teacher in itself.

Info: Theme: Orientation & First Contact with Clay
● Studio tour: safety, etiquette, and equipment
● Introduction to clay stages and tools
● Wedging practice and demo
● Wheel setup, body positioning, and basic hand techniques
● Demo: Centering and opening clay - Student practice: centering and opening attempts Homework:
Watch 1–2 demo videos on centering. Journal or sketch your experience.

Info: Theme: Repetition & Muscle Memory
● Recap: Centering & opening - Demo: Pulling walls into cylinders; focus on even pressure and wall height
● Student practice: Aim to make 2–3 cylinders
● Tips on preventing collapse and managing speed
Homework:
Observe everyday ceramic objects (cups, vases). Bring in or sketch a favorite to share.

Info: Theme: Shaping with Intention
● Warm-up: Centering + opening
● Demo: Pulling and shaping bowls
● Discussion: Wall thickness, curvature, and lifting forms
● Hands-on: Making 1–2 bowls - Studio chat: Functional vs. decorative forms Homework:
Design/sketch 2–3 bowl proles you'd like to try.

Info: Theme: Finishing Touches
● Demo: Centering leather-hard pieces for trimming
● Tools: Loop tools, ribs, sponges
● Trimming foot rings: function and aesthetic considerations ● Student practice: Trim cylinders and bowls
● Optional: Carve or stamp your personal maker’s mark
Homework:
Gather inspiration for surface design (patterns, textures, symbols).

Info: Theme: Crafting Function
● Demo: Pulling and attaching handles
● Demo: Refining mug form from cylinders
● Practice: Attach handles to mugs
● Tips for reinforcing joins and avoiding cracking
Homework:
Observe different handle shapes/styles. Sketch 2 handle concepts.

Info: Theme: Expression Through Form
● Demo: Altering wheel-thrown forms (faceting, darting, collaring)
● Surface decoration techniques: carving, stamping, slip trailing
● - Student work time: Decorate or alter pre-thrown pieces
Homework:
Choose glaze colors/palettes. Create a glaze plan in your journal.

Info: Theme: Color, Chemistry, and Experimentation
● Demo: Studio-safe glaze application (dipping, pouring, brushing, and sponging)
● Overview of glaze types, layering, and expected outcomes
● Hands-on: Glaze all bisque-fired work
● Group discussion: Glaze troubleshooting and prep for final firing
Homework:
Reflect: What did you enjoy most about this course? Prepare to share next week.

Info: Theme: Reflection & Looking Ahead
● Group critique and show-and-tell (optional participation)
● Studio cleanup and final Q&A
● Firing schedule info and pickup times
● Class photo & small closing celebration
● Resources for continuing ceramics locally + beyond

Host or Publisher d'Art Center