Wheelscape Pottery (“WS”) is a wet clay and pottery wheel studio. WS offers a relaxing and inspiring atmosphere meant for ceramic lovers of all experience levels. Please read the following information carefully. Please also click here to download and complete the Release and Hold Harmless. You can email the signed release to hello@wheelscapepottery.com or bring it in to the studio on or before the start of the course.

Course Dates

Please see above for the exact dates and times of the course you’re signing up for. Unless otherwise advised by your instructor, there will be one instructor led session per week.

Course Overview

Below is a general overview of what the instructor will focus on during the course. This may change based on how students are progressing and the pace of class.

Day 1 (Tuesday) – Everyone starts with a 1.5 lbs of centered clay. Students will learn how to throw a cylinder. After everyone has thrown cylinders, students will learn how to take pieces off the wheel. After cylinders are thrown and removed from the wheel, students will learn how to wedge and to clean wheels.

Day 2 (Wednesday) – At the beginning of class, students will check on their work and continue to learn how to center and wedge. This will be a throwing day where different shapes are demonstrated and taught.

Day 3 (Thursday) – Students will take a break from the wheels, letting pieces dry to leather hard state. A slab rolling demo will be held, and students will roll out 5 lbs of clay and cut them out into square or rectangular slabs. Textures will be added to the slabs and they will be slumped over wood blocks. These will be soap or ring dishes.

Day 4 (Friday) – The focus will be on trimming the cylinders from Day 1, which will be turned into mugs. After trimming and carving, handles will be attached. With remaining time, students will attach feet to the bottom of the hand-built pieces from the previous day.

Day 5 (Tuesday) – Wheel throwing will be the focus of the day. Based on a survey of the students at the end of last week the instructor will demonstrate how to throw other shapes. Students will practice centering larger quantities of clay and continue to throw.

Day 6 (Wednesday) – Final Throwing Day. Repeat of the day before and trim any ready pieces.

Day 7 (Thursday) – Hand built boxes. Students will roll out 10 lbs of clay. There will be 2 options for shapes of boxes. One circle box and one square. Texture rollers and stamps will be used to decorate the boxes. Finally, any trimming will be completed.

Day 8 (2 weeks the last class) (Friday) – Glaze day. Students will learn to dip glaze all of the bisque fired pieces.

Allow 2-3 weeks for pieces to be ready for pick up

The following is included for the cost of the course:

• Step-by-step instruction

• Wheel use during class time

• Up to 25 lbs of white stoneware clay (additional clay may be purchased for $1.35 per pound)

• Access to a wide variety of dipping glazes

• Bisque and glaze firings

• Glaze for up to 10 pieces (a $6 fee will apply for each additional piece that you would like to glaze)

• Basic tools will be provided for use by WS and students are also welcome to bring their own tools

Missed Class, Cancellation, Refund Policy

To get the best experience it’s important for you to attend all sessions and be on time. Please be sure to give your instructor notice if you have to miss or be late to a session. WS can’t guarantee that make up sessions will be offered. WS instructors will do their best, but is not obligated, to accommodate all students in the event of weather related reschedules. 

Once registered, you can cancel and receive a full refund only if you email hello@wheelscapepottery.comat least 10 calendar days before the start of the course so we have enough time to resell your spot. You can still cancel less than 10 days before the start of the course, but will forfeit 50% of the course cost if WS is unable to resell your spot before the start of the course - in this situation your 50% refund will only be processed once your spot is actually sold and after the course has started.

Wheelscape Pottery Policies and Procedures

1. Short fingernails are required for working on the pottery wheel and for improved chances of success.

2. Plan to wear clothes that may become covered with clay.

3. Students are encouraged to bring a smock/apron to wear during the class, and bring a personal hand towel.

4. Use of equipment is only permitted after studio staff has provided an overview and instructions, including how to manage clean up.

5. All students are responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, respectful, and cooperative environment.  Students are expected to:

   • Clean work areas and leave them better than they were found

   • After using a pottery wheel, wipe the tray and splash pan

   • Clean every table surface that was used (wedging table, work tables, etc.)

   • Clean off the glaze table surfaces and mop surrounding floor

   • When finished cleaning, wipe out the sink

   • Dispose of clay water appropriately and in line with posted signs

6. Please do not touch or move any projects that don’t belong to you, and only use the shelf space that you have been assigned to store your projects and tools. If you need to move a piece, please ask studio staff.

7. Please keep your clay and tools stored in the designated areas/your labeled bin. Any tools left behind will be deposited in a lost and found bin. WS is not responsible if tools are taken by other members.

8. WS staff will monitor your pieces as they dry on the rack to ensure they’re at the proper stage for the next step. Due to the nature of ceramics, and environmental factors, quick drying or cracking due to improper throwing techniques may occur. The instructor will evaluate your pieces throughout so you have the best chance of keep successful items. It is your responsibility to make sure that your pieces are placed correctly on the racks and covered.

9. Your clay is your responsibility! Please label your bag and make sure your bag is sealed tightly and not left out to dry. WS will not be responsible for replacing dried out clay. 

10. WS is not responsible for any personal belongings left in the studio.

11. Courses are only intended for the individual signing up, and does not extend to family and friends. Under no circumstances are family or friends allowed in the studio area or allowed use any tools, wheels, clay, glazes, etc. 

12. Food and open drinks are not allowed in the studio. Members may have drinks in closed containers.

13. Students are not permitted to bring in clay, bisque ware, and/or glazes from outside the studio and are may not take work home. WS will not fire outside work. All clay must be purchased through studio staff.

14. The studio’s electric kilns are to only be loaded and fired by studio technicians as work is produced to fill them. Please don’t touch the kilns or enter the kiln room. 

15. Clay and tools must be removed from bins at the end of the course, or they will be disposed of (unless a member is signing up for a monthly membership).