Clay Classes

Summer session is just around the corner! Mark your calendars – Registration for NC State students begins on Monday, April 17, at 9:00 a.m. and registration for everyone else begins on Monday, April 24, at 9:00 a.m.

Registration links will become active on the repective registration dates for each group.

Beyond Basic Handbuilding

Instructor: Laura Korch

An intermediate level class – basic handbuilding experience is necessary. Coiling, soft and hard slab construction and extruding techniques are just the beginning. You will be challenged to create complex forms using basic skills, exciting templates and embellishing designs with multiple parts, layered textures or slips. Decisions regarding concept and design will determine the flow of each class. Projects may include boxes with drawers, woven baskets, or functional sculpture inspired by nature and animals. Studio time outside of class is strongly suggested to build skills as well as finish class projects. Class fee includes one 25 lb. bag of clay and use of specialty tools needed during class.

Tuesdays [4 weeks] June 27 – July 25 [skip July 4]; 10:00am – 1:00pm*

Skill Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Completion of Handbuilding 101 or equivalent.

Class fees by level: NC State Students – $80 Public – $125

[Class includes a PUNCH CARD and eligibility for a CLASS PASS]
*Note: Parking on campus weekdays prior to 5:00pm requires a Visitor Parking Permit [$10 daily].

Clay Garden Stacks

Instructors: Charlene Poisel and Jo Ellen Westmoreland

Build a six-foot, freestanding “stack” of clay forms to display in your garden, on a patio, deck, or even indoors. Explore fun & funky variations of closed forms and surface decoration as you produce a unique creation in this collaborative workshop. You’ll be making lots of pieces then exchanging pieces with each other, making each stack a collaborative work. You’ll also contribute one piece to assemble a community garden stack for the Crafts Center. You need to be proficient in throwing and/or handbuilding to participate in this class. Join us in this exciting & unique adventure! Supply fee covers wood & hardware for the stack’s support structure. Class fee includes one 25 lb. bag of clay and additional clay may be purchased as needed. The Crafts Center will provide the clay to be used for pieces contributed to the stack for the center.

Saturday, May 20, 10:00am – 4:00pm and
Sunday, May 21, 12:00 – 5:00pm
Learn to design and make pieces, then continue to make & fire pieces over the next three weeks – the last of your greenware ready for bisque fire should be on the firing cart by 10pm on June 7.

Friday, June 16, 12:00 – 10:00pm* Glazing day – studio reserved for Garden Stack class use only
Saturday, June 17, 10:00am – 5:00pm Glazing day – studio reserved for Garden Stack class use only
Sunday, June 25, 12:00 – 3:00pm Assemble the Garden Stacks!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Completion of Introduction to the Potter’s Wheel class or equivalent and confident, basic wheel skills; centering, raising cylinders, and working with 2 pounds of clay or more on the wheel; or completion of the Handbuilding 101 class or equivalent.

Class fees by level: NC State Students – $160 Public – $230

[Class includes a PUNCH CARD and eligibility for a CLASS PASS]

Focused Forms: Bowls

Instructor: Heather Rhymes

An intermediate level class- basic wheel throwing experience is necessary.

Focus on expanding and refining wheel throwing skills while concentrating on a specific form. This class provides students the opportunity to dive in and explore the possibilities within the bowl form. Demonstrations and discussion will cover a variety of techniques related to shaping, trimming, and surface design with emphasis on the relationship between form + function. Students will gain experience working within the traditional parameters of the bowl form while being encouraged to channel their own creative voice. Class fee includes one 25 lb. bag of clay.

Tuesdays [6 weeks] May 23 – June 27: 6:30 – 9:30pm

Skill Level: Intermediate

Prerequisites: Completion of Introduction to the Potter’s Wheel class or equivalent and confident, basic wheel skills; centering, raising cylinders, working with 2 pounds of clay or more on the wheel.

Class fees by level: NC State students – $105 Public – $170

[Class includes a PUNCH CARD and eligibility for a CLASS PASS]
*Note: Parking on campus weekdays prior to 5:00pm requires a Visitor Parking Permit [$10 daily].

Hollow Parts: A Different Approach to the Wheel

Instructor: Blake Kennedy

An intermediate to advanced level class – students should be comfortable centering and throwing up to 2 pounds of clay.
The wheel is an amazing tool and can be used to create interesting and complex forms! This class will explore a variety of throwing techniques that can generate hollow parts + pieces that students will use to create their own unique and original forms. Projects can be functional, sculptural, or both! Individual attention will be given to each student to guide them in developing their projects using the techniques best suited for their ideas. Studio time outside of class is strongly encouraged in order to complete projects within the four-week class. Class fee includes one 25 lb. bag of clay and use of specialty tools needed during class. View Blakes’s work at www.goodhopestudios.com or www.instagram.com@goodhopestudios.

Thursdays [4 weeks] July 6 – July 27: 10:00am – 1:00pm*

Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced

Prerequisites: Completion of one Introduction to the Potter’s Wheel and one Continuing Wheel classes or equivalent, and confident, basic wheel skills; centering, raising cylinders, working with 2 pounds of clay or more on the wheel.

Class fees by level: NC State students – $80 Public – $125

[Class includes a PUNCH CARD and eligibility for a CLASS PASS]
*Note: Parking on campus weekdays prior to 5:00pm requires a Visitor Parking Permit [$10 daily].

Introduction to Potter’s Wheel

Instructors:
Section A – Wah Tran
Section B – Amie Hodges

This class is designed to introduce you to working in our clay studio and covers the fundamentals of clay preparation, throwing, and finishing. ITTPW can also serve as a great refresher course of basic wheel skills: wedging, centering, raising, trimming, and glazing. This class is also perfect for anyone looking for a little help before moving on to the next level! Have you spent some time behind the pottery wheel but aren’t feeling quite centered yet? Register and learn to feel confident when raising and shaping walls into vase forms, mugs and bowls. Practice time outside of class is strongly suggested to develop throwing skills. Class fee includes one 25-pound bag of clay plus use of a storage locker for the duration of the class.

Section A: Thursdays [6 weeks] May 25 – June 29: 6:30 – 9:30pm
Section B: Mondays [6 weeks] June 5 – July 10: 6:30 – 9:30pm

Skill Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: None

Class fees by level: NC State Students – $110 Public – $175

[Class includes a PUNCH CARD and eligibility for a CLASS PASS]

Studio Conversations: An Introduction to Critique and Idea Development

Instructor: Blake Kennedy

Sharing your work with others can be intimidating and scary. But…it does not need to be! This four-hour workshop will introduce participants to the process of looking, considering, and discussing finished projects as well as ones in progress. In a supportive group environment, we will learn basic skills for describing, analyzing, and interpreting each other’s finished work. Additionally, participants are encouraged to bring a piece that is in progress so there can be conversation around the decision-making process, problem solving, and idea evolution. View Blakes’s work at www.goodhopestudios.com or www.instagram.com@goodhopestudios.

Participants should plan to bring one to two completed pieces and one piece in progress (this can be anywhere in the making and glazing process).

Saturday, July 15: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Skill Level: All skill levels
Prerequisites: None

Class fees by level: NC State students – $15 Public – $35

Transformed Surface: An Underglaze Transfer Workshop

Instructor: Donna Breniman

Underglaze transfers are a great way to add color, pattern, and variety to the surface of your pieces. This workshop will introduce students to the process of applying commercially produced underglaze transfers to their work. The application process can be done at the leather-hard stage as well as the bisque stage of the making process. Demonstrations will include surface preparation, transfer application, and surface embellishment options. A variety of underglaze transfers will be available for students to experiment with on their pieces. Participants should plan to bring 3-5 pieces of bisque ware and 3-5 pieces at the leather-hard stage. Class fee includes three decal sheets, additional sheets may be purchased.
View Donna’s work at www.instagram.com@donnabrenimanpottery

Saturday, June 3; 10:00am – 2:00pm
Sunday, June 4; 12:00 – 3:00pm

Skill Level: Intermediate

Prerequisites: Completion of Handbuilding 101 or Introduction to the Potter’s Wheel

Class fees by level: NC State Students – $70 Public – $ 95

[Class includes a PUNCH CARD]

[Class includes a PUNCH CARD ]

Register for classes

See Crafts Center registration guidelines and instructions »

Cancellations

Most of our classes fill quickly so there is often a wait list. Late notice cancellations require considerable processing and labor to try and fill the reserved seat. Therefore, cancellations under 10 days are not able to be refunded unless we can fill the space.
• If cancellation occurs 10 or more days prior to the start of a class, a processing charge of 25% of the registration payment or $25 (whichever is less) will be assessed and the remainder refunded.
• If cancellation occurs less than 10 days prior to the start of a class, a refund cannot be issued unless the space can be filled. If the space is able to be filled, a 50% refund of payment will be issued.
If you find you need to cancel out of a class you have registered for, you must drop the class via Reporter», our new online registration system

Cancellation requests will not be accepted at the main desk or via phone or email.

Absences

To receive an optimal experience and get the most out of the class, attendance is important as there are no provisions for make-up sessions for missed classes.

Wait Lists

Names are accepted on waiting lists via Reporter» after a class is full until the day the class begins. Wait lists are only valid for the current semester’s class – wait lists are not carried over to the next semester.