Beginning Clay - Wheel Throwing
A great course for beginners or anyone just getting started!
In this course we’ll introduce techniques for throwing cylinders, cups, bowls and more, focusing on form to advance your skills and your repertoire! We'll cover wedging clay, throwing, shaping and trimming on the wheel, surface decoration and glaze application. Classes are limited to 7 participants and must be 16 years of age or older.
All students enrolled in a multi-week class are allotted up to 6 hours of unguided Open Studio time weekly to practice outside of class.
Please check our FAQ’s page for additional information on the studio and read our Cancelation Policy prior to booking!
This is a 6 week course and each session is 2.5 hours long. Tools are not included in multi-week classes; bring your own or purchase a kit from the studio! There must be 5 students registered to confirm.
*The Shimpo Pottery Wheel may be harmful to a person who has a pacemaker. Serious injury or death could occur. Consult a physician before using.*
A great course for beginners or anyone just getting started!
In this course we’ll introduce techniques for throwing cylinders, cups, bowls and more, focusing on form to advance your skills and your repertoire! We'll cover wedging clay, throwing, shaping and trimming on the wheel, surface decoration and glaze application. Classes are limited to 7 participants and must be 16 years of age or older.
All students enrolled in a multi-week class are allotted up to 6 hours of unguided Open Studio time weekly to practice outside of class.
Please check our FAQ’s page for additional information on the studio and read our Cancelation Policy prior to booking!
This is a 6 week course and each session is 2.5 hours long. Tools are not included in multi-week classes; bring your own or purchase a kit from the studio! There must be 5 students registered to confirm.
*The Shimpo Pottery Wheel may be harmful to a person who has a pacemaker. Serious injury or death could occur. Consult a physician before using.*
A great course for beginners or anyone just getting started!
In this course we’ll introduce techniques for throwing cylinders, cups, bowls and more, focusing on form to advance your skills and your repertoire! We'll cover wedging clay, throwing, shaping and trimming on the wheel, surface decoration and glaze application. Classes are limited to 7 participants and must be 16 years of age or older.
All students enrolled in a multi-week class are allotted up to 6 hours of unguided Open Studio time weekly to practice outside of class.
Please check our FAQ’s page for additional information on the studio and read our Cancelation Policy prior to booking!
This is a 6 week course and each session is 2.5 hours long. Tools are not included in multi-week classes; bring your own or purchase a kit from the studio! There must be 5 students registered to confirm.
*The Shimpo Pottery Wheel may be harmful to a person who has a pacemaker. Serious injury or death could occur. Consult a physician before using.*
Classes are on the same day for six (6) consecutive weeks, 2.5 hours per session
The class fee includes a 25-lb bag of clay and firing for that first bag; additional bags of clay can be purchased and will require a $3/lb firing fee. Tools are not included in the class fee. Students may bring their own, or purchase a tool kit that they can pick up on the first session of their class.
Students in multi-week classes are given a 4 ft shelf to store their works in progress during each session and can sign up for up to 6 hours of self-guided Open Studio time per week of class. Students will be notified when their wares are ready for pickup. Come explore clay with us!
Meet the Instructors
Bruce Hanson trained as an actor and artist in NYC, earned a MFA in ceramics from C.C.N.Y. in 1979, and shared his love of the arts with young people as an award-winning public school educator for many years. Now, Bruce divides his time between his pottery work, writing, helping produce music CDs, and spending time with his spouse Dale while also taking care of their many animal and feathered friends including Maude, their lovable but stubborn St. Bernard.
Emily Wicks has been working in ceramics for 15 years. Wicks’ passion for teaching has brought her from teaching at VCUarts, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond and other community organizations to presently teaching in her own studio. Emily works in both installation and functional ceramics; making pieces that focus on the materiality of clay and fiber, the body, and ephemerality. Most recently she created collections for Na Nin, Celladora Wines and Nothing In Between.
Hanami Morris primarily uses metal and clay to fabricate objects revolving around his identities and how they intersect. They enjoy both wheelthrowing and handbuilding, but they also have a particular interest in glaze chemistry.
Jessica Cullen enjoys the simplicity and simultaneous complexity of wheel-thrown clay, and takes pride in the details of her craft. She is an organized and process-driven artist, and finds that the medium of clay allows for self-expression and constant challenge and growth. Jess specializes in wheel-thrown functional wares, electric kiln firing, and use of underglazes.
Lelia Jenkins has a BFA in Studio Arts and BS in Human Development from Virginia Tech. They fell in love with ceramics 10 years ago and have been working toward combining it with their love of community outreach since. They are passionate about sharing pottery with beginners and making it more accessible and approachable to all.