Clay Adult Classes
Groundworks offers wheel throwing, hand-building, and a variety of firing techniques to suit every style. Most of our programming is cone 6 reduction gas fired, with options for electric oxidation and wood firing to achieve different finishes and results. Our studios welcome students of all ages and abilities, with flexible class formats including adaptive classes designed to meet you where you are.
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Session 5 Registration
All classes will be available for registration Monday, July 27 at 8:00am.
You can view specific class information and descriptions by following the class link in the drop down menus. You can also view the entire Session 5 Catalog here.
Please review our standard refund policy before registering.
We offer scholarships!
You can apply and receive up to two scholarships annually for 50% off the cost of a class. Pay What You Can classes do not qualify (but you can save even more by signing up for one). Scholarship applications will close one week prior to registration opening.
Please fill out a scholarship application.
Membership Studio
Are you beyond needing instruction and are an independent potter looking for space to do your own work? We offer memberships for independent artists looking for space to do their work!
Please check out our Membership Studio page for more information about what we have to offer.
Special Summer Offerings
Why should kids have all the fun?
Our Adult Summer Camps are back and better than ever!
This year we’re offering camps just for the grown-ups featuring all five of our studio art forms. Spend a week deep-diving into pottery, or in one of our multi-studio crossover camps where you can learn a little bit about multiple art forms! All camps are five days (Monday-Friday) for three hours per day.
Keep scrolling for our Clay-specific camps, but be sure to check out all of our Adult Summer Camps here!
Exploring Through Spoons (All Studio Crossover Camp)
Big spoon or little spoon? You don't have to pick in our very first 5-studio crossover class: Exploring Through Spoons!
In this Adult Summer Camp, you'll get a lightning fast introduction to our Clay, Glass, Wood, Metal, and Print studios. Each week, the students will be in a different studio learning the material through the ancient practice of spoon (or spoon related object) making (seriously, spoons are, like, 3,000 years old)! The schedule will be as follows:
Day 1: Clay - Students will be in the clay studio making hand-built spoon crocks
Day 2: Glass - Students will be in the glass studio making fused spoon rest
Day 3: Wood - Students will be in wood studio learning how to carve a spoon
Day 4: Metal - Students will be in the metal studio learning how to forge a ladle
Day 5: Print - Students will be in the print studio learning linocut to make a one-of-a-kind spoon-related print culminating in a display of craftsmanship for the ages.
Monday-Friday 1:00-4:00pm
Dates: August 3 - August 7
Instructor: Codey Davis (Clay only). This class will be co-taught by an expert in each studio
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $310
Ages: 16+
Summer Flings
Shorter classes for when you’d just rather be outside
We get it, summer is busy - between the barbeques, camping trips, family vacays, and outdoor events, who has time to commit to extended multi-week classes? In addition to our Adult Summer Camps, we’re offering a few shorter commitment 1- or 2-day classes to keep you tapped in to the studio without making you tap out from exhaustion.
Glazed and NOT Confused
Alright alright alright… You have glazing questions, we’ve got answers. Join us for a special 2-week class to learn and practice the ins and outs of glazing. Week one will go over different glazing techniques including pouring, dipping, waxing, and taping. In week two, we’ll look at the results to see what worked and talk about what didn’t and why.
Groundworks will provide bisqueware pieces and test tiles to practice on. Here’s the catch: all glazed pieces will go to our Fall Art Market sale on September 12 & 13. All proceeds from this sale go to support our Partner Programs, so we thank you in advance for your donation of glazed work! Here’s what we recommend: since you don’t get to hang onto your glazed pieces, we’ll also be providing test tiles to keep track of your glaze choices for future reference. That’s what we call a win-win.
Sundays 9:30-11:30am
Dates: August 9 - August 16
Instructor: Alicia Echagarruga
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: Pay What You Can (Suggested $85)
Ages: 16+
Scratching the Surface
Are you lazing in your glazing? Sleeping on slip? Craving more carving? Let’s dig into it! In this one-time 2.5 hour class, we’ll do a deeper dive into surface decoration techniques such as sgraffito, mishima, carving through wax, and using slip as texture.
Groundworks will provide flat tiles in a variety of different clay bodies for students to practice surface decoration on. Students can pick if they want their final pieces clear glazed or left raw, and after a few weeks, our staff will let you know when your pieces are out of the kiln and ready for pick-up.
Thursday 9:00-11:30am
Dates: August 6
Instructor: Tracey Hill
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $55
Ages: 16+
Crossover Clay Classes
Printing on Clay (Clay/Print)
Have you ever wanted to make your own underglaze transfers? This is the class for you!
We will learn a great deal about how to make screens for screenprinting, how to use them and how to create images for the screen. We will then take our screens to the Clay studio and print both directly onto clay and use transfers.
This class will offer some instruction for hand-building, but the main focus will be learning how to print on clay. As such, we recommend that only folks with previous hand-building experience sign up. Print newbies are encouraged!
Fridays 9:30am - 12:00pm
Dates: August 28 - October 16
Instructor: Akane Kleinkopf
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $330
Ages: 16+
Bisqued Molds & Glass Bowls (Clay/Glass)
In this new crossover class, we’re going to learn how to go from ceramic molds to fused glass bowls. The first 4 weeks will be spent in the clay studio. We’ll cover the basics of throwing both slump and hump molds on the wheel. Once our molds are bisqued, we’ll test their shapes using them to hand-build bowls.
The last 4 weeks will be in the glass studio. We’ll cover the basics of fusing and grinding before starting our final project - creating a fused piece to drape and slump into our molds.
Since the class will move quickly between the two studios, wheel experience is required. Beginner glass students welcome!
This class does NOT come with open lab time. All work must be completed during class.
Wednesdays 9:00 - 11:30am
Dates: August 26 - October 14
Instructor: Codey Davis
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $450
Ages: 16+
Char-CUTE-rie (Clay/Wood)
We know it's cheesy, but don't be fooled by how cute this set is - there's plenty of meat to this multi-studio crossover class. Learn how to make your own charcuterie set in this 8 week clay/wood crossover class! We will spend 4 weeks in the clay wheel studio making small plates, ramekins and other dishes perfect for your charcuterie night. The remaining 4 weeks will be spent in the wood shop working on a beautiful board to serve it on. All levels welcome.
Wednesdays 9:00 - 11:30am
Dates: August 26 - October 14
Instructor: Jamie Commando
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $355
Ages: 16+
Wheel-Throwing Classes
5-Week Sampler Classes
Totally new to pottery? We‘ll provide all the clay and tools and teach you the basic techniques. You'll leave with a few finished pieces and a familiarity with the potter's studio. Great for first-time students.
Wheel Samplers will focus strictly on wheel-throwing techniques. Studio Samplers
will cover wheel and hand-building techniques.
Sampler classes DO NOT include open lab.
Wheel Sampler • Wednesdays • August 26 - September 23 • 9:00-11:00am • Pay What You Can • Hill
Wheel Sampler • Sundays • August 30 - September 27 • 9:30-11:30am • Pay What You Can • Main
Wheel Sampler • Wednesdays • September 30 - October 28 • 9:00-11:00am • Pay What You Can • Main
Wheel Sampler • Saturdays • October 3 - October 31 • 9:00-11:00am • Pay What You Can • Hill
Wheel Sampler • Sundays • October 4 - November 1 • 9:30-11:30am • Pay What You Can • Main
Studio Sampler • Thursdays • August 27 - September 24 • 4:30-6:30pm • Pay What You Can • Main
Studio Sampler • Sundays • August 30 - September 27 • 5:00-7:00pm • Pay What You Can • Hill
Studio Sampler • Thursdays • October 1 - October 29 • 4:30-6:3m • Pay What You Can • Main
Studio Sampler • Sundays • October 4 - November 1 • 5:00-7:00pm • Pay What You Can • Hill
8-Week Level I Classes
This class will cover the basic “how tos” of pottery. Students will learn the foundations of throwing, including how to confidently center, pull, and trim pots on the wheel. The class will also cover basic glazing techniques, attaching handles, and how to track your pieces through the studio.
Level I Classes at HILL and MAIN include open lab.
Level I Wheel • Tuesdays • August 25 - October 13 • 5:00-7:15pm • $290 • Hill
Level I Wheel • Tuesdays • August 25 - October 13 • 6:00-9:30pm • Pay What You Can • East
Level I Wheel • Wednesdays • August 26 - October 14 • 9:00am-12:30pm • $270 • East
Level I Wheel • Wednesdays • August 26 - October 14 • 5:00-7:15pm • $290 • Main
Level I Wheel • Saturdays • August 29 - October 17 • 9:00-11:15am • $290 • Main
Level I Wheel • Sundays • August 30 - October 18 • 5:30-7:45pm • Pay What You Can • Main
8-Week Level II Classes
These classes go beyond the basics. Students will learn how to make more complex forms and techniques including: altered forms, lidded jars, and throwing off-the-hump, have more consistency and make sets, and how to apply decorating techniques like waxes and sgraffito.
Level II students should be able to comfortably center clay and throw a cylinder.
Level II Classes at HILL and MAIN include open lab.
Level II Wheel • Tuesdays • August 25 - October 13 • 8:30-11:00am • $300 • Hill
Level II Specialty Wheel: Bourry Box • Tuesdays • August 25 - October 13 • 6:30-9:00pm • $350 • Main
Level II Wheel • Wednesdays • August 26 - October 14 • 6:00-9:30pm • $280 • East
Level II Wheel • Fridays • August 28 - October 16 • 5:30-8:00pm • $300 • Main
8-Week Level III Classes
These classes are focused toward intermediate/advanced students that want to learn more technical skills and studio processes. These classes will show more advanced techniques, such as how to make larger and more complicated pieces. You will learn more about materials and different processes. Students with individual learning goals or special projects are welcome to join this class.
Level III students should be able comfortably center clay and make many different forms.
Level III classes at HILL and MAIN include open lab.
Hand-Building Classes
4-Week, All Levels Sculptural Hand-Building
These 4-week classes are a great way to try out the hand-building studio. Through a variety of themed or free-form projects, students will learn the basics of pinching, coiling, and slab building. These classes change every session so don’t miss out!
These classes DO NOT include open lab.
Clay Stencil Design 5A • Wednesdays • August 26 - September 16 • 9:30am-12:00pm • $140 • Hill
Whimsical Mugs 5A • Wednesdays • August 26 - September 16 • 6:00-8:30pm • $140 • Hill
Raku Critters 5B • Tuesdays • September 22 - October 13 • 7:00-9:30pm • $150 • Main
Clay Tablet Wall Hangings 5B • Sundays • September 27 - October 18 • 9:30am-12:00pm • $140 • Hill
5-Week Hand-Building Sampler
Always wanted to try hand-building, but didn't know where to start? This class is intended to get you familiar with the basics of hand-building. Students will learn techniques like pinching, coiling, and building with slabs. This class is ideal for those who have limited experience, but are looking to learn more with a short instructor demo and hands-on assistance each week.
These classes DO NOT include open lab.
8-Week Level I Hand-Building
Level I Hand-building for students wanting to explore the basic techniques for hand-building functional, sculptural, or decorative pieces.
Learn about the various hand-building tools, and the three basic hand-building techniques: pinching, coiling, and slab rolling through a series of self-guided projects.
8-Week Level II Hand-Building
For more intermediate to advanced students who want to focus on taking their hand-building techniques to the next level.
Learn about the various hand-building tools, create functional and sculptural pieces, and work on a variety of decoration practices.
Adaptive Clay Classes
Adaptive Clay
This class is offered exclusively to adults with acquired or life-long developmental, physical, or intellectual disabilities.
Our instructors and assistants facilitate creation of projects in clay, in a calm and supportive environment with access to adaptable wheels and tools. Students can choose to try wheel-throwing and/or hand-building. This class provides an intimate social environment, class limit is 10 students with 1 instructor and multiple assistants. Caregivers are welcome.
Mondays 9:30am - 12:00pm
Dates: August 24 - October 12 (No class September 7)
Instructor: Amelia Dickerson
Location: Main (3750 Canfield Street)
Ages: 16+
Cost: Pay What You Can
Class will be available for registration July 27 at 8:00am
Sensory-Friendly Clay
This class is designed specifically for individuals who benefit from a sensory-friendly studio environment.
It features lower lighting, a smaller class size, and a quieter atmosphere with minimal conversation and gentle instruction. Our instructor and assistant support students in creating clay projects in a calm and welcoming space. The class is limited to 8 participants and includes access to 3 pottery wheels as well as hand-building areas.
Tuesdays 12:00-2:30pm
Dates: August 25 - October 13
Instructor: Sam Watkins
Location: East (3063 Sterling Circle)
Ages: 16+
Cost: Pay What You Can
Class will be available for registration July 27 at 8:00am
Friday Afternoon Club (FAC)
This class is offered exclusively to folks living with acquired/traumatic brain injuries (ABI).
Our instructors and assistants facilitate creation of projects in clay, in a calm and supportive environment. We’ll explore hand-building and wheel-throwing, working with each individual to determine appropriate projects and methods. This class provides an intimate social environment (class limit is 10 students, with 1 instructor and 2 assistants), while sharpening motor skills and visual perception, improving focus, mental flexibility, perseverance, and creativity.
Fridays 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Dates: August 28 - October 16
Instructor: Sara Hailey
Location: Hill (1010 Aurora Avenue)
Ages: 16+
Cost: Pay What You Can
Class will be available for registration July 27 at 8:00am
To register for any of these Adaptive Clay Classes, please reach out to Sara Hailey, to make sure the class will fit your needs.