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 4 Registration
All classes will be available for registration Tuesday, May 26 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 4 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).
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 Texture (Hand-building Camp)
Curious about adding texture to your work, but don't know where to begin? Join us for this texture focused adult camp. During the first part of the week, students will learn a variety of texturing techniques such as carving with different tools, additions (both with and without stamps/rollers), decorating with holes, and slip trailing. During the second half of the week, students will learn how to finish their pieces by bringing their textures alive. How do stains and underglaze play a part in highlighting texture? How does glaze selection impact the texture underneath?
Pieces will be fired by the studio and ready for pick up a few weeks after the camp ends.
Monday-Friday 1:00-4:00pm
Dates: July 6 - July 10
Instructor: Greg Belfor
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $300
Ages: 16+
Mugs, Mugs, Mugs (Hand-building Camp)
Summers are always muggy, so why not come learn how to make a beautiful hand-built mug? This adult camp will spend the first part of the week focusing on what it takes to construct a functional hand-built mug. The ins and outs of weight, drinking lips, handle placement and more and how that can affect your finished pieces. The second half of the camp will turn to surface decoration and ways to decorate beyond just glazing.
Students will have the opportunity to make 2 or 3 mugs a piece to explore their different ideas and try out the different techniques. Pieces will be fired by the studio and ready for pick up a few weeks after the camp ends.
Monday-Friday 9:00am-12:00pm
Dates: July 13 - July 17
Instructor: Samantha Shaw
Location: Hill (1010 Aurora Ave)
Cost: $300
Ages: 16+
Printing on Clay (Clay/Print Crossover Camp)
Have you ever wanted to make your own underglaze transfers? This is the camp for you!
In this 5-day camp, students will learn how to make screens for screen printing and how to use them. We will then take our screens to the Clay studio and print both directly onto clay and using transfers.
This camp 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 clay experience sign up. Print newbies are encouraged!
Monday-Friday 9:00am-12:00pm
Dates: June 22 - June 26
Instructor: Akane Kleinkopf (Print) & Grace Flaherty (Clay)
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $300
Ages: 16+
Repeating Forms (Wheel Camp)
Ever throw something on the wheel and want to repeat it, but you’re just not quite getting that consistency? Come figure out the form in this week long adult clay camp! In this camp, students will pick a shape and work on repeating it to learn consistency in throwing and how to make a uniform set.
In ceramics repetition is key to getting the form just right. Come learn some techniques and tricks to making this happen along with plenty of wheel time to practice! This camp is all about the process and not about the product. Students won’t keep anything which leaves room to let go and explore without the pressure of completion. By the end of camp, students will have a much better understanding of what goes into making a repetitive shape that will greatly improve their throwing skills for sets in future classes.
Monday-Friday 9:00am-12:00pm
Dates: July 20 - July 24
Instructor: John Minkler
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $325
Ages: 16+
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: TBD
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: TBD
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $55
Ages: 16+
Crossover Clay Classes
A Tile of Two Studios (Clay/Metal)
Come make a wall piece to cherish for years to come! In this 8 week class we will spend the first part of the session bringing our tiles to life in the ceramic studio. For these terracotta tiles we will use a variety of decorative techniques including slip, inlay, wax resist, underglaze, and additive and subtractive techniques. In the later part of the session, students will move into the metal studio learning how to forge and weld their tile’s custom frame! By the end of the session, you’ll have a beautiful wall hanging to show off to all your friends!
Wednesdays 6:00-8:30pm
Dates: June 24 - August 12
Instructor: Jess Fagrell (Clay) and Sresht Rengesh (Metal)
Location: Main (3750 Canfield St)
Cost: $355
Ages: 16+
Kitchen Creations (Clay/Wood)
Is your kitchen in need of a spruce up? Are you lacking some basic kitchen necessities? We've got you covered. In this 8-week class, students will make a variety of fully functional kitchen creations. The class will start with 4 weeks in the clay studio making crocks, spoonrests, and other useful gagets. The class will then switch to the wood studios where students will learn how to create spoons, spurtles, and spatulas to round out their set. Whether you're new to the studio or have been taking classes for years, everyone is welcome in this all levels class.
Tuesdays 6:00-8:30pm
Dates: June 23 - August 11
Instructor: Becky Bragg
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.
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 • Mondays • June 22 - August 10 • 6:30-8:45pm • Pay What You Can • Main
Level I Wheel • Tuesdays • June 23 - August 11 • 5:00-7:15pm • $290 • Hill
Level I Wheel • Tuesdays • June 23 - August 11 • 6:00-9:30pm • $270 • East
Level I Wheel • Wednesdays • June 24 - August 12 • 9:00am-12:30pm • $270 • East
Level I Wheel • Wednesdays • June 24 - August 12 • 7:00-9:15pm • $290 • Hill
Level I Wheel • Thursdays • June 25 - August 13 • 7:00-9:15pm • $290 • Main
Level I Wheel • Fridays • June 26 - August 14 • 6:30-8:45pm • Pay What You Can • Hill
Level I Wheel • Sundays • June 28 - August 16 • 6:00-8:15pm • 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.
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.
Last Chance!
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.
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: June 22 - August 10 (No class July 13)
Instructor: Amelia Dickerson
Location: East (3063 E Sterling Cir)
Ages: 16+
Cost: Pay What You Can
Class will be available for registration May 26 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 12:30-3:00pm
Dates: June 23 - August 11 (No class July 28)
Instructor: Sam Watkins
Location: East (3063 Sterling Cir)
Ages: 16+
Cost: Pay What You Can
Class will be available for registration May 26 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: June 26 - August 14
Instructor: Sara Hailey
Location: East (3063 E Sterling Cir)
Ages: 16+
Cost: Pay What You Can
Class will be available for registration May 26 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.