Pottery Classes
Classes for all levels at our bright Portland studio
Hands-On Clay
Four Week Clay Sampler
Ready to dive into the world of pottery? This 4-week introductory course will take you through the essentials of ceramics, from shaping to glazing. Experience the full pottery process, and leave with your own handmade creations!
Includes all materials and shared studio equipment is available for use.
Beginner Clay
Beginner students learn how to wedge, cone, and center up to 2.0 lbs of clay on the potter’s wheel, as well as pulling walls for cylinder and bowl forms. Finishing techniques of trimming, simple decoration, and glazing are covered.
In addition to work on the potter’s wheel, students will learn the basic properties and behaviors of clay and practice the earliest clay techniques, including pinch, coil, and slab construction.
All classes teach simple techniques to ensure health and safety in the studio and to reduce, reuse, and reclaim materials wherever possible.
Includes studio materials (clay and glaze), bisque fire, and access to Open Studio hours. A Beginner’s Clay Kit is recommended.
Advanced Beginner Clay
Advanced Beginner students are comfortable centering 2.0 lbs of clay and pulling walls. In this class students practice with 2.0 - 4.0 lbs of clay to gain greater height in their cylinders and learn how to craft more technical forms, such as lids and double-walled forms.
All classes teach simple techniques to ensure health and safety in the studio and to reduce, reuse, and reclaim materials wherever possible.
Includes studio materials (clay and glaze), bisque fire, and access to Open Studio hours. Specialty clay and glaze fire is an additional cost. Personal tools are recommended.
Mixed Levels Clay
Mixed-level classes are for people who have recently worked with clay and are comfortable working in a studio. Students in these classes are familiar with the process of centering and pulling walls, but have varying levels of ability.
Learning in a mixed level group creates a stimulating and supportive environment for students. In this class, demos will be scaled to challenge each student. Finishing techniques of trimming, simple decoration, and glazing are covered.
All classes teach simple techniques to ensure health and safety in the studio and to reduce, reuse, and reclaim materials wherever possible.
Includes studio materials (clay and glaze), bisque fire, and access to Open Studio hours. Additional or specialty clay and glaze fire is an additional cost. Shared studio equipment is available for use but a Beginner’s Clay Kit is recommended.
Advanced Clay
Advanced potters and ceramic artists are encouraged to attend our workshops and join as members.
Is there a specific topic or technique you’d like to learn more about? Let us know by emailing us at hello@maineclay.org.
ONE DAY SAMPLER
Clay Play
This one-time, beginner-friendly class will be spent wrangling clay on the potter’s wheel. A skilled instructor will show you how it’s done, and provide plenty of hands-on assistance when needed!
No work from this class will be kept; shared studio equipment is available for use.
