Registration Dates:
- Summer Registration opens to members Wednesday, April 30. Please login here or activate your membership in order to register.
- Summer Registration opens to the public Wednesday, May 7. Not a member? Click here to join us for exclusive benefits!
Before registering for this class, please review our registration policies in full.
Description: Intro to Ceramics is a thoughtfully expanded ten-week course designed to immerse students in the fundamental techniques of ceramic art. Whether you are completely new to clay or seeking to refresh your skills, this course provides a welcoming introduction to both wheel-throwing and various hand-building methods.
Level: Beginner, Ages 16+
Please note: Registration for this workshop will close on Saturday, May 31 at midnight.
What You’ll Learn:
- Ceramics Techniques: Gain hands-on experience with the potter’s wheel and hand-building techniques such as pinching, coiling, and slab construction.
- Surface Decoration: Explore surface decoration techniques and learn how to bring your three-dimensional forms to life with intricate details.
- Ceramics History: Discover the fascinating history of ceramics and gain inspiration from sculptural and design concepts.
- Clay Vocabulary: Become familiar with the essential terms and processes in ceramics.
Throughout the course, the instructor will tailor guidance to help more advanced students deepen their techniques and pursue individual projects.
Course Structure:
- Hands-On Learning: Engage in practical sessions focused on building three-dimensional forms and developing surface expressions.
- Community Setting: Work in a collaborative environment that supports learning and creative exploration.
- Personal Development: Advance your skills at your own pace, with additional support for more complex techniques.
Studio Practice: In addition to class time, we highly encourage you to utilize the studio during open sessions each week. This extra practice is crucial for reinforcing what you learn in class. For important details about how to access and utilize open studio time, please refer to the Open Studio section below.
Course Schedule:
- Week 1: Introduction to studio policies, class members, and the basics of clay handling. Explore pinch pot techniques and closed forms.
- Week 2: Develop coil-building skills to create 3D structures and symbols, and understand clay as a natural element.
- Week 3: Experiment with soft and hard slab construction, detailing techniques, and surface decoration.
- Week 4: Work day to finish up handbuilding projects.
- Week 5: Introduction to wheel throwing with emphasis on wedging, centering, and cylinders.
- Week 6: Wheel work with individual consultations.
- Week 7: Last day for starting new wet clay projects.
- Week 8: Work day, complete all pieces for bisque firing. Hand trim thrown pieces and apply surface decoration. Bisque firing to happen at the end of the week.
- Week 9: Introduction to glazing and Glaze Day. Apply glazes to your bisque-fired work and prepare for glaze firing. Glaze firing happens at the end of the week.
- Week 10: Final class: Share your work, reflect on your progress, and celebrate with your classmates
Supply Fee Includes:
- 25lb of clay (*If needed, more clay may be purchased during class for an additional fee)
- Two firings
- Glaze and underglaze
- A portion of your supply fee covers studio maintenance
Students should bring:
- Tool List
- Dress to get muddy!
- A towel for wiping your hands
- 3 gallon bucket with lid if you want to save your clay
- Notebook/Sketchbook
- List of items you would like to make - your goals
- Water bottle / Snack
Open Studio: The ceramic discipline requires time outside of class hours to practice and apply the techniques learned. During your ten-week class, you have access to the ceramic studio during open sessions. It is highly recommended that students plan to attend at least one open studio session in addition to their class on a weekly basis. Sessions are 3-4 hours long and are offered in the morning or afternoon during our regular open hours. *Please note: session availability shifts depending on the studio schedule.
Included in your course fee:
- Free Open Studio access to any student enrolled in an active class
- One additional session after the last class date which expires 1 month after the last class. This session is provided for any additional glazing or firing needed.
Registration is required to use the studio and sessions are free of charge to students in an active class. You can register for open sessions by stopping by the front desk during open hours or by calling/emailing us with your name and the date and time of the session you’d like to take. A calendar of monthly sessions will be posted in the ceramics studio and is available online before the first of each month.
About the Artist: A California-born artist, Sean Tessandori discovered his passion for clay in high school and continued to study ceramics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He earned a BA in Studio Arts with a focus on ceramics from Humboldt State University in 2017. Sean is a multidisciplinary creative with expertise in kiln repair, technology navigation, metalsmithing, and 3D printmaking—and he even dreams of building his own cabin in the near future.
About Our Programs: As a place of convergence, the Mill serves as both a community and a physical place–celebrating the power of the arts, bringing people, ideas and perspectives together. We are proud to offer adult and youth programs that focus on awareness of one’s individuality in the contexts of family, community and the natural world. Our exhibitions provide a space to reflect, share perspectives and grow as a community. Our classes & workshops are designed to inspire creativity, foster connections, and provide enriching experiences for all participants. We invite you to join us in the studio.
