Pottery Classes

Next session of pottery classes begins the week of May 13, 2024

The pottery classes at Throwing Mud Gallery are a mix of beginners to more experienced adult students, which encourages a cooperative learning environment. Classes are adjusted to your learning needs. If you are a beginner, you can learn at your own pace. You’ll get an introduction to making pottery on the wheel and also do some hand building projects. If you have more experience, we can build on what you already know and give you options for your learning choices. In order to give individual instruction, we limit the number of new students in each class.  Each class size is about 11 people.

*5 week session (no class May 27).  Returning students only

We give priority registration to our current students and have an ongoing waitlist for all classes. Call us at 253-254-7961 to be added to the wait list.  We’ll contact you when we have an opening.

Ready to take a class?

It’s important for new students to attend all 6 classes during their first 6-weeks session. Since we have a limited number of students per class, when you register for a class, that is a spot we can’t offer to another person. For this reason, please take note of our cancellation policies.

Beginner pottery students typically spend the first few weeks working on the basic skills of centering, coning up and down, and pulling up the walls of a bowl.  You will also be introduced to some hand-building projects, which includes learning how to use the slab roller.  Trimming your pottery is usually the focus by about the 5th week of the session.  By week 6 you’ll learn how to glaze your own pots! Our classes are open to age 18 and up.

Our 6-week session includes instruction once a week, glazes and firing of up to 15 items, plus we give you an additional 18 hours of open studio time to practice and work on your projects.  All students receive a 50% discount on their first 25# bag of clay.

Registration fees

• $255 for first 6-week session
• $240 for returning students
• $230 for students who have taken classes for 8 full sessions in our studio. 1+ year students receive glazing and firing of up to 20 items and 24 hours of open studio time.

Students using the pottery wheel need a Kemper basic tool set, a round rib, and box for the first day of class, which can be purchased when registering for class. Please print and fill out a Registration Form and drop it off in person with your full class registration fee. This gives you an opportunity to tour the studio, ask any questions about the class, and we’ll explain how to use your open studio time. We do give priority registration to current students and all classes have limited availability. Tuition is due before class starts.  Your spot is not reserved without full payment.

We have some videos to acquaint you with our studio. Watch the videos on clean up process and Steps to Throwing a Pottery Bowl prior to your first class. It will help familiarize yourself with our studio and what you can expect to learn your first day.

Policies

Remember that pottery is a process—patience and persistence are necessary. The difficult part in learning how to turn a lump of clay into a bowl is getting over that initial hump (pun intended). We know it sometimes can be frustrating at first, but if you are patient, have fun with learning and keep trying, you’ll enjoy pottery and be able to take it as far as you want.

Please wear appropriate clothing (we provide aprons), trim your fingernails, tie back long hair and remove rings, bracelets and watches.

There are physical aspects to pottery. Students must be able to lift and carry a 25-lb. bag of clay.

Classes are small and as much individual attention as possible is given to each students.

Please be aware of strong scents/perfumes and their effect on others.

Clean up is extremely important. Following proper cleaning procedures in work areas will be very effective in maintaining a safe environment. Once learned, our clean up procedure is easy, quick and sewage friendly. Please work with us to maintain a healthy pottery studio for everyone and to conserve water and keep the plumbing clay free.

No pets allowed in the pottery studio.

Throwing Mud Gallery is not responsible for the loss or damage of work or personal property. All pots, fired and unfired, are fragile. Handle everything with care in the pottery studio.

Anyone ending their session is responsible for picking up their tools, excess clay, bisque and fired pots within three weeks after the session ends. Students who are not continuing have a 2-hour grace period to finish up their items in progress (i.e., trimming, glazing and firing).  Items left longer than 3 weeks become the property of Throwing Mud Gallery.

Cancellation Policy

• By signing up for a class you are committing to be able to make it to all classes in a session. If you are unable to attend a class, we will try to fit you into another class that week, but available space is not guaranteed.
• A $50 cancellation fee will be charged for withdrawing less than 2 weeks before the class begins, unless we can fill the spot. (A 3.5% credit card processing fee is charged for all cancelled credit card charges.)
• We do not offer refunds if you drop out of a class less than a week before the class starts or after the session begins. There are no exceptions to this policy.
• Missed classes and studio time are not transferable to another session.

Parking

5 spaces are available in back of the building. There is ample free parking on the street and a nearby free parking lot.  Please enter the studio through the back door if at all possible.  The front door is locked in the evening when the gallery is closed.