Upcoming Ceramics Center Classes
Beginning Clay
If you are brand new to clay, or you are looking to build upon your basic pottery skills, this is the class for you!
Continuing Beginners: On the Wheel with Wren Morrocco
"In this beginner-friendly wheel-based class, we will revisit the fundamental techniques of pottery, from centering clay all the way to glazing our creations. Expect personalized attention and plenty of hands-on practice to build your confidence and skills. We will also cover some intermediate techniques including throwing with and without tools, pulling taller and wider forms, throwing "off the hump," and more! As you progress, we'll experiment with different forms and incorporate texture and decoration techniques, allowing you to express your own voice and style as a ceramic artist. Whether you're drawn to sleek, minimalist designs or intricate, organic motifs, this class gives you time, space, and instruction to support your exploration!"
This class is a great fit for students who have previously taken our Beginning Clay or All-Levels Ceramics class and wish to focus on working with the potter's wheel. New beginners are welcome too!
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!
Lidded Pots! with Ben Putnam
In this wheel-based workshop, Ben Putnam will teach multiple techniques for creating lidded vessels from thrown and altered pots. Gallery, cap, and flange styles will be covered, as will tips and tricks for well-formed and trimmed lids that fit perfectly. Special glazing considerations will be discussed, and students can book 1:1 glazing sessions if choosing to bisque-fire pieces made during the workshop. Build your skills, push beyond open cylindrical forms, and create beautiful and functional ceramic storage jars.
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!
Surface Design Techniques with Forrest Bencivenga
This workshop will explore the possibilities of clay as a canvas for slip, underglaze, and carving decoration. We will learn a variety of techniques for surface decoration, including: sgraffito, Mishima, stencils, slip and underglaze transfers. Please note students will be creating a library of techniques on tiles, but are encouraged to bring a leather-hard greenware piece to finish with any of the techniques that are explored.
Coil/Pinch: Altering the Handbuilt Vessel
This seven-week workshop will introduce students to the coil/pinch hand-building method for creating altered vessels, starting with simple forms, such as the cup or bowl. Students will have the opportunity to explore larger forms. Mary will teach how to hand-roll and attach coils to build volume and visual intrigue. We will use individual coils for decorative as well as structural elements, incorporating thick and thin coils, weaving, and basketry as possible elements.
*Beginner to advanced.
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!
Pit Firing
Saturdays, September 14th, 1-5pm (lecture, demo, and making time) and September 28th, 9am-7pm (decoration and firing)
Clay Class for Middle Schoolers
Students in grades 5-8 can join us for our kid-centric class, expanding on skills they may have learned at school, or getting the chance to play with clay for the first time! Focusing on pinch pots, small sculptures, coil-, and slab-building, students will build fundamental skills while creating their own fun and functional ceramics. Working together in a safe and welcoming environment, instructors will introduce good habits with clay, and inspire students to continue on in their own creative endeavors. No experience necessary; can be repeated.
Four Weeks.
Intermediate/Advanced Wheel-Throwing with Sam Deering
Using the potter’s wheel, students will learn how to throw clay into a variety of shapes and sizes. Every class will start with a brief demonstration of clay preparation, basic throwing skills, and some examples of how to push things a little further for those who are ready and those who want to try. We will then move to trimming and finishing our pieces, and finally glazing. Wheel-throwing is a challenging yet meditative way to work with clay, and whether you're new to the wheel, or an experienced thrower, we’ll improve your skills and ability to really finish a piece for firing. (Once a week; 10 sessions)
Experience Level: Beginning through Advanced.
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!
The Blockprinting - Clay Connection
Printmaker/Ceramic Artist Kim Cunningham will lead a workshop in carving one-of-a-kind block print stamps which will be used to texture clay slabs for creative clay constructions. Participants will design and carve at least two small rubber stamps, which they will begin by stamping on paper before moving on to clay slabs. The slabs will then be used to make coasters, tiles and vessels. Each participant should come away with several unique pieces. (2 sessions; 9 hours total) Some experience with Clay Recommended. Space is Limited to 9 students.
Mindful Studio Practices: a mini-course
With Ben Putnam
This 4-week class combines structured exercises, prompts and activities with a bit of independent making time. Classes will incorporate readings, writing prompts, drawing meditations, claywork meditations, and time to work on individual projects with guidance if desired. The goal of this mini-course is to help direct your making practice towards an intentional and meaningful process. After all, the objects we make in the studio are really just a byproduct of “art;” “art” is the personal practice developing when we’re in the studio manipulating materials.
Students should bring a sketchbook and/or journal, favorite tools, and a spirit of exploration. Clay and related firing fees are included. Limited to 8 students.
Intermediate/Advanced Handbuilding with Forrest Bencivenga
This class is for students who are familiar with the basic methods of coil, pinch, and slab construction, and would like to continue to explore these and other handbuilding techniques.
Beginning Clay
If you are brand new to clay, or you are looking to build upon your basic pottery skills, this is the class for you!
Clay Class for Middle Schoolers
Students in grades 5-8 can join us for our kid-centric class, expanding on skills they may have learned at school, or getting the chance to play with clay for the first time! Focusing on pinch pots, small sculptures, coil-, and slab-building, students will build fundamental skills while creating their own fun and functional ceramics. Working together in a safe and welcoming environment, instructors will introduce good habits with clay, and inspire students to continue on in their own creative endeavors. No experience necessary; can be repeated.
Six Weeks - The last week is the Pick-Up Party, when students collect their finished work, plant seeds in their flower pots, and collaborate on a large group project. (Late pick-up can be arranged if needed.)
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!
Intermediate/Advanced Throwing with Sam Deering
Ten Sessions
The focus of this class is to expand on the skills students already have, and emphasize the finer details of their practice, with the goal of being able to consistently make different forms. Students will be challenged to refine their technique and gain confidence in working with larger amounts of clay. Classes will cover a variety of forms, asking students to strengthen different techniques for each: lifting clay and establishing smooth lines, managing wall thickness and shaping, and creation of forms that incorporate multiple parts (such as teapots and pitchers) and alterations (darting, carving, texturing, etc.). We will spend time looking at our work, assessing the qualities we do and do not like about a particular form, and identifying changes to make in our next attempts. In this way, we will emphasize aesthetic quality and develop our artistic eyes and voices. This class is about refinement and exploration, quality over quantity, and celebrating as we turn weaknesses into strengths.
Prerequisites: basic throwing skills and a willingness to push yourself technically and creatively. Ages 18+ unless pre-arranged with studio staff.
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!
Thrown and Altered Ceramics Workshop with Sarah Burns
Saturday June 1st and Sunday June 2nd, 1:30 - 4:30
During this two-session workshop, Sarah will demonstrate how to transform wheel-thrown pieces into unique vessels and forms. Participants will learn how to alter your thrown pieces into ovals and other geometric shapes. We will work through simple forms to more complex forms, demonstrating with combining forms and adding brushed clay slips. There will be individual work time along with the demonstrations.
Level: Intermediate, Basic wheel throwing ability required
Sarah Burns has lived and worked in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire for the last 25 years. She was first introduced to clay in college and then went to sio. She became a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen in 2003 where she has exhibited, showed at the League of NH Craftsmen's Fair, and collaborated with other artists. She has exhibited locally and nationally throughout her career.
Slab-Built Kitchenware: Butter Dishes and Beyond
Have you wanted to make items that are not only beautiful but also useful? Learn how to hand-build a butter dish for your kitchen. Handmade ceramic butter dishes are a simple and beautiful way to keep soft butter available. Your instructor will walk you through a step-by-step process to create your unique and functional work of art! Students will have the opportunity to add details and designs independently with texture and underglazes. Skills learned in this workshop will transfer to other slab-built forms. All experience levels are welcome. Students will have one day to build and one day to decorate and glaze their work. If students cannot attend the second session, the instructor will select and glaze their work for them. (2 Sessions)
Co-Creating with Clay Coils
This four session class is perfect for beginners and will cover the basics of coil building and introduce/play with the concept of building something on a team in addition to individually. We will take a unique co-creation approach in this class, with the opportunity to work on pieces collaboratively, sharing ideas and skills along the way. This four week course will introduce and develop the versatile coil building approach to creating with clay and demonstrate ways to combine wheel throwing and handbuilding, adding slips, and glazing techniques.
No experience necessary. Ages 12+
Hard and Soft: Mixed Media Sculpture
Two Sessions - April 13 and 27
In this workshop we will explore combinations of hard (ceramic) and soft (felted wool) mediums to create a mixed media sculpture. We make the clay forms on the first day, fire them in the kiln, and then incorporate felted elements on the second Saturday of the workshop. We will also discuss how a sculptor’s choice of media can influence how a sculpture is interpreted. No experience in either technique is necessary. Ages 15+
Chill Clay Night
An evening outing of fun! Our monthly Chill Clay Nights allow anyone, regardless of their familiarity with clay, to come to our Ceramics Center and get their hands dirty. Beginners will benefit from the introductory instruction in a laid-back setting, and more
experienced makers will enjoy practicing their skills in our welcoming community studio. We invite you to attempt functional forms for everyday use - bowls, mugs, and maybe more. While there is no pressure to create a masterpiece in two hours, we are happy to arrange firings and glazing for a small fee for those of you who want to keep your works of art. This is a low-key creative social gathering, and great for dates, friends, coworkers, parents with older children, and anyone else who wants to give the potter's wheel a try
spin!