Weeks 1–3 · Pinch
Even walls, and getting a feel for the clay.
The programs, in detail
Four programs of 6 to 12 weeks, at home or around your community studio time.
Program 01 · No wheel required
Hand-building
Hand-building is not the beginner version of pottery; it is a whole discipline. We work through pinch forms, coil construction, slab boxes and templates, and above all joins — scoring, slipping and drying evenly so nothing cracks as it dries.
Weeks 4–6 · Coils
Building height without slumping.
Weeks 7–8 · Slabs
Templates, boxes and clean edges.
Weeks 9–10 · Drying
Even drying, and why pieces crack.
Weeks 1–4 · Centering
Bracing, water and patience.
Weeks 5–7 · Opening and pulling
Even walls, slow and deliberate.
Weeks 8–10 · Forms
Cylinders, bowls and repeats.
Weeks 11–12 · Trimming
Feet, weight and finishing.
Program 02 · Centering, then everything
Wheel throwing
Beginners film the pot; the answer is almost always in the hands and the posture. We work on wedging, bracing, consistent pressure and slow lifts, then opening, pulling and trimming — with weekly video review of thirty minutes at the wheel.
Program 03 · Fewer unpleasant surprises
Glaze & firing
Glaze results depend on thickness, clay body and firing schedule, which is why the same bucket gives different results to different people. We work on consistent application, test tiles, reading crazing, pinholing and crawling, and matching glaze to cone. Food-safe means commercially certified and applied as instructed — nothing improvised.
Weeks 1–2 · Application
Thickness, dipping and brushing consistently.
Weeks 3–4 · Test tiles
A library of what your glazes actually do.
Weeks 5–6 · Faults
Crazing, pinholing, crawling and how to respond.
Weeks 7–8 · Food safety
Certified glazes, correct firing, honest limits.
Weeks 1–2 · Dust
Wet cleaning, storage and why dry sweeping is out.
Weeks 3–4 · Reclaim
Recycling clay without waste.
Weeks 5–6 · Your setup
Home or studio, planned realistically.
Program 04 · Safe, and sustainable
Studio practice
Clay dust is a real respiratory hazard: wet clean, never sweep dry, and don't let dry trimmings accumulate. We cover safe practice properly, how to reclaim clay, what a home setup genuinely requires — including that kiln installation is an electrician's job — and how to use a community studio well.
Struggling to center?
Twenty minutes on your hands, your clay and the first adjustment. Free.