Pottery Classes

After spending a day with us observing the process of pottery making and visiting with the potters at Homestead Heritage, many decide to take pottery classes. They have found that our potters love to share their knowledge and skills with others and have found relational ways of teaching that make it surprisingly easy to learn such a rewarding craft.

An Introduction to Wheel Throwing

An experience in clay teaching the basic steps of wheel-thrown pottery

This one-day hands-on workshop will introduce you to the skills and techniques of wheel-thrown pottery. We also explain types and sources of clay as well as clay preparation. You will learn how to prepare clay, form it into a basic cylinder on a potter’s wheel and how to form it using simple shaping.

We also discuss various methods of glazing and firing. During the class, you’ll have the opportunity to see the kilns we use in firing our vessels at
the potter’s house.

Class Size: 6 students

Pottery Basics

A five-day hands-on class that teaches the basics skills of hand building as well as the basic techniques of wheel throwing.

In this five-day class, you will learn all three basic handbuilding techniques—coil, pinch and slab and have ample opportunity to build vessels with your newly acquired skills including platters, leaf bowls, coiled holders, a soap dish, clay whistles and more. You will also learn how to form and apply handles to vessels. You will also learn the basics of wheel throwing one step at a time. We will teach you how to throw, shape and trim a vessel on the potter’s wheel. You will then form a variety of vessels including bowls, mugs and pitchers. We will also teach finishing techniques as well as discuss the various glazing and firing methods we use at the potter’s house.

Class Size: 6 students