Each instructor will be slightly different in how they approach the six week series. However the basic layout is as follows:

Week 1: Throwing demo, practice time available between classes
Week 2: Trimming demo and throwing, practice time available
Week 3: Trimming and throwing, practice time available
Week 4: Trimming and throwing, practice time for trimming only
Week 5: Trimming and glaze demo, all greenware must be in kiln room at the end of week 5 class
Week 6: Glazing, all bisqueware must be glazed and in the kiln room at the end of week 6 class
Students will pick up their final pieces 3-5 days after their class ends. An email will be sent when ready.

*Continuing Wheel curriculum changes every session. Unlike the schedule above there will be no basic demonstrations of throwing and trimming. Each week a new skill to advance your throwing and trimming techniques will be covered. All students should be confident in centering and pulling before signing up.

The first two sessions are the most difficult to miss, especially if you are new to the studio/pottery wheel. The other weeks are not easy to miss, but we can usually make arrangements for additional studio time.

If you need to miss 2 or more classes, you need to ask yourself if the class is worth it. I would suggest you wait until you can make at least 5 of the 6 classes.

Life happens and we do our best to make the experience great for everyone, but pottery is a fragile process with a lot of steps and missing weeks can make it hard to complete anything.

This is just an example of the making schedule for the hand-building classes. Everything is subject to change.

For our 6-week hand-building series the projects will change weekly between the many hand-building methods. Sculpture, coiling, pinch, and slab. Projects change from session to session and as you progress your projects may become more technical and advanced.

Week 1-4 Creating each week with different projects presented. The instructor is there to guide student on design and how they want to use the new skills presented each class.

Practice time is available for purchase between classes. 2 hour maximum per week.

Week 5- Glaze demo, finishing, all projects must be on the kiln shelves by the end of class. There is no more creating new projects after this class.

Week 6- Final Glazing

Students will pickup their final pieces within a week of their class finishing.

All Levels Wheel students are allowed to sign up for a maximum of two hours each week. A week is defined as the time between your class. Example: If I am in the 6:30 pm Tuesday class, I have until 6:30 pm the next Tuesday to use my practice hours.

Students will receive an email to complete their Kilnfire account 12 hours before their first class. Kilnfire is the only way to access practice time.

Practice time is $10/hour between weeks 1 and 4 to cover the cost of clay reclaim, labor, additional firings and studio time.

Practice time can be used to throw, trim, or glaze your pots. Class clay will be available to you during this time.

This time is meant for you to explore and work on your skills without instruction. All students are expected to be self-sufficient and clean up after themselves. The staff is there to answer any questions you may have, but they are not able to instruct.

There is no ability to sign up for more than two hours of practice time per week, and hours are “use it or lose it” they do not accumulate if unused. Any hours for making up a class due to illness or absence do not count against these two hours. If you miss class you will get three free hours of studio time and can still purchase two more hours if desired.

Continuing Wheel students will purchase their clay and have unlimited access to the studio. Studio hours are limited in comparison to member hours, mostly daytime, weekends, and on evenings of our hand-building class (available hours are subject to change each session).

The firing and glazing fees are included in clay purchase and 25 lbs of clay costs anywhere from $38-45. Students will be taught how to reclaim clay, but the more pieces you keep, the more clay you will need to purchase.

All Levels students have unlimited access to clay, but limited access to the studio. Continuing Wheel students are more advanced in their making and therefore have unlimited access to the studio, but do not have unlimited access to clay.

In your confirmation and reminder email you will receive a link to our “student handbook”. It has all the information you need for signing up for practice time.

12 hours prior to your first class you will be automatically emailed a link from KilnFire, our software system, to open your user account for the studio.

Email us with any questions, info@ballardclay.com

No. The studio cannot accommodate mass production. You have unlimited access to clay. This allows folks learning to focus on process instead of production. Think really hard about what you keep. The more you keep, the less time you have to throw becuase you are busy trimming. Pottery is a skill that requires muscle memory and building it takes time.

Will you be happier because you made 20 bowls that you will eventually throw away? Or happier with a set up four beautiful things that you will keep for a long time?

Students should expect to keep anywhere from 1-12 items through the 4 weeks of making.

You should not be overflowing your shelves. Focus on the process and not the production throughout your time. Keep things that you are going to keep for years, not minutes.

Clay is a mined material from the earth and can be recycled again and again until it is fired. Once it is fired any pieces we aren’t happy with are trash. We do our best to have a sustainable practice in our studio with our clay and glaze reclaim, but each potter should be conscious of what they are putting through the klin and whether your goal is to just make things or find joy and beauty in the process of learning and mastering a new skill.

No. The limit is 2 hours per week. A week is defined as the time between two classes. You cannot do all of your practice hours in week 3.

If you are making up time due to a missed class, please see the FAQ about missing class.

*Continuing Wheel students will buy their own clay from the studio and have unlimited practice time during practice hours. You do not have access to clay reclaim and if you need more clay it will be purchased at $40 per 25 lb bag. This is why Continuing Wheel is less expensive, the clay is not included.

In the event of missing a class whether for illness or travel, please tell your instructor and email info@ballardclay.com as soon as you know you are missing so that Rebecca can help coordinate your make-up options.

I do not suggest signing up if you knowingly have to miss more than one class. I do not suggest missing either of the first two weeks if you are new to the studio. Without the base of navigating the studio rules and cleaning practices the transition is more difficult for both the instructor and the student.

Even if you have taken classes in another studio, our systems for setting yourself up and cleaning up will be different.

For Hand-building, the project based nature of it means that missing a class in the first four weeks means you are missing a particular skill. The instructor will do their best to present it and you can use open studio time to make up the class without instruction. Missing week 1 means missing the introduction to navigating the studio and makes it more difficult.

The most common offer for a missed class is for individual practice time in the studio, which must be made up before creating is finished for your class (week 4 on wheel and 5 for hand-building).

The link will show all available times. If a time you want is not available it means it is sold out or we have a class/event in the studio. Please show up on time and leave on time. You can email if you think it is blocked off by mistake, but do not show up without an appointment.

The times available are determined by other classes and workshops happening in the studio. Times are chosen to not overwhelm the studio space or staff.

You can!

In your confirmation email you should see a few options at the bottom of the page.

The best thing would be to reschedule to another available time that works for you. However, if you must cancel please write us at info@ballardclay.com for a refund or a credit for practice time.

Canceling an appointment will not automatically refund the fees you have to reach out for a credit.

Cancel 7+ days prior to the first class= Full refund, less 10% processing

Cancel fewer than 7 days prior to the first class = 50% refund

Cancel less than 48 hours prior to the first class = No refund

Please always email us if you have a special circumstance. Often we can resell a class within days of it starting. If we can, we will refund you less 10% processing.

In cases of illness during classes we do our best to help you make up class time.

Basic tools are provided by the studio. If you have tools that you love you are welcome to bring them. Please label everything with you name and we do not have additional storage space, so plan on carrying them with you.

Aprons are not really necessary for hand-building classes, but are “nice to have”. Wheel classes they are definitely good to have, but you can also just dress ready to be covered in clay.

We sell the Walking Apron branded with Ballard Clay logo. This is not the cheapest option, but it certainly is the best! It has full coverage, made in the USA, and supports a small woman owned business.

www.ballardclay.com/supplies