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Weekly Pottery Classes

Kingston Ceramics Studio offers ongoing weekly ceramics classes for adults and kids. Each class includes demonstrations and specific feedback based on the level of the students participating.  Individual assistance is offered to each student in every class, along with enough time to practice and clean up thoroughly. 

Weekly Classes Vs. Private Lessons: Which one is for me?

 

If you are ready to try the hobby and want to learn to build a practice, then classes are for you! Plan to try ceramics out for at least 8 to 10 weeks before deciding if it's a good match for you. It will take a while to develop the skill to make what you want... so be open-minded! Practice is KEY. To make noticeable progress you should plan to attend class weekly, and use open studio to practice as well.

If you are looking for a fun one day event, or you only want to make a few things one time and not continue in a class where you will make several rounds of work, then try a private ceramics lesson. They are loads of fun, you'll get all of the attention you need, and a guarantee you'll have your pots finished without having to return to the studio. 

Important Class Information:

  • Our classes meet weekly on an ongoing basis with no sessions or fixed start or end dates. Enrollment is always open.

  • You will not finish a piece in one class. Most students take several classes before they start finishing work. To effectively use your full classes, you will work in cycles by starting new projects before the last one is finished and ready to be taken home. That is the nature of the of working within the ceramic cycle. When you stop, you may only need a partial class to finish up if you haven't made many things, so plan to make your last class worthwhile by building up a number of items to finish. We do not sell half classes.

  • Adult classes are $35 each, and if there is room available a student may sign up at any point before class starts. 

  • Kids classes are $40 each and include firing fees. Kids classes are for elementary school age students. Teens who can work independently and follow directions may attend adult classes on a trial basis. Kids who do not fit in this category should attend a private lesson instead.

  • Our classes are extremely flexible! Buy one at a time as you go, or in multiples and schedule ahead. If your schedule is predictable and you have a favorite class, then book a month or two of classes at a time (ask us for our regulars' discount). If you need flexibility and like to get different opinions then take classes week to week as you go, just be sure to sign up before we're booked out!

  • To guarantee a class runs, sign up for it. Drop-ins are not discouraged, however, they are not guaranteed a seat in a class.

  • Tools are just under $25 if purchased at the studio. Bring an apron (if you like) and a towel.

  • Firing fees are based on volume starting at $4/piece.

  • Shelf rentals are also available monthly for $150/month.

  • If you have a pacemaker you should not work on our Shimpo wheels.

Adults' Ceramics Classes:

Basic Intro to Clay & the Studio:

Mo:  6 pm to 8 pm w/  Casey

We:  6 pm to  8 pm w/ Casey

Fr:    10 am to 12 pm w/ Grace*

Sa:   10 am to 12 pm w/ Annie

Su:   10 am to 12 pm w/ Chrystal*

Beyond Basics: Develop Your Skills*

Tu:   6 pm to 8 pm w/ Grace

We:  10 am to 12 pm w/ Lex*

Th:   6 pm to  8 pm w/ Grace

*Starting September, 2023

Kids' Ceramics Classes:

Elementary School Clay:

Th:  1:00pm to 2:45pm w/          Grace and Alexandra (summer)

Th: 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm w/          Grace and Alexandra (September)

*Unguided practice for adults is for one hour after morning classes, or one hour before evening classes by registration. First, register for an Open Studio Orientation here. More Weekly Open Studio time may be purchased to continue your practice. You may register for class before getting an orientation for open studio.

Photograph by Emily Anita Curran

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Satisfy your clay curiosity! We start our beginner pottery class with basic handbuilding techniques, then explore an introduction to wheel-throwing, and finish our work with a few glazing techniques during this fun ceramics class! Your instructor guides your class through each step. This clay class is designed for students with no experience with clay who want to get oriented to the material, tools, process, and our community ceramics studio before attending Beyond Basics classes.

Work under the guided instruction of an experienced potter who will offer you specific feedback that will help you continue to make progress in your practice.  While choosing your own projects, tools, materials, and techniques, you will learn more about how to work with clay to achieve your personal goals relating to form, surface, function, technique, and/or concept. Ceramics demonstrations will be driven by students’ interests and goals, so each class will be as unique as its participants. We highly encourage students at this level to also take Open Studio by the week or month to practice and build wheel-throwing and handbuilding skills and to develop the rhythm of working through the stages of the ceramic process effectively and independently.You will work independently, but be invited to all of the demonstrations requested by other students, so you will be exposed to a lot of new information about how to make the different forms you are going for: bowls, plates, mugs, cups, saucers, teapots, vases, casseroles, and more! The list of things you can make is literally endless! Learn more about glazing and decorative options. BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME in this class if they have completed the entire ceramics process through glaze at least once.

Kids will play with clay and learn the basics of hand-building and wheel-throwing with clay while using their imaginations to make what they want! They'll be using their hands to develop motor skills, playing and problem-solving to develop creative thinking, and socializing with other students. Students will try out the wheel with some assistance in some classes, while the majority of each class kids will be spent handbuilding at the table. We currently have one class for kids, "Elementary Clay", and one for families, "Family Clay".

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