If you’re new to pottery, our beginner hand-building course offers a perfect introduction. Over 5 weeks, you'll explore essential techniques like pinching, coiling, and slab-building—key methods in hand-building pottery. Each class will teach you to shape clay with your hands and basic tools, allowing you to create functional pieces such as bowls, mugs, or decorative sculptures.
Expect to learn how to wedge (prepare clay), shape, join pieces, and add textures. You’ll also discover glazing techniques to finish your creations and prepare them for firing. Our intimate class sizes ensure that every participant receives personal guidance and can develop at their own pace.
What is Hand-Building vs. Throwing?
While hand-building allows you to sculpt clay using your hands and simple tools, throwing involves shaping clay on a potter’s wheel. Throwing is ideal for creating symmetrical, round forms like bowls and vases, while hand-building gives you more freedom to create organic, asymmetrical designs.
Hand-building offers a more approachable starting point for beginners because you don’t need to learn the technical skills required to control a potter’s wheel. It’s perfect for those who want to experiment with shapes, textures, and more artistic forms.
Join Us and Get Creative
By the end of the course, you'll have a strong foundation in hand-building pottery techniques and take home several of your own handmade pieces. This course is designed to spark your creativity and give you the confidence to explore further in the world of ceramics.
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