Daytime Pottery Classes in Denver: Weekday and Weekend Options

Not every pottery student wants to fight rush-hour traffic to an evening class. If you've been looking for a daytime pottery class in Denver, something on a weekday lunch hour, a day off, or a slower Sunday afternoon, here's what's on the schedule at Claya, our big, bright studio at 3440 Walnut Street in RiNo.

The short version: our six-week daytime sections are $300, they're built for complete beginners, and they come with student Open Studio during the day so you can practice between classes.

Weekday daytime classes

Both of these are sections of Intro to Wheel Throwing, our six-week beginner class on the pottery wheel. Same skills, same small groups, same friendly teachers as our evening sections, just in the middle of the day.

• Fridays, 12–2:30 PM with Jesse, starting October 30. $300 for six weeks.
• Mondays, 12–2:30 PM with Mary, starting November 9. $300 for six weeks.

A midday time slot works well for remote and hybrid workers, shift workers, parents during school hours, retirees, and anyone who'd rather spend their evenings at home. Each class is two and a half hours, so there's real time on the wheel every week.

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Weekend daytime: Sunday afternoon handbuilding

Prefer to work with your hands instead of the wheel? Intro to Handbuilding: Planters meets Sundays, 1:30–4 PM with Ethan, starting November 1, $300 for six weeks. You'll learn pinch, coil and slab building and finish with glazed planters and pieces of your own design. It's a relaxed way to spend a weekend afternoon, and no experience is needed.

What you learn in six weeks on the wheel

Every Intro to Wheel Throwing section follows the same path, and your teacher meets each student at their own pace:

1. Centering. Wedging, setting up your wheel and getting clay running true under your hands. Everyone wobbles at first, and that's completely normal.
2. Opening and pulling. Your first cylinder with even walls, plus trimming your first pieces.
3. Cups, bowls and handles. Flaring out for a bowl, collaring in for a cup, and pulling a handle for a mug.
4. Throwing taller and adding color. Centering more clay, building height, and decorating with underglaze and carving.
5. Glazing. Picking colors from our glaze library, then waxing, dipping, pouring and brushing.
6. Finishing up. Glazing whatever is left and learning what the kiln does to your work. Finished pieces are ready to pick up within a week.

Clay, tools, apron, our glaze library and all firing for class are included.

Open Studio fits a daytime schedule, too

While you're enrolled in a six-week class, student Open Studio is included on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. If your days are flexible, that's plenty of extra wheel time to practice between classes. Clay for Open Studio practice is available for purchase in studio. Learn more about Open Studio at Claya.

Other ways to fit clay into your week

• Evenings after all? Intro to Wheel Throwing also runs weeknight evenings, but Mary's Monday 6–8:30 PM section starting November 9 is sold out, so the midday sections above are the open options.
• Just want to try it once? Try the Pottery Wheel is a single Friday or Saturday night, 6–8:30 PM, $75.
• Already thrown before? Advanced Beginner: Next Steps on the Pottery Wheel builds on the basics with bigger forms, trimming, handles and lids, $325 for six weeks.
• One-on-one time. A private pottery lesson is 1.5 hours for 1 to 3 people: $105 for one, $210 for two, or $315 for three. Larger groups can book a private event.
• Your own schedule. When you're ready to throw on your own, Studio Membership gives you shelf space and the same wheels, glazes and kilns. Extended Founding is $140/month, locked for one year from your start date, and members get keycode access to the studio. Member glaze firing is free through December 31, 2026, then 500 cubic inches per month are included and $0.04 per cubic inch after that, and bisque firing is always free.

Good to know before you sign up

• What to wear: clothes you don't mind getting clay on, with short nails if you can. Aprons are provided.
• Where: Claya, 3440 Walnut Street in Denver's RiNo Arts District. Street parking is near 34th and Walnut, all around the studio, and daytime parking is usually easy.
• Cancellations: 5 or more days before the first class, you get a refund minus a $12 fee. Closer in, you get a 6-month store credit. See how to cancel or switch a class.
• Retail Studio Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 AM–6 PM, and Sunday by appointment.

Compare every session on the pottery classes in Denver page, check pricing, or read the classes FAQ.

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A free afternoon is a great time to get your hands in clay. We'd love to see you at the wheel.