Beginner Pottery Classes in Denver

No Experience Needed. Learn Wheel Throwing at Claya

Never touched a pottery wheel? This is where you start. Claya's beginner wheel throwing classes are designed for people with zero experience. By the end, you'll know how to center clay, pull walls, and throw functional cups and bowls on the wheel. Live sessions enroll online now.

What You'll Learn

  • Week 1-2: Wedging clay, centering on the wheel, and opening. The foundations everything else builds on.
  • Week 3-4: Pulling walls and shaping cylinders into cups and bowls.
  • Week 5-6: Trimming, handles, and finishing techniques. Plus glazing your pieces for the final firing.

What's Included

  • Clay during class sessions (for student open studio practice, clay is available for purchase on the table near the aprons)
  • Access to all studio tools and equipment
  • Apron provided
  • Glazes and kiln firing included
  • Student open studio: students can come any of those times during Open Studio hours: Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10am–6pm, during your course.
  • Guided instruction from an experienced potter

Class Details

  • Duration: 6-week Intro to Wheel sessions run about 2.5–3 hours each meeting ($325).
  • Class size: Classes are capped at a small group of students so everyone gets hands-on attention from the instructor.
  • Location: 3440 Walnut Street, Denver CO 80205 (RiNo Arts District)
  • Parking: Street parking available near 38th and Blake
  • What to wear: Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting clay on. Avoid long sleeves.

Fall sessions: enrolling now

Every 6-week class is $325 with clay, tools, glazes and firing included for class. Small groups, so each session has limited space.

  • Intro to Wheel Throwing: Wednesdays 6:15–8:45 PM with Emili, starts October 14 · $325 · Enroll
  • Advanced Beginner: Next Steps on the Pottery Wheel: Tuesdays 6–8:30 PM with Caitlin, starts October 27 · $325 · Enroll
  • Advanced Beginner: Next Steps on the Pottery Wheel: Thursdays 6–9 PM with Sami, starts October 29 · $325 · Enroll
  • Intro to Wheel: Fridays: Fridays 12–2:30 PM with Jesse, starts October 30 · $325 · Enroll
  • Intro to Wheel: Dinnerware Sets: Sundays 1–3:30 PM with Ethan, starts November 1 · $325 · Enroll

September sessions are in progress and full. The fall sessions above are open for enrollment now.

See all fall pottery classes

Full schedule: pottery classes in Denver.

After the Class

Most students are hooked after a few weeks. From here you can:

  • Take another wheel session. A different instructor, a different night, more time on the wheel. See Intro to Wheel Throwing.
  • Become a member. Extended Founding membership is $140/month: buy online, then come in for agreement, shelf, and keycode. Members get 24/7 keycode access after setup. Bisque firing is free; glaze firing is free through December 31, 2026 (after that: 500 cubic inches free each month, then $0.04 per cubic inch). See the membership FAQ.
  • Try handbuilding. Explore pinch, coil, and slab in the 6-week Intro to Handbuilding class (current session sold out, watch the product page for the next run).

Frequently Asked Questions

I have no experience at all. Is this really for beginners?
Absolutely. Intro to Wheel Throwing is designed for people with no experience at all. Our instructor walks you through every step, and you'll be working alongside others who are also just getting started. The only requirement is curiosity.

What will I make?
By the end of the course, most students produce several cups and bowls. Every piece you make gets bisque fired and glazed so you take home finished, functional pottery.

Can I come with a friend?
Absolutely. Many people sign up in pairs. You'll sit at adjacent wheels.

What if I miss a class?
Use your student open studio time to keep practicing. We do not reschedule or make up individual class meetings. If you need to cancel the whole session, use dash.clayastudios.com/manage. Five or more calendar days before class day is a refund minus $12. After that cutoff and before start is 6-month store credit. After class starts, there is no refund and no store credit.

Keep Exploring

Sign Up

Enroll in a live session above, or see the full class schedule.

Questions? Email info@clayastudios.com or call (720) 288-4036.