• Hands throwing a clay pot on the wheel at Claya pottery studio in RiNo, Denver
  • Instructor Caitlin coaching a student throwing on the pottery wheel in a wheel class at Claya Studios in RiNo, Denver
  • Students centering clay on the pottery wheel in a wheel class at Claya Studios in RiNo, Denver
  • Instructor Caitlin watching over students throwing on pottery wheels at Claya Studios in RiNo, Denver
  • Ribbed vase with drippy white and celadon glaze made at Claya Studios in RiNo, Denver
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Advanced Beginner: Next Steps on the Pottery Wheel in Denver

Advanced Beginner: Next Steps on the Pottery Wheel

6 classes · clay, tools, glazes & firing included in class, plus student open studio

$325.00 USD
$325.00 USD
Choose your session
5.0 on Google Read all reviews
I haven’t touched a wheel in 15 years, but they had me up and running like no time has passed at all.
Zachary E.
The teachers are so patient, I had so much fun!
Weina L.
Large, immaculately clean space. Friendly, knowledgeable owner. Playlist on point. The perfect studio for everyone from novice to expert.
Sarah B.

Advanced Beginner: Next Steps on the Pottery Wheel is six weeks on the pottery wheel.

  • For people who’ve thrown before — an intro class or some wheel experience — and also open to beginners
  • Your teacher meets you where you are and helps you take the next step
  • Skills you’ll work on: centering, opening and pulling; more clay; taller and wider forms; trimming; handles; lids; sgraffito and underglaze
  • Includes clay, tools, apron, our glaze library, and firing for class
  • Open Studio is 10am–6pm Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays — practice between classes is included during your course (clay for Open Studio available for purchase at the studio)

Pick the night that fits. Tuesdays, 6:00 to 8:30 PM with Caitlin Ming, Wednesdays, 6:00 to 8:30 PM with Jesse Semel, or Thursdays, 6:00 to 9:00 PM with Sami Foster. Each session is a small group, so your teacher has real time with each student, and it’s $325 for all six classes. Finished pieces are ready for pickup within a week of your last class.

Jesse's Wednesday section has 6 classes, including Tue Dec 15 (no class Nov 25).

New to clay? Start with Intro to Wheel Throwing or Advanced Beginner: Next Steps on the Pottery Wheel, which cover similar content.

Tuesdays with Caitlin Ming

6:00 to 8:30 PM

  • Nov 3
  • Nov 10
  • Nov 17
  • Dec 1
  • Dec 8

No class Nov 24 (Thanksgiving week)

Wednesdays with Jesse Semel

6:00 to 8:30 PM

  • Nov 11
  • Nov 18
  • Dec 2
  • Dec 9
  • Tue, Dec 15
  • Dec 16

No class Nov 25 (Thanksgiving week)

Thursdays with Sami Foster

6:00 to 9:00 PM

  • Oct 29
  • Nov 5
  • Nov 12
  • Nov 19
  • Dec 3
  • Dec 10

No class Nov 26 (Thanksgiving week)

$325 for all six classes

What each week covers

  1. Week 1: The basics, tightened up.
    • Goal: make centering repeatable instead of lucky.
    • Centering, opening and pulling with your teacher watching closely
    • Fixing the habits that leave walls uneven
    • You leave with: a few cylinders thrown more consistently than you could before.
  2. Week 2: More clay, bigger forms.
    • Goal: throw bigger without losing the wall.
    • Centering and pulling more clay at once
    • Pushing past the cylinder into taller and wider shapes
    • You leave with: the largest pieces you have thrown so far.
  3. Week 3: Trimming and the foot.
    • Goal: a clean, finished foot on everything from the first two weeks.
    • Re-centering a pot upside down on the wheel
    • Cutting a foot ring and reading wall thickness as you go
    • You leave with: trimmed work that is ready to decorate.
  4. Week 4: Handles.
    • Goal: a handle that will not pop off in the kiln.
    • Pulling a handle by hand
    • Scoring, slipping and attaching at the right moment
    • You leave with: mugs with handles on them, plus more time on the wheel.
  5. Week 5: Lids, sgraffito and underglaze.
    • Goal: a lid that actually fits, and your own surface on your trimmed work.
    • Throwing a pot and a lid to match it
    • Carving sgraffito and painting on underglaze
    • You leave with: a lidded form and a shelf of decorated pieces.
  6. Week 6: Glazing.
    • Goal: every piece glazed, with the whole session to do it.
    • Picking from our glaze library
    • Waxing bottoms, dipping, pouring and layering
    • You leave with: all six weeks of work ready to fire. We take it from there.

Your teacher sets the pace, so the order can shift a little.

Open Studio

Open Studio is 10am–6pm Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Practice time in the studio for enrolled students — included with this class during your course. No need to reserve.

  • Mondays, 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Fridays, 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Saturdays, 10 AM to 6 PM

Wheels, tools, glazes, shelving and firing are included, and clay is available for purchase on the shelf near the aprons.

Open Studio is for enrolled students and is separate from Retail Studio Hours. Students don’t get a keycode. Studio members get 24/7 keycode access. More about Open Studio

Good to know

  • Where: Claya, 3440 Walnut St in RiNo. Street parking near 34th and Walnut, all around the studio.
  • Questions or want to see the studio? Stop by during Retail Studio Hours, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM, Sunday by appointment.
  • Wear clothes you don't mind getting clay on and keep nails short if you can. Aprons are provided.
  • Need to cancel? 5 or more days before the first class: refund minus a $12 fee. Closer in: 6-month store credit. Once the class starts: no refund or credit. See cancel or switch a class.
  • Want to keep going afterward? Extended Founding membership is $140/month with a 2-month minimum, and members get 24/7 keycode access after setup.
  • Compare every session on the pottery classes in Denver page, or read the classes FAQ.
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