Come and spend some time at the Pottery Barn, handbuilding or throwing clay! Instructors Betty Johnson and Ben Eckert provide a space for newcomers, those already familiar with the craft, and those who want to relearn the ropes to come and create. 

What you can expect: 

We have 5 different wheels and provide clay, glaze, and firing, as well as two tables for handbuilding or glazing. A slab roller is available for rolling out clay. If you’ve not had any experience with clay before or just need a refresher, our instructors will be available to walk you through the steps. As pottery is a messy craft, we recommend you to bring clothes that you will expect to be covered in clay. Aprons are provided. 

Various stages of the pottery throwing process can be strenuous on fingers, hands, and the wrists, and can require force to wedge and center clay. It’s recommended to perform mobility exercises before working with the clay. 

Frequently asked questions:

Can I bring my own clay in? With limited exception, we do not allow outside clay to be fired in our kilns. Due to the large variability in clay bodies, preventing outside clay from being fired reduces risk of kiln disasters, including explosions and melting!

What cone do you fire at? We fire at cone 04 for bisque firings, and cone 6 for glaze firings with 5 to 10 minute holds.

What type of glazes do you have, can I bring my own? We primarily have Amaco glazes, with some low fire glazes. We usually have no issue with outside glazes as well.

Can I mix my own glazes? Absolutely! We have a small amount of raw ingredients for mixing glazes and encouraging experimentation. So long as you take precautions to avoid kiln disasters, we welcome you to try recipes both homemade and ones you find. 

How long will it take for my piece to be ready? Usually a piece will take 2 weeks to be bisque fired, then another 2 weeks after you glaze it to be ready for taking home. 

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