Classes
Give it a GO!
“Give it a GO!” is a one time event that is a relaxed, beginner friendly introduction to working with clay. After a studio tour and orientation, you will spend the session getting your hands on the clay and experiencing the pottery wheel. And no experience is necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to get a little muddy! If you throw a piece that you cannot part with, we can offer you an additional firing fee.
Surface Decorating with Erin King
In this six week class, students will dive into the world of ceramic surface design. Utilizing multiple techniques at each stage of the ceramics process, students will transform the surfaces of their pieces and experiment with multiple decorative styles. Techniques covered in class include sgraffito, working with slips and underglazes, layering with stencils, pattern carving, stamp making, glazing with resist techniques, and much more! This class is geared towards those with some clay experience and is great for anyone that has taken a basic ceramics class like wheel throwing or hand building and is ready for next steps. While some construction techniques will be demonstrated, class time will be focused mainly on surface design with less of a focus on form building, so students may want to come to class with pieces to work on. Don't worry about having anything prepared for the first week - the instructor will provide additional context during class.
Intermediate Wheel with Jeff Sugarman
For those who have are feeling confident on the wheel and are ready for the next steps.
Participants will
1. Learn to handle more clay and throw bigger pieces
2. Make a "set" learning basic techniques to ensure uniformity
3. Improve cylinder height and learn how to collar to achieve a bottle shape
4. Learn how to throw off the "hump" to throw more efficiently and handle smaller pieces
5. Forays into surface decoration and glaze design
The Mud Lab for Kids ages 7-12 years. Tuesdays 3:30-5 pm October 6 - November 10
Unleash your imagination and get your hands muddy in this dynamic high-energy pottery studio designed just for kids! Over six weeks, young artists will level up their clay skills through creative hand-building challenges and 3D sculpting. Each action-packed session begins with an interactive group demonstration covering essential clay skills such as slabe-rolling, coil-building, and pinch pot mastering. Students will transform raw clay into awesome functional art they can use in their daily lives.
Sign up through Sonoma Art School.
Beginning and Continuing Wheel
Ready to focus on the wheel? This course is designed for those who want to dive into the fundamentals of wheel throwing and build strong foundational skills. You’ll learn the core techniques step by step—centering, opening, pulling walls, and shaping forms like cylinders and bowls. As the class progresses, you’ll also be introduced to trimming and refining your pieces, along with glazing to complete your work. This course is a great start if you are interested in learning on the wheel with plenty of guided practice and individual support along the way. We welcome those who have never thrown on the wheel or worked with clay, along with those with experience who just want to get back into it.
Learn more about your instructors!
Hand Building Fundamentals
We will explore pinch, coil, and slab building to create forms, then utilize surface decoration techniques to add color and texture. Students will learn how to create dynamic surfaces using stamps, carving, decorative slip and underglaze work, stencils, sgraffito, and more! Instructor: Rossana Naum-Stoian
Class members have access to the studio during non-class hours.
TUESDAYS 5:00pm -8:00pm
WEDNESDAYS 9 am - 12 pm
SATURDAYS 10 am - 3 pm
This will give you the opportunity to practice your new skills on your own time.
Class includes 12.5 pounds of clay. All additional clay is purchased through Clay+Kiln.
Bring your own tools or purchase a beginner set at the studio.
We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone. All backgrounds, identities and experience levels are encouraged. No experience needed!
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Any changes to class registration must be made 10 days prior to the first class. Clay+Kiln does not offer a refund if the change is made after this date. A $15 processing fee will be charged for any refund.