Throwing and Handbuilding Sat., October 18, 2025 - November 15, 2025 10:00 am-1:00 pm
2025-10-18 10:00 - 2025-11-15 13:00 (America/New_York) | Shoulder Cat Studio, 3112 N Peary St, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
Note: This is a pet-friendly studio. While cleaning is regularly done, there will most likely be allergens present. Pets are welcomed with permission only.
During this 5-week pottery class, students will work on throwing pottery on the wheel as well as handbuild with a variety of techniques. While this class is best for advanced beginners and intermediate potters, beginners to either the wheel or handbuilding will also benefit from the class. Pottery terminology, skills, and glazing techniques will be discussed.
The class fee includes 15 pounds of clay, oxides, glaze, firings, and storage space.
There are general pottery supplies for use in the studio. Personal tool kits are also available to purchase for $15. An apron and towel will be provided, though you can bring your own. Additional clay (recycled clay is free), firings, special lusters, underglaze transfers and overglaze decals can be purchased for a fee.
A maximum of 4 students will be in the class, allowing for plenty of hands-on guidance as needed. You must be able to attend all five sessions as no make up sessions will be offered. Once the class is full, a waitlist will open.
Sample 3 hour, 5-week schedule:

Week 1: Review studio best practices. Demo and practice cylinders/bowls on the wheel as well as coil and slab building.
Week 2: Practice and demo trimming on the wheel and continue practicing coil and slab building.
Week 3: Continue practice and finish pieces from week 1 and 2. Pieces will be loaded into kiln for a first round of bisque firing.
Week 4: Finish all pieces made from weeks 1-3. Start discussing glaze and practice on test tile. Pieces loaded for second round of bisque firing.
Week 5: Demo and glaze bisque pieces. Glazed pieces loaded into kiln for glaze firing.

Finished pieces will be available for pickup 2-3 weeks after week 5. You will be contacted to arrange pickup.Please contact us if you have questions or need accommodations.
SLIDING SCALE PRICING
Sliding scale pricing is how we balance the equity scales and we use it to make ceramics education accessible and affordable to all. There are four tiers for pricing. When signing up for this class, please pay what feels right to you and your current finances. This is a trust based system, only you will know what feels comfortable and possible. BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ are encouraged to pay the Solidarity and Equity Tiers.
Full-price Tier – This is the actual cost for the class.
Solidarity Tier – This is a moderately discounted cost for the class.
Equity Tier – This is a further discounted cost for the class.
Pay-it-Forward Tier – This is a moderately higher cost for the class. This tier helps us continue to offer sliding scale pricing as well as offer low cost workshops.

Friday Pottery Date Night - 2025
2025-02-21 - 2025-12-25
Note: This is an animal-friendly studio. While cleaning is regularly done, there will most likely be allergens present. Pets are welcomed with permission only.
For date night, bring a companion for a fun and relaxed 2 hour pottery demonstration (3 hours for four people). During date night, participants will get to try their hand at wheel throwing, handbuilding or slipcasting, the choice is yours. There is no pressure to make a piece and the ability to make 1-2 pieces to keep at the end of the session. This workshop is well-suited for beginners who are new to the pottery. The instructor will help start and finish pieces.
The class includes clay, oxides, glaze, and firings. There are general pottery supplies for use in the studio. An apron and towel will be provided, though you can bring your own.
A maximum of two couples, or four people can be booked per session, so feel free to bring along some friends. Please only purchase one ticket per couple/two couples. The price for the different tiers is inclusive of all participants. Session dates can be selected during checkout. Times will be determined during a follow up email. Note, dates may need to be adjusted based on availability, but if a mutually acceptable date cannot be determined, we will refund your purchase.
If there are pieces you would like to keep, the instructor will clean up and glaze those pieces. Finished pieces will be available to pick up within 3 weeks after the date night session. More information will be provided as needed,
Please contact us if you have questions or need accommodations.
SLIDING SCALE PRICING
Sliding scale pricing is how we balance the equity scales and we use it to make ceramics education accessible and affordable to all. There are four tiers for pricing. When signing up for this class, please pay what feels right to you and your current finances. This is a trust based system, only you will know what feels comfortable and possible. BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ are encouraged to pay the Solidarity and Equity Tiers.
Full-price Tier – This is the actual cost for date night.
Solidarity Tier – This is a moderately discounted cost for date night.
Equity Tier – This is a further discounted cost for date night.
Pay-it-Forward Tier – This is a moderately higher cost for date night. This tier helps us continue to offer sliding scale pricing as well as offer low cost workshops.
