Clay Classes in Portland

Wheel and Handbuilding Classes

All of our eight-week classes have a maximum of 12 students.
Call 503.283.1353 to sign up: no online class registration.

Welcome to Georgies' Community Classroom! It's a place to learn and explore this ancient craft while you also explore your personal expression and possibly make a friend or two.

Georgies offers adult (18 & over) clay classes which focus on two specific clay forming skills: throwing on the potter's wheel and hand-building techniques. While watching an experienced potter, it looks so easy, but clay work is actually a blend of art and learned skill. Our eight-week series classes are designed for both beginning and continuing students. It's rare that any beginning class will have only novice students as it takes multiple sessions to form the skill to be able to accomplish many of the steps that go into a finished glazed piece.

For most of Georgies' employees and instructors, clay and its many facets are a lifetime pursuit. There are endless ways to form the clay and decorate the surface. Explore form, function, texture, color, and design. An eight-week class is a freckle in time: it may be something you want to explore further but it won't be enough time to become a master potter or make all your Christmas presents if you have never worked in clay before.

Open studio times are uninstructed, but valuable
in developing the skills you are learning in your class.

Beginning Wheel

Beginning wheel classes focus on the primary skill of working on the potter's wheel.
These skills are centering clay, learning to control this spinning long to raise the walls
in both a vertical matter to form a mug, and pulling it out to form bowl shapes. Completing these forms requires another skill that is explored, and that is trimming. Glazing is
addressed in the simplest method, by dipping with a wide variety of Georgies cone 6 glazes.

Beginning students can expect to complete several small (cereal-size) bowls and a
mug or two (though perhaps not to perfection!). Continuing students will be able
to explore these basic forms further, and expand their scale with greater control
to larger bowls and more complex cylindrical forms.

The more time you spend in open studio, the faster you will develop your skills and control. Many students repeat a class simply because it fits their schedule.
We keep our wheel classes small with 12 students per class session,
so you are guaranteed a wheel in your class.

Tool Supply List you can purchase separately or we have a kits available

Click here to see "The Fine Print" for clay classes at Georgies.

Intermediate Wheel

Intermediate wheel classes are open to all students who were proficient on the
wheel, able to center and throw both bowls and mugs without further instruction.
This class explores more advanced wheel forms, like covered and lidded pots,
teapots, altered forms, and incorporating elements of handbuilding with wheel-
thrown work. The intermediate class is also able to explore more advanced glaze
techniques, making use of wax resist design as well as decorative painting.

Click the thumbnails for larger images of these class projects:

Click here to see "The Fine Print" for classes at Georgies.

Handbuilding

Hand-building is often the best place to start your clay experience. Hand building
explores many popular methods of clay forming including slab building, pinch pots,
and building with coils. By touching and forming clay with these simple unaided
methods, you learn the fundamentals of joining clay into cohesive forms. Our hand-
building class is open to beginning and continuing students. When we present a
specific technique, such as 'soft slab' work, we introduce it with a specific project
that teaches the skills needed for that type of work. As you begin to develop your skills,
you are able to bring your ideas to fruition. Again, basic glazing skills are explored.

Click the thumbnails for larger images of these class projects:

Click here to see "The Fine Print" for clay classes at Georgies.

2026 Workshops

All class fees are charged in full when you sign up and are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Pre-registration by phone is required (no online registration). Firing is included in
the class fees, unless otherwise noted. Custom firing is available - please ask us
about it! Fees include tools, brushes, materials, and instruction for the designated
project. You must be 16+ years old to join these classes.

June 26^th - Garden Class 1: Planters & Gnomes - $90.00

Megan will show you how to add some UMPH to your yard! Make a planter or a garden gnome to accentuate what mother nature brings - with color and excitement. You will have a selection of underglazes and pigments to decorate your pieces. All materials provided. Firing is included (we will apply a clear glaze over your piece to seal it, prior to firing). 06/26/26 • SUM320 • 1:30pm - 4:30pm • FULL

July 10^th - Garden Class 2: Yard Lanterns - $90.00

Add some fun and bring a little Zen to your yard by building yard lanterns with Megan. Light them up with LEDs or just let the sun play through, these will be the perfect addition to your space! All materials are provided. Firing is included. 07/10/26 • SUM321 • 1:30pm - 4:30pm • 10 seats available

July 10 ^th - Raku 1: Traditional - $90.00

Wil Labelle leads this hands-on workshop that features the basics of Raku using our trash can quick-fire Raku kiln and Georgie's raku glazes. You'll see lots of "Flash!" from the copper present in the glaze and experience the flame and excitement of raku. Bring a couple of bisque pieces to fire (best if fired to ^06). Glaze will be provided for your use. You will take home your finished pieces! 07/10/26 • SUM322 • 10am - 2pm • 9 seats avaialble

July 17^th - Learn Sgraffito! - $85.00

Karen will go over some practical tips and tricks for successful sgraffito using pre-drawn designs, underglaze, and carving tools. You'll create two tiles featuring the images provided while exploring this unique surface decorating technique on greenware. All materials are provided. Firing is included for two tiles. 07/17/26 • SUM323 • 1:30pm - 4:30pm • 3 seats available

July 24^th - Home Class 1: Cooking in Clay Vessels - $90.00

Megan will explore this long tradition of cooking in terra cotta vessels using our Cascadia Red clay. There is no need to glaze this type of dishware prior to baking in them! You will have the option to make two different baking dishes. All materials are provided. Firing is included. 07/24/26 • SUM324 • 1:30pm - 4:30pm • 8 seats available

July 24^th - Raku 2: Advanced Techniques - $90.00

This hands-on workshop explores two exciting techniques in the raku world called, "Horsehair" and "Naked" raku. Wil Labelle will talk about ways to get intriguing patterns using horsehair and the slip process for naked raku. Bring two bisque pieces to fire (best if fired to ^08-^06). All other materials are provided, and you go home with finished pieces! 07/24/26 • SUM325 • 10am - 2pm • 4 seats avaialble

July 31^st - Frozen Pond & Peacock Glazing - $95.00

Skyler guides you through these very popular glaze techniques. You'll get two bisque-fired, ready-to-glaze bowls and have access to a curated selection of glazes. See how each method creates different results using the same glazes. All materials are provided. Firing is included. 07/31/26 • SUM326 • 1:30pm - 4:30pm • 5 seats available

August 7^th - Testing the Waters: Wheel 101 - $55.00

Now is your chance to experience working on the wheel before committing to a class. Skyler will lead you through the basics of centering and pulling up cylinders. All materials provided. You can take home whatever you make. Firing is not included. 08/15/25 • SUM327 • 2pm - 4:30pm • 11 seats available

August 14^th - Underglaze Surface Decoration - $85.00

Looking to increase your ability to use underglaze surface decorations? Karen will go through three different methods: bubble underglaze, shaving cream marbling, and how to use underglaze transfers correctly. All materials are provided. Firing is included (we will apply a clear glaze over your piece to seal it, prior to firing). 08/14/26 • SUM328 • 1:30pm - 4:30pm • 7 seats available

August 21^st - Home Class 2: Table Accessories - $90.00

Megan shows you how to make your own table accessories for your next bash! Salt & Pepper shakers, Cream & Sugar, Oil & Vinegar, Corn Cobb butterers, and Toast racks are options for this class. No need to add glazes to these projects! All materials are provided. Firing is included. 08/21/26 • SUM329 • 1:30pm - 4:30pm • 10 seats available

August 28^th - Mold Making - $225.00

During this detailed class you will make a 2-part mold, and master moldmaker Brett Binford will assist you throughout the entire process including checking for undercuts, using cottles and plaster mixing. Please bring 2-4 simple objects and Brett will help you decide which one to use. You will leave at the end of the day with a mold suitable for slip casting! This class has limited seating and fills fast! SEL330 • 9am - 3pm • 4 seats available

Firing Your Electric Kiln

Whether your kiln is new or used, computerized or manual, we will cover it all. Learn the
nuts and bolts of firing, and how to operate and maintain your electric kiln for optimum
results to achieve ceramic success with the proper firing. Questions about firing glass
are welcome, but the class focuses on firing clay. Bring your notepads and questions!
Your fee includes a booklet which covers a wide range of firing information that you can
use for later reference. If you purchase a kiln from Georgies, we allow one free firing class on the date that works for you. Students must be 18 or older to attend the class.

All contents related to Georgies' products copyright 2026. All rights reserved.
Georgies Ceramic & Clay Co. • 756 NE Lombard • Portland OR 97211
Phone: 503-283-1353 • Email: info@georgies.com
Store Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00a-5:00p Pacific time • CLOSED Saturday & Sunday