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Clay Classes in Portland
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Wheel and Handbuilding Classes
All of these classes are in our Portland store with a maximum 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.
Our keep our wheel classes small, with 12 students per class session,
so you are guaranteed a wheel in your class.
Click the thumbnails for larger images of these class projects:
Mondays, 10am - Noon |
July 1 -
August 19 |
Wil Labelle |
SEL206
$350 |
FULL |
August 26 -
October 14
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Wil Labelle |
SEL213
$325** |
11
seats available |
** 7 week class above - will not meet on Labor Day - September 2, 2024 ** |
Tuesdays, 10am - 12pm |
July 2 -
August 20 |
Wil Labelle |
SEL208
$350 |
1
seat available |
August 27 -
October 15 |
Wil Labelle |
SEL215
$350 |
9
seat available |
Tuesdays, 6pm -8pm |
July 2 -
August 20 |
Megan Sedita |
SEL209
$350 |
FULL |
August 27 -
October 15 |
Megan Sedita |
SEL216
$350 |
FULL |
Thursdays, 6pm - 8pm |
July 11 -
August 22 |
Eli Pilkington |
SEL212
$325** |
FULL |
August 29 -
October 17 |
Eli Pilkington |
SEL219
$350 |
8
seats available |
![](jpgs/red-star.jpg) |
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:
Wednesdays, 6pm - 8pm |
July 3 -
August 21 |
Eli Pilkington |
SEL210
$350 |
FULL |
August 28 -
October 16 |
Eli Pilkington |
SEL217
$350 |
5
seats available |
![](jpgs/red-star.jpg) |
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:
July 1 -
August 19 |
Stephanie Burton |
SEL207
$350 |
1
seat available |
August 26 -
October 14 |
Stephanie Burton |
SEL214
$325** |
11
seats available |
** 7 week class above - will not meet on Labor Day - September 2, 2024 ** |
Thursdays, 10am - Noon |
July 11 -
August 22 |
Stephanie Burton |
SEL211
$325** |
4
seats available |
August 29 -
October 17 |
Stephanie Burton |
SEL218
$350 |
9
seats available |
![](jpgs/red-star.jpg) |
Click here to see "The Fine Print" for clay classes at Georgies. |
2024 Friday Summer Workshops
These classes are meant not only to answer the many questions we are asked on a daily basis, but to also provide
the opportunity for you to try new tools or new techniques that we find intriguing. All class fees are charged in full when you sign up and all fees are
NON-REFUNDABLE. Pre-registration by phone is required (no online registration). Firing is NOT included in the class fees, unless otherwise noted. Custom firing is available - please ask us about it! Fees include materials and instruction for the designated project. Most classes require basic pottery tools and brushes as listed.
You must be 16 years old to register. Click Summer Workshop PDF to print for your use.
You must be 16 years old to register. Click Glaze Workshop PDF to print for your use.
You must be 13-17 years old to attend. Click Teen Workshop PDF to print for your use.
August 2nd - Tripod Vase - $60.00
![](jpgs/classes/Tripod Vase.png) |
This Hand Building project is loaded with tons of techniques. You will create a vessel, add three feet, then incorporate some altering. Stephanie Burton will help you put your own creative spin on this versitile little vase. Perfect for all skill levels! All materials provided. Firing is not included.
08/02/24 SUM296 9am - 11:45am 9 seats open |
August 9th - Seed Pod Rattles - $60.00
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Explore making a seed pod out of two simple pinch pots. To make it even more exciting, let's turn it into a rattle! Stephanie Burton has taught this project many times and it's always a frenzy of creative energy. A great way to dabble in the world of sculpture, gain some clay skills, and have tons of fun. Suitable for all skill levels. All materials are provided. Firing not included.
08/09/24 SUM297 1pm - 4pm 12 seats open |
August 16th - Slip Casting 101 - $75.00
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Are you interested in slip casting but don't know where to start? In this workshop, Robert Houghton will show you the basics of slip casting, including working with slip, pouring, draining and cleaning up your piece. All materials are provided.
08/16/24 SUM298 2pm - 4pm 6 seats open |
August 23rd - Mold Making - $200.00
![](jpgs/summer2-mold.png) |
During this detailed class you will make a 2-part mold and Brett Binford will assist you throughout the entire process including checking for undercuts, using cottles and plaster mixing. Now's your chance to ask an expert moldmaker about the complicated process of mold making! 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!
08/23/24 SUM300 9am - 3pm FULL |
August 30th - Testing the Waters - $40.00
![](jpgs/summer4-wheel-testing.png) |
If the morning class doesn't fit your schedule, maybe this one will. Now is your chance to experience working on the wheel before commintting to a class. Skyler & Greta will lead you through the basics of centering and pulling up cylinders. All materials provided. You can take home whatever you make. Firing not included.
08/30/24 SUM301 2pm - 4:30pm 5 seats open |
August 2nd-16th ... SUMMER TEEN WORKSHOP - $150.00
![](jpgs/classes/Teen Workshop.png) |
Let your teens (age 13-17) experience the magic of working with clay! Megan Sedita will cover all major contruction methods in this 3-week class. Students will learn wheel throwing, trimming, handbuilding, and glazing. Classroom etiquette is required. All work will be kiln fired and ready for pick up on August 23rd during our regular store hours (M-F 9am-5pm). All materials provided.
08/02/24-08/16/24 SUM302 6pm - 8pm 10 seats open |
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. You can take the class again, at no charge, as often as needed, once you pay for the first class.
Thursdays, 9:30am - 12pm |
August 15 , 2024 |
Katie Sandeen |
SEL731
$35 |
9
seats available |
September 19 , 2024 |
Katie Sandeen |
SEL732
$35 |
9
seats available |
October 17 , 2024 |
Katie Sandeen |
SEL733
$35 |
12
seats available |
November 21 , 2024 |
Katie Sandeen |
SEL734
$35 |
12
seats available |
December 19 , 2024 |
Katie Sandeen |
SEL735
$35 |
12
seats available |
Student Discounts
Beginning January 1st, 2024 ...
we will offer students a discount with a current school ID card, current school email with
proof of enrollment, or if you are in a current Georgies class session. Please let us know when
you check out if you are a student and show us your student ID card or school email.
Unfortunately, we can not offer a discount if an ID card/school email is not present.
This discount does not extend to memberships to private studios.
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The FINE PRINT for eight-week clay classes:
If you need a registration confirmation e-mail, please request one when signing up for the class. We charge your non refundable deposit the day you sign up and bill the remainder of the class one week before the first class session. If you choose to pay by cash or check, please arrange payment with Georgies phone staff on the day that credit cards will be charged (please get the name of person you talked to at Georgies if you choose to pay by cash). If we do not receive your cash payment by the time and date payment is due you will automatically be cancelled out of the class. Call or email us as soon as possible if you have to cancel your registration. If you cancel after the date of final payment, we are unable to refund your entire class registration.
The fee for our clay classes includes Georgies classroom clay, use of Georgies glazes on your projects, 5 hours of open studio time to practice between class sessions (during store hours and when another class is not using the studio space), and firing your classroom work. Cone 06 lowfire clays are NOT allowed in our classroom area for any reason. No other clay/glaze is allowed in the classroom we provide everything.
Once the class has started: there are no cancellations (no refunds for your class fee), switching classes (i.e. moving from Monday AM to Tuesday AM), transferring class fee to another session, no make up classes or open studio make up time (if you miss a class, you miss a class and same with open studio), no refunds for missed classes.
If you have any questions regarding the fine print or during your 8 week session or any questions at all: please e-mail classes@georgies.com
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