Handbuilding Pottery

Advanced Fundamentals
Looking to get your hands in clay and start building? This four-week class is your entry point into the world of ceramics—no wheel required. Learn how to create beautiful, functional, sculptural forms using handbuilding techniques.

A 4-Week Deep Dive into Sculptural & Functional Pottery

Thursdays, June 5 – 26, 2025, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Ceramics Studio at Make Santa Fe

Looking to get your hands in clay and start building? This four-week class is your entry point into the world of ceramics—no wheel required. Learn how to create beautiful, functional, sculptural forms using handbuilding techniques.

$550.00Add to cart

What You’ll Learn

Pinch, Coil, and Slab Techniques: Master the core methods of handbuilding and gain confidence shaping clay by hand.

Joining, Building, and Finishing: Learn how to score, slip, and securely join pieces and refine and finish your work for bisque firing.

Surface Texture and Design: Carving, stamping, and layering techniques add rich detail to your ceramic creations.

Bisque Firing Process: Understand how pieces are prepared for their first firing and what to expect when your work goes into the kiln.

Please note: This class does not include glazing. A separate Glazing & Finishing Workshop will be offered to complete your bisque-fired pieces.

Who Should Take This Class?

  • Total beginners looking to explore ceramics
  • Makers who enjoy sculptural and tactile approaches
  • Artists interested in form and texture over wheel-thrown work
  • Anyone who wants a relaxed, hands-on introduction to working with clay

What’s Included:

  • All clay, tools, and materials
  • Instruction and guidance from an experienced ceramic artist
  • Bisque firing of your completed works
  • Your own handmade ceramics to take home after firing

What to Bring:

  • Clothes you don’t mind getting messy
  • A towel or apron
  • Any ideas, sketches, or reference material you’d like to explore (optional)

Your Instructor

Adel
Adel

Volunteer/ Educator

Purchase a Ticket

Event Sessions

Start Time2:00 PM
End Time6:00 PM
Looking to get your hands in clay and start building? This four-week class is your entry point into the world of ceramics—no wheel required. Learn how to create beautiful, functional, sculptural forms using handbuilding techniques.
Start Time2:00 PM
End Time6:00 PM
Looking to get your hands in clay and start building? This four-week class is your entry point into the world of ceramics—no wheel required. Learn how to create beautiful, functional, sculptural forms using handbuilding techniques.
Start Time2:00 PM
End Time6:00 PM
Looking to get your hands in clay and start building? This four-week class is your entry point into the world of ceramics—no wheel required. Learn how to create beautiful, functional, sculptural forms using handbuilding techniques.
Start Time2:00 PM
End Time6:00 PM
Looking to get your hands in clay and start building? This four-week class is your entry point into the world of ceramics—no wheel required. Learn how to create beautiful, functional, sculptural forms using handbuilding techniques.

Related Events

Intermediate Wood: Joinery with Dado

Classes from March 27 to November 26

Delve into the art of dado joinery! Through the use of dado stack blades on the table saw with a dado sled as well as the radial arm saw, students learn to make lap, rabbet and finger joints.


Intermediate Wood Lathe: Platters & Trays

Classes from April 19 to October 18

Take your woodturning skills to the next level in this Intermediate Wood Lathe workshop, where you'll create beautifully turned platters and trays.

Metal and Wood Furniture Fabrication

Classes from May 4 to May 25

In this four-session intensive, you’ll design and build a custom piece of furniture that blends the warmth of wood with the strength of steel. Whether you’re imagining a side table, bench, stool, or small shelving unit, this course will guide you from raw materials to a finished, functional object.

Intermediate Wood Lathe: Goblets

Classes from May 17 to November 15

In this Intermediate Wood Lathe workshop, you’ll refine your spindle turning and hollowing techniques while creating an elegant, functional, or decorative goblet.