ADULT + FAMILY CLAY WORKSHOPS
Workshops are a great way to learn new ceramic techniques. Ranging between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, we have a class or workshop for everyone! Become a member to receive discounts and early registration!
Check out our Membership Page to see what other perks you can receive. See you in the studio!
BEGINNER SPIN
One-Off Intro to Wheel Workshop
Tuesday, July 7th, 6pm-8:30pm
Teens and Adults
$65/person
The focus of this intro 2.5hr hands-on workshop is to introduce participants with the process of throwing on the wheel.
We will cover centering, opening, and pulling clay
pieces on the potter's wheel. Because this is just a 2.5 hour introductory experience, the intention is to focus on process. You won’t go home with any finished pieces, but you will have a great evening learning a new skill, getting dirty, and meeting new people. Careful! You might just leave wanting more…
SUMMER FAMILY
CLAY PLAY
Dates to come
$20/person
Get ready for a hands-on, creativity-filled Family Clay Play Day (created especially for families with young children)! This fun and relaxed event is perfect for all ages - whether you’re a total beginner or already love working with clay. Families can gather to shape, mold, and explore their imaginations together while creating unique keepsakes to take home.
Come ready to get a little messy, express your creativity, and make lasting memories! This event is held in our outside studio, under the tent.
Please allow 2-4 weeks for pick-up.
GOLD LUSTER WORKSHOP
With Ishara Sweeney
2 session workshop (must attend both sessions)
POSTPONED!
Level: All levels (clay experience required)
$100/person ($70 registration + $30 materials fee - participants get to take home the materials)
In this workshop you’ll learn several techniques for applying real gold luster to your ceramic work. Metal lusters are applied as an overglaze, meaning they are painted onto fully glaze-fired pieces and then fired again in a low-temperature firing. During the firing, the liquid medium burns away, leaving a thin layer of real gold fused to the surface of the glaze. Because lusters require good ventilation, this workshop will take place in our outdoor classroom.
Participants must bring: 3–5 fully glaze-fired, finished pieces ready for luster application. Think mugs, cups, small bowls, bud vases (no plates or tiles due to firing space considerations). We’ll complete a dedicated luster firing at the end of the workshop and gather again the following morning to unload the kiln and review the results together.
SODA FIRING WORKSHOP
June 25th - 28th + June 2nd
<<Participants must commit to entire process>>
Day 1 - Thurs, June 25th, 4-6pm (mandatory)
Day 2 - Fri, June 26th, 8am-1pm (mandatory)
Days 3 & 4 - Sat and Sun, June 27th-28th (participants must sign up for 2 shifts)
Day 5 - Thurs, July 2nd, 4-6pm (mandatory)
Cost: $200 for public, $175 for members
(email programs@carbondaleclay.org for member discount code to use at checkout)
This is a full immersion Soda Firing Experience! Participants will learn glazing and atmospheric firing considerations, how to load and seal the kiln, kiln maintenance, adding soda during firing, and how to unload and clean the kiln post-use. Firing up the soda kiln takes a village and is a pretty special process to be a part of. Not to mention the beautiful effect it will give to your ceramics.
Requirements/Materials:
-Must bring 2 cubic feet worth of glazed-ware (ie - bisqued and glazed, but not glaze-fired)
-Natural fiber clothing
-Closed-toed shoes
-A Good Night’s Sleep (there might be some weird hours)
-PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)
-Water and snacks
DATE NIGHT - LEAVE THE KIDS WITH US!
Friday, July 10th, 6pm-8pm at the Carbondale Clay Center
Ages 5+
Cost: $30/participant
Get yourself some much-needed time with your sweetie, and leave the little one(s) with us for a couple of hours. Kids will enjoy G-rated claymation shorts while playing with clay and creating their own characters. Participants will not take their clay pieces home, but parents can take pictures of their chid(ren) and their work at pickup.
Note: Please feed your child before drop-off. Snacks are not provided, but feel free to bring snacks and a water bottle for your child(ren).
Short Claymation Films we will show:
-Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave (30 min)
-Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (30 min)
Visit Common Sense Media to see if these movies are right for your child.
MAKING MULTIPLES: INTRO TO MOLD MAKING & SLIP CASTING
With Dara Hartman
Saturday, July 18th, 10am-4pm (with lunch break)
Level: All levels (clay experience required)
Cost: $175 for public, $150 for members
Member Discount Code: MEMBER25
(log in and use this code at checkout)
Want to learn the basics of mold making and slip casting? In this hands-on workshop Dara Hartman will demystify working with plaster and will guide you through a step by step process of creating beautiful molds that can be used for slip casting or press molds. You will learn formulas for calculating the plaster to water ratio, how to remove bubbles, and how to clean up molds for use. We will discuss different types of molds, how they’re used, and why they are made the way they are. Dara will also share how she makes her large scale ceramic quilts through design, mold making, slip casting multiples, and connecting parts. By the end of the workshop you will walk away with a one part mold to use in your practice. So as not to contaminate our studio, this workshop will be held in our outside classroom.
GET YOUR DRIP ON
Glaze Mixing 101 With
Matthew Eames
Classroom Day @ CCC: August 22nd
10am-5pm (with an hour lunch break)
Mixing lab @ CCC: Sunday, August 23rd
participants will sign up for an hour-long slot on this day to mix their glazes
Follow up @ Townline Trucks: Saturday, Sept 12th, 1-2pm
participants will meet one last time with their finished pieces to talk about the process and the results. Plan to buy your lunch if you’d like and talk while you eat.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Cost: $200 for public, $175 for members
Member Discount Code: GLAZE25
(log in and use this code at checkout)
Learn how to create your own glazes from scratch!
Show up with ideas and prepare to have your mind blown with the possibilities.
The session on Saturday, August 22nd will guide you through the process of mixing your own glazes. You will choose 3 different dream glazes to mix for your intended use and firing conditions, understand the technical and chemical considerations behind the choice, calculate the ratios for your glaze recipes, and observe mixing demos.
The 45 minute lab on Sunday, August 23rd will let participants mix their 3 glazes and glaze their test tiles.
Return with your finished work in September for a fun show-and-tell at Townline Trucks.
Important: We will provide all participants with 3 high fire test tiles (Cone 10). If you would like to make Cone 04 or Cone 06 glazes, please pre-make and bisque your own test tiles to bring to class. Questions? Contact Matthew Eames at studio@carbondaleclay.org
SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW
With Michael Wisner
Saturday, October 3rd, 10am-5pm
Level: All levels (no prior clay experience required)
This hands-on workshop will honor the ancient art of Mexican and Southwest pottery with the intention to inspire contemporary expression. Expect to learn about and experience some of the artistic surface design techniques, tools, and gifts that Michael’s mentors taught to him.
RAKU WORKSHOP
Coming in Fall 2026
$75/person
Requirements/Materials:
-Must bring 2-3 bisqued pieces (not intended for food use)
-Natural fiber clothing
-Closed-toed shoes
-Outdoor clothes for the weather
-Water and snacks (will break for lunch)
-PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)
-Willingness to experiment and let go of the outcome
ENROLLMENT POLICY
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. A student will only be registered for a class upon receipt of tuition payment in full. We cannot guarantee placement into a class until payment is received. Materials and firing fees are included in the tuition.
CANCELLATION POLICY
To cancel a registration and receive a refund, you must notify the CCC at least 7 days before the start date of your class. We will refund your payment minus a 10% cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than 7 days before the start date of the class. In the event that the Clay Center is forced to cancel a class, a full refund will be issued.