For those who are looking to find the best pottery classes in New York City, we created a list of 13 pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens to ease your research.
More than a million years ago, people started using clay to make vessels and different useful things. Later, when man discovered fire they started firing the clay pots shortly after. Back in the day, people were firing the very first pots at very low temperatures which made them weak, fragile and porous. But after some time, by 4000 B.C., the ancient Egyptians were involved in pottery on a larger scale. They started firing the pieces at higher temperatures and were using bricks from clay as building materials. Pottery is one of the oldest crafts around and has survived many modifications and phases throughout the history.
Today, archeologists are spending a lot of time to recover small remnants from prehistoric societies and since pottery was used daily for items made of clay, they are often digging all kinds of things, which are showing them how they actually lived back then. Surprisingly, these ancient artifacts of pottery tell a lot about gender and social rankings among other things. Also, we know that they are more likely to find a pottery dish in a place where they ate rather than where they slept, so they are getting information about what used to be in the exact same spot many centuries ago.
You may be interested in picking up some skills to make your own pottery, but did you know it can also have positive benefits to your health? For instance, pottery will help you express your feelings in a creative way. Also, it can increase your optimistic outlook, improve your focus, reduce stress, exercise your limbs, and encourage sociability. There are many benefits you will get just by signing up a pottery class, in addition to displaying your masterpiece in your living room. If you want to sign up for a pottery class, but you don’t have any experience and you would rather go with your significant other, you can also check our list of 7 Couples Pottery Classes in NYC.
In order to create our list, we used Class Curious’ database to find some the best pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens. After we found out what are the best classes, we sorted them according to their prices in ascending order. However, we must note that each person has their own preferences when it comes to what makes a great class, so deciding that part is up to you.
If you think you are ready to explore your creativity in a pottery class or refresh your knowledge, let’s jump on our list of 13 pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens and see what program will suit you the most.
13. Handbuilding: Clay
Level: All Levels
Price: $45
At Baked in Brooklyn, if you decide to join their class, you will learn all kinds of different techniques for making forms from wet clay. One week after the class, you need to come back to glaze and fire your art again, so you can take home whatever you decided to build with your own hands. The materials are provided and they are included in the price. The firing and glaze are also included in the price. If you are ready to take your creativity to another level, make sure you sign up for this class.
12. Private Hand Building or Wheel Throwing
Level: All Levels
Price: $50
In this class, the minimum age requirement is 12 years old. If you are older, you just need to let them know if you will be attending the Hand Building or the Wheel Throwing class. You will get the chance to enjoy the satisfaction of making plates, trays, bowls or sculptures among many other things. Or, if you sign up for wheel throwing class, you will not only master the wheel throwing technique, but you will also learn how to be more patient with your work. There aren’t makeup classes, but, if you miss one, you will have time to catch up with the teacher.
11. Sip & Spin Pottery Workshop
Level: Beginner
Price: $72
We are continuing our list of pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens with The Sip & Spin Pottery Workshop class that is mainly for adults due to its BYOB nature. Those who are 21 or older, are free to bring their own wine or beer and enjoy a relaxing evening while getting dirty. The teacher in this class will teach you the basic techniques of the pottery wheel before you move on to more advanced projects. The materials are included in the price as well as firing one product. If you want to fire more than one product, you will have to pay additional $8 for each one.
10. Wheel Throwing Pottery
Level: Beginner
Price: $72
The average class in the Wheel Throwing Pottery (Weekend) class consists of around 11 students. Even though this group is mainly for adults, teenagers over 15 are also welcomed to join the class. Here, you will learn the basic skills of the pottery wheel and you won’t need any previous experience. Also, the bowl or cylinder you will make in this class, is yours to take home. They will glaze and fire it for you for free. However, if you want to fire more than one product, you will have to pay additional $8 fee for each product.
9. Colored Porcelain Coffee & Espresso Mug Workshop
Level: Beginner
Price: $75
It seems like Brooklyn is the place to go if you want to learn how to make pottery. In this class, regardless of your previous experience, you will learn how to build functional products like cups for tea, coffee, tumblers or tableware among other things using slabs of porcelain. You will be using colored clay ”slips” in order to decorate your product in red, pink, gray, black and blue. At the end of the class, each student will make at least two cups that will be glazed. After two weeks, you can pick them up or you can have them delivered to your home or work via FedEx. After you get your mugs, you can put them in your living room where everyone can see them, or use them for your morning coffee.
8. Pottery Date Night
Level: All Levels
Price: $125
At The Potter’s Wheel, you don’t need any previous experience because you will learn the basics of the pottery wheel and all kinds of different techniques in a relaxed and pleasant environment. This is a 2 and a half hour class and wine and pizza are included. We think the pizza alone makes it a great contender for the 13 pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens. Is there a better way to spend an interesting evening with your significant other, than attending a class where you will learn something creative while drinking wine and eating pizza?
7. Ceramic Pit Fire & Raku Workshop
Level: All Levels
Price: $190
The teachers in this class are Nicholas Newcomb and Demetria Chappo. If you decide to join their class, you should know that you will learn the basics of pottery making, but the focus will be on making different experimental pieces with Raku firing and a sawdust pit. This is a two-day workshop and you will start with hands in the clay, sculpturing and modeling simple pinch pot forms. Every participant will make 4 to 5 simple products before moving on to something more advanced. The next weekend, you need to come back to glaze your products and fire them.
6. Introduction to Mold Making and Slipcasting
Level: All Levels
Price: $225
Sierra Yip-Bannicq and Jazmin de la Guardia teach the Introduction to Mold Making and Slipcasting class at Supersmith. This is a six-hour class where even beginners with no experience at all are welcome. Here, you will learn how to make a two-part plaster mold of an object of your choice and then you will proceed to cast objects of clay with the slip casting technique. The materials are included in the price and if there is anything you need to bring for the class, you will be contacted by the class teachers.
5. Intermediate Wheel
Level: Intermediate
Price: $350
If you decide to join this class that ranks 5th on the list of pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens, you will need to have at least some previous experience with the pottery wheel. This is a great class to refresh your previous knowledge or upgrade it. Here, you will continue to develop and sharpen your skills by introducing the concepts of shaping, pouring vessels, sets, closed forms and lidded vessels. There is no makeup class if you miss one, but you will have time to catch up with the teacher. But, students in the adult classes will need to bring their own tools. They can purchase a beginner kit for $20 at the studio.
4. All-Level Wheel Throwing and Hand Building
Level: All Levels
Price: $350
The average class size in the All-Level Wheel Throwing and Hand Building class that’s up next on our list of pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens consists of about 8 adult students. Here, you will be focused on mastering the basic wheel throwing and hand building techniques, and you will walk away with a solid knowledge and understanding of clay, glazing and form building. You can go to the studio 2 hours before the class and practice. The glaze is included in the price but if you want to fire your product, you need to pay 5 cents per cubic inch. However, it is not some insane amount of money and it would be great to see your product in your living room every day.
3. Wheel and Handbuilding
Level: Intermediate
Price: $350
The class level in the Wheel and Handbuilding class that’s next on our list of pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens is intermediat, emeaning you will need some previous experience in order to get the maximum from this course. If you decide to join this class, you should know that you will master your handbuilding skills. Previous experience with the wheel is required but, previous experience with handbuilding isn’t required. If you miss one class, there are no makeup classes, but you will have enough time to catch up with the teacher. Adult students will need to bring their own tools, if you don’t have them at home you can purchase them in the studio for $20.
2. Wheel Throwing: Semi-Private
Level: Beginner
Price: $350
People with little to no experience are welcome to join the Wheel Throwing: Semi-Private (Intensive) class that ranks 2nd on our list of pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens. Here, the average class size is 8 students and it is a 15-hour program. The evening session will last for three hours, twice a week for two weeks while the remaining three hours will be scheduled additionally. If some of the participants aren’t available to attend the class at the scheduled time, they can attend one of the makeup classes. But, the materials aren’t included in the price, you will need to purchase a $15 pottery tool kit on the first day of the class.
1. Advanced Wheel
Level: Advanced
Price: $370
As you already know, this class is for those who already have knowledge, understanding, and experience on the wheel. Since it is advanced, you can refresh or upgrade your understanding in the wheel while exploring your creative visions. You will master the techniques and improve your skills but there isn’t a makeup class so make sure you will attend every class. The price includes clay and glazing, but if you want to fire your product, you will have to pay 5 cents per cubic inch. Also, if you are an adult, you will have to purchase a $20 beginner kit.
This concludes our list of 13 pottery classes in Brooklyn and Queens. We hope we managed to show you some of the best classes out there so you can attend!
