Pottery Classes San Diego | Intro to Wheel Throwing

  • Learn to Throw on the Pottery Wheel

    Intro to Wheel Throwing is a four-week class and offered every day at our studio. Select a section below to register.

  • Unlimited Studio Time for Students

    Enrolled students receive 24/7 access to the studio (except ongoing class times).

  • Clay + Tools Included

    Enrolled students receive clay and use of community tools, aprons and towels.

Intro to Wheel Throwing

Learn to throw pottery at our ceramics studio in San Diego

This class is perfect for beginners or those with some experience.

In Intro to Wheel Throwing, you will learn the foundational skills and techniques needed to pursue wheel throwing as a lifelong art form. Taught by an experienced Wheel & Fire ceramicist, this course offers a step-by-step approach to making pottery using a potter's wheel. 

Course Structure:

  • Duration: Four weekly sessions, each lasting two hours (total of 8 hours of guided instruction).
  • Studio Access: Enrollment includes unlimited 24/7 access to our pottery studio for the duration of the course (excluding designated class times; see Open Studio for more information). This allows you to practice and complete your projects.

    What You'll Learn:

    By the end of the Intro to Wheel Throwing class, you will be able to:

    • Throw cups, bowls, and plates
    • Apply basic surface decoration techniques
    • Apply glazing techniques

    Class Outline:

    • Week One: Studio orientation, wedging clay, wheel operation and body positioning, centering clay, and preparing to pull walls.
    • Week Two: Techniques for pulling walls, throwing cups versus bowls, and throwing plates.
    • Week Three: Trimming earthenware, sgraffito surface decoration, and additional demonstrations on wheel techniques.
    • Week Four: Glazing techniques, final demonstrations, and advanced wheel techniques, including making handles.

    Materials Included:

    • Each student receives clay for use during the course.
    • Use of aprons, tools, and glazes is included with registration.
    • Students receive keycode access to studio on first day of class.

    Join us for a pottery class in San Diego at Wheel & Fire to discover the joy of wheel throwing and pursue a lifelong artform.