Beginner Functional Hand Building

During this 6-week course we will be covering many of the foundations of handbuilding from coiling to pinching but will spend most of the time on slab building. In this class we will be discussing soft vs. hard slab construction to create bowls, mugs, cups, and workshop ideas for more sculptural projects!

As an ongoing discussion, we will be covering a variety of surface decoration techniques using underglaze, stencils, and paper resists. We will also be covering how to glaze and finish our pieces. Each class will have a demo and allow plenty of time for personal exploration and be able to practice the newly learned skills and forms.

This is a Beginner level class. No prior clay experience is necessary.

Learn more about instructor Ash Campbell.

We believe clay is for everyone! Need tuition assistance? Please visit our tuition assistance page for more information.

What’s included:

• Access to use our studio during open studio hours every day, for the duration of the class, from 10AM to 9PM.
• 1 bag of clay (pick-up first day of class)
• Personal half shelf for storage of tools, clay, and in process work

What to bring:

• A good attitude and a mind open to learning.
• A basic pottery tool kit. (This should include a cut off wire, wooden knife, wooden rib, metal rib, needle tool, sponge, trimming loop tool and double-ended ribbon tool.)
• An apron or clothes that can get dirty.
• A notebook or sketchbook.

Pottery NW has communal tools available. Personal toolkits, bat pins & additional clay can be purchased at the online student store. All items purchased from the store need to be picked up onsite.

Please Note:

• WE HAVE MOVED STUDIO LOCATIONS. Our new address is  2254 7th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
• Regardless of your prior class history at PNW, it is mandatory to attend the first week's orientation since we are all in a new space together.
• Due to our relocation and time of the year, this quarter will consist of all 6-week classes instead of the normal 10-weeks. We will begin with our regular cycle of 10-week classes in January of 2027.
• THERE WILL BE NO CLASSES FROM NOVEMBER 23 - 29. Classes will resume on Monday November 30th
• Free Parking in the parking garage located at the entrance on 8th avenue. No validation required weekdays after 4pm and none required at all on weekends.