Cultivating Self Awareness: All-Levels Wheel Throwing

This class is aimed towards those who would like to build on their existing knowledge of wheel throwing as a tool towards building mindfulness and embodiment through their practice. Working with the living qualities of clay bodies can help us tune into the aliveness that exists within us. Using simple meditative and somatic practices, we will explore the ways we can deepen our relationship to ourselves through the experience of wheel throwing.

The focus of this course will teach us be present with what is right now. From that perspective we can hone our skills. Classes will open with simple grounding exercises and also offer practices for good body mechanics and self care when working at the wheel. The course will cover intermediate wheel throwing techniques with a focus on functional vessels.

This is an intermediate class, we recommend students already be familiar with basic techniques like centering, opening, and throwing a basic cylinder.

This is a All-Levels Class. All skill levels are welcome to join.

Learn more about instructor Patanjali De la Rocha.

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 quarter 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:

• If you are new to the Pottery NW studio, or if you have not attended orientation as of summer 2023 quarter, you must attend the first class to receive the mandatory studio orientation. New students who do not attend the first day will be dropped from the class without a refund of the class fee. On the first day of class, late arrivals beyond 15 minutes after the class start time will not be permitted to join. Returning students should still attend the first day of class as the instructor will not be able to reteach missed lessons and demos to absent students in the proceeding classes.

 • We are in Pioneer Square, so please plan ahead so that you have enough time to park. You don’t want to miss anything!