Clay & Control:

Intermediate Series

CLASS STRUCTURE

• Refine Your Technique. Discover Your Style.

  Already comfortable on the wheel and ready to level up? This 8-week Intermediate Course is designed for potters who have mastered the basics and want to find more balance, control, and creative direction in their work.

  Each week introduces a new focus, a different form, surface, or technique, with hands-on guidance tailored to your goals. Whether you want to throw larger sculptural pieces or refine the details of functional ones, you’ll build confidence and consistency while developing your own style.

  Across eight 3-hour sessions, you’ll combine wheel throwing and handbuilding, explore advanced glazing and surface design, and complete a cohesive body of work from start to finish.

  One 10 kg bag of clay is included with the course. Additional clay is available for purchase for $25 + HST per bag. If you need more, simply ask your instructor.

  Ideal for:
  • Potters who can confidently center and throw basic forms
  • Those seeking to improve consistency, precision, and design control
  • Creators ready to combine skill with creativity and personal expression

  Each class includes a new demo, a new form, and a fresh idea to explore. What you choose to create is entirely up to you. Our instructors guide you individually at every step.

  Recommendation: For the best experience, we suggest taking two 4-week courses or one 8-week course beforehand to strengthen your foundation before advancing to this level.

   What You’ll Experience Each Week:

  Week 1 – Refresh & Rebuild: Working Large or Complex

  We’ll revisit your wheel-throwing fundamentals and focus on creating larger or more complex forms. You’ll learn how to center and shape bigger pieces with control and balance as the instructor demonstrates throwing a large cylinder and bowl from start to finish.

  Week 2 – Trim, Refine & Connect

  This week begins with trimming and refining last week’s pieces. You’ll learn handlemaking and decorative details, then see how two thrown forms can be joined into one larger work. After trimming and assembly, we’ll return to the wheel to continue building consistency and flow.

  Week 3 – Surface Design & Exploring Different Clay Bodies

  This week focuses on sgraffito and other surface decoration techniques. Using colored slips, you’ll decorate the pieces from previous weeks to create texture, contrast, and layered designs. The instructor will demonstrate carving, layering, and surface design techniques. Students are also free to choose which clay body they would like to work with this week. You may explore how the same form changes when made with white stoneware, white porcelain, smooth red clay, or speckled white stoneware.

  Week 4 – Glaze Exploration & Surface Effects

  Discover 15 studio glazes, 20 underglaze colours, and tools like pencils, chalks, and decals. You’ll learn how to layer and combine glazes creatively, and explore special effects such as dripping and watercolour finishes. Early finishers may continue throwing or work on other unfinished projects for extra practice.

  Week 5 – Lids, Balance & Advanced Forms

  This week focuses on making lids on the wheel. You’ll learn how to create well-fitting lids while improving your sense of proportion, measurement, and precision. The instructor will demonstrate several lid styles and explain how to match them to different forms.In addition, depending on students’ questions and interests, more complex forms such as lidded jars, teapots, and similar projects may also be demonstrated.

  Week 6 – Marble Clay & Final Wheel Focus

  In the final wheel-throwing class, you’ll learn how to combine white and red clay to create marble patterns. The instructor will demonstrate the technique while focusing on control, color movement, and composition. Students may continue exploring the marble effect in their own work.

  Week 7 – Finishing Work & Extra Techniques

  This week is dedicated to completing any unfinished work and adding final details. Handles, attachments, trimming, and other finishing touches can be completed before glazing. Any remaining time will be used to explore additional handbuilding techniques. The instructor will demonstrate simple slab and freeform projects for students who would like to continue experimenting.

  Week 8 – Final Glazing & Finishing Touches

  The final week is dedicated to glazing and completing all pieces. You’ll apply everything you’ve learned about layering, decoration, and firing preparation to give your work a professional finish. We’ll end with a short reflection and celebrate your progress and final creations.

Please note: Make-up classes are not guaranteed. If space becomes available in another session, we may be able to accommodate a make-up class.
All make-up classes are subject to a $25 make-up class fee.
Please note: Pottery is a beautifully unpredictable craft. Sometimes the kiln gods are kind… sometimes they’re not. Zei Pottery Studios cannot be held responsible for cracks, warping, glaze surprises, or other unexpected outcomes that happen during firing. But don’t worry, your instructor will help you choose the pieces most likely to survive the adventure.