Students enjoy a gentle introduction to hand-building and wheel throwing in this relaxed beginner’s class!

Supplies: Students should bring an apron and old towel. Supplies will be discussed for first-time or beginner students on the first day of class. Supplies can be purchased online here: https://delawareartmuseum.wufoo.com/forms/z18fw1ez07sqq83/.

Learn how to make fabulous cups, bowls, plates, and vases in this fun and informative class designed for beginning level students. Students will start with hand building and transition onto the wheel.  

Supplies: Supplies will be discussed for first-time or beginner students on the first day of class. Supplies can be purchased online here: https://delawareartmuseum.wufoo.com/forms/z18fw1ez07sqq83/.  

Students will explore a range of techniques for creating decorative and/or functional ceramic pieces on the potter’s wheel.

Lessons can include a range from beginner fundamentals to developing skills to improve technique. For more experienced potters, the teacher can help you experiment with more advanced techniques (i.e., clay marbling, donut vase, bigger sizes).

Supply list (responsibility of the student to bring):

• Apron
• Old towel/rag
• Tools and clay will be discussed on the first day of class and can be purchased online: https://delawareartmuseum.wufoo.com/forms/z18fw1ez07sqq83/

Functional Pottery in Sculptural Forms: An Exploration of Scopin Pottery

This course invites students to explore the dynamic intersection of function and sculpture through the art of Scopin pottery. Emphasizing both wheel-throwing and hand building techniques, students will learn to create functional pieces—such as bowls, cups, and vessels—while incorporating sculptural elements that elevate their work beyond traditional pottery.

Through a combination of guided exercises, demonstrations, and individual projects, students will develop skills in wheel-thrown forms, hand-built attachments, and surface treatments. Special attention will be given to integrating functional design with expressive, sculptural forms, allowing students to experiment with creative approaches inspired by the rich heritage of Scopin pottery.

By the end of the course, participants will have developed a versatile skill set, enabling them to produce functional ceramics that are both practical and artistically compelling.

Singing Clay: Ancient Hand-Building Techniques in Functional, Sculptural, and Sound-Based Ceramics

Singing Clay explores ancient clay hand-building techniques through the creation of sculptural and functional ceramic works inspired by contemporary and historical folk-art traditions. Students will learn and practice three foundational hand-building methods—pinch, coil, and slab construction—used for thousands of years across cultures.

The course places special emphasis on the creation of folk-art ocarinas, examining their historical and cultural significance as sound-producing objects. Students will learn how to construct functional ocarinas and creatively incorporate sound elements into dishes and vessels, allowing ceramic forms to quite literally produce a voice. Through hands-on making, historical references, and guided experimentation, students will create works that merge functions, sculpture, and sound.