Working with Clay from Start to Finish
Clay Classes in Show Low for beginners and developing artists learning hand building, sculpting, and wheel throwing techniques
Clay responds differently depending on moisture content, shaping speed, and pressure applied during forming, which means learning to work with the material involves understanding when to add water, when to let pieces rest, and when to refine details. Clay classes at Kittle's Art & Supply in Show Low teach foundational pottery skills including hand building, texture work, wheel throwing, and finishing techniques in a creative studio with supportive instruction. Adults, teens, and creative learners interested in working with clay develop skills through guided projects that progress from basic pinch pots and coil building to more complex sculptural forms or functional pottery.
Instruction covers wedging clay to remove air bubbles, building with slabs and coils, creating surface textures using stamps and tools, and shaping forms on the pottery wheel. You learn how clay thickness affects drying and firing, how to join pieces securely without cracking, and how to prepare greenware for bisque firing.
Arrange a session to begin learning clay techniques with access to tools, workspace, and kiln firing included in the class.
What Clay Instruction Involves
Classes walk through wedging techniques that prepare clay for shaping, hand-building methods that create forms without a wheel, and wheel-throwing basics that center clay and pull walls upward into cylindrical shapes. Each session focuses on a specific skill, with demonstrations followed by hands-on practice. Instruction addresses common challenges like uneven wall thickness, cracking during drying, and air pockets that cause explosions during firing.
Completed pieces dry slowly to avoid warping, undergo bisque firing to harden the clay body, and can be glazed in follow-up sessions for finished results. You'll notice improved control over clay consistency, more deliberate shaping that accounts for shrinkage during drying and firing, and the ability to troubleshoot problems like slumping or cracking before they ruin a piece.
The creative studio atmosphere provides tools, wheels, and workspace designed for learning, with kiln firing handled as part of the class experience. Classes accommodate different learning speeds, allowing beginners to master basics while more advanced students explore sculptural techniques or functional pottery forms.
Questions About Clay Classes
Residents and visitors across nearby mountain communities participate in clay instruction year-round.
What techniques are covered in a clay class?
Instruction includes hand building with pinch, coil, and slab methods, surface texturing, wheel throwing basics, and finishing techniques like trimming and smoothing edges. Each class focuses on building specific skills through guided projects.
How does clay work differ from other art mediums?
Clay requires managing moisture levels, allowing time for drying between stages, and understanding how heat transforms the material during firing. Mistakes often can't be undone once clay begins drying, so planning and pacing matter more than in painting or drawing.
What happens to my finished pieces?
Completed work dries in the studio, undergoes bisque firing in the kiln to harden the clay, and can be glazed and fired again for a finished ceramic surface. Kittle's Art & Supply handles firing as part of the class experience.
When should I sign up for a clay class?
Classes in Show Low fill based on seasonal demand and studio capacity, so registering early ensures placement in upcoming sessions. Creative programming attracts both year-round residents and seasonal visitors.
Why does clay need to be wedged before use?
Wedging removes air pockets that can cause pieces to explode during firing and creates uniform density throughout the clay body. Consistent moisture and texture improve shaping control and reduce cracking during drying.
Kittle's Art & Supply provides hands-on clay instruction for creative learners ready to explore pottery and sculpture techniques. Register for an upcoming class to begin working with clay in a supportive studio environment with tools and firing services included.
upcoming classes
Clay Class: Handbuild Honey Mug May 30th
$52.00
Art instructor and ceramicist, John Kittle, will demonstrate how to handbuild this ADORABLE Honey Mug with clay. Grab a friend and join this class! You will learn so much and create something you will cherish! You will need to return at a later date to glaze your mug (after it has been bisque fired).
Price includes
*Instruction and demonstration
*Clay for the project
*Complementary Studio time and Glazes for painting
*ALL materials needed for the class
*Bisque firing and glaze firing
**NO REFUNDS**
Clay Class: Pottery and Handbuilding June 2nd (first session)
$210.00
First session is June 2nd
Cost of class covers ALL materials and the 3 guided class sessions
and 3 lab sessions
Times are from 6-8pm in the studio
Join us for our Pottery class!!! Art instructor and Professional ceramicist, Chad Gooch, will demonstrate and give you opportunities to observe, learn, ask questions and take notes on throwing and handbuilding with clay. The classes will include instruction on throwing clay, handbuilding, and preparing finished pieces for firing. Your guided classes are on Tuesday evenings and a lab day on Thursday for all participants. There will only be up to 6 students for each class time.
Price of Class includes 3 Guided Class sessions and 3 lab sessions
Price of class covers ALL materials, firing fees, glazes for 3 finished pieces
Times are from 6-8pm in the studio
**NO REFUNDS**
If you miss a guided class due to illness, you may make up the class at a Lab Session on a Thursday.