Ceramics

Pre-registration is required for classes & workshops - please register online below or call 508-693-1850.
Minimum age requirement for all adult classes is 14 years old unless otherwise noted.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY:
Please read all class descriptions and be aware of age, skill level and materials requirements in ADVANCE of registering for any classes and workshops. Featherstone does not issue refunds unless we cancel the class due to low enrollment.

Beginner Wheel Throwing with Debbie Hale
Days: Mondays
Dates: Session 7: September 19, 26, October 3, 10 (please note holiday weekend date) // Session 8: October 17, 24, 31, November 7 // Session 9: November 21, 28, December 5, 12
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $190 (4 classes/8 hours), includes materials fee (clay, glazes, firing)
Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Please note, long nails and jewelry get in the way of working with clay!

In this beginner's ceramics class, students will learn techniques to create forms on the potter’s wheel - cups, bowls, vessels, etc. You will learn the basics of the pottery studio, wheel throwing, glazing and firing.

Intro to Wheel Throwing with Mark Bateman
Day: Tuesdays
Dates: Session 8: September 6, 13, 20, 27 // Session 9: October 4, 11, 18, 25 // Session 10: November 22, 29, December 6, 13
Time: 5:00PM - 8:00PM
Location: The Pottery Studio
Fee: $270 (4 classes/12 hours), includes materials fee (clay, glazes, firing)
Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Please note, long nails and jewelry get in the way of working with clay!

In this 4-week course, students learn the skill of centering and evenly distributing clay on a pottery wheel to make cups, bowls, and plates, as well as the application of handles for mugs. The course includes instruction in glazing techniques. No previous experience is required. This class is a good option for those with previous experience to refresh their basic skills.

For continuing students of Debbie's. To be added to wait list:

Intermediate Wheel Throwing (for continuing students) with Debbie Hale
Days: Wednesdays
Dates: Session 8: September 21, 28, October 5, October 12 // Session 9: October 19, 26, November 2, 9
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $190 (4 classes/8 hours), includes materials fee (clay, glazes, firing)
Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Please note, long nails and jewelry get in the way of working with clay!

Intermediate wheel is for students who have completed the 4 week Beginner Wheel Throwing and would like to continue to hone their skills.

4 Week Hand Building with Mark Bateman
Day: Fridays
Dates: Session 8: September 9, 16, 23, 30 // Session 9: October 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 3:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: The Pottery Studio
Fee: $270 (4 classes/12 hours), includes materials fee (clay, glazes, firing)
Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Please note, long nails and jewelry get in the way of working with clay!

Hand Building is a style of pottery that uses coiling, pinching and slab rolling to create anything your mind can imagine. Unlike wheel thrown pottery, it is not limited to a cylindrical form, so shapes like rectangles, cubes, triangles, ovals, and (yes) cylinders are all possible.

Students of all experience levels (including complete beginners) are welcome. Students will be encouraged to work at their own pace on projects of their choosing, all under an instructor's guidance.

Open Pottery Studio
Days & Times:
*Please Note Open Studio times are 2 hours (Saturday 3)*
Wednesdays: 12:00 - 2:00PM  (supervised by Sabrina Kuchta)
Thursdays: 6:00 - 8:00PM  (supervised by Nancy Blank)
Saturdays: 10:00AM - 1:00PM*  (supervised by Mark Bateman)
Sundays: 4:00 - 6:00PM  (supervised by Sabrina Kuchta)
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $20 per 2 hour open studio meeting ($30 for 3). Reclaimed clay for sale at $1 per lb. Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Masks are encouraged and required depending upon instructor.

This is a non-instructional time for those familiar with ceramics to work on their own in the Pottery Studio.
Attendees must have basic knowledge and be familiar with a pottery studio - there is no instruction during open hours.

Please note that our Open Studio protocols have changed due to Covid-19. Each Studio session is now 2 hours. Registration is required in advance to reserve your studio time. Addition glazing and firing fees apply (please bring cash or check to purchase reclaimed clay / for firing fees).
*Masks are encouraged and are required depending upon instructor.

Previous 2022

Visiting Artist Workshop: Alternative Firing - A Unique Firing Experience with Lois Hirshberg
Dates: Saturday & Sunday, October 15 & 16
Time: 10:00AM - 4:00PM each day
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $275 for the two day workshop

Come spend the weekend at Featherstone with Lois Hirshberg exploring the magic of several fast-firing techniques. Western Raku, Horse Hair Raku, and Saggar will be some of the spectacular techniques that we will be exploring. These firing techniques never get boring. It is the unpredictability of the process that makes this weekend so exciting. This workshop is open to all levels of expertise. Bring 8 to 10 bisqued pieces. There are two days of different firing on Saturday and Sunday. For more information contact Lois at: potterybyLois@comcast.net.

Lois Hirshberg began working in clay in 1975 at Mudflat Studios in Cambridge where she fell in love with clay. Lois holds an M.Ed in Community Counseling and a M.A. in Art Therapy. She has studies ceramics in Jerusalem at the Bezalel School of Design and in Japan through Parsons School of Design.
To learn more about Lois: www.potterybylois.com

Stamps and Scraffito Transfers (ceramic experience recommended) with Sabrina Kuchta
Day: Sundays
Dates: June 26: Stamps // July 10: Scraffito // August 14: Stamps
Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $45 per workshop, additional materials fee of $30 for Sgraffito tools (yours to keep!)
Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Masks are required. Please note, long nails and jewelry get in the way of working with clay!

No matter your preferred method for creating ceramics, hand building or wheel throwing, there’s infinite surface decoration techniques available to accentuate your piece. In these 1 day classes we will create our own stamps, explore sgraffito and discover how to use transfers. As this class is intended to be decoration based only some ceramic experience is recommended. Each class can be taken separately or in combination.

Class A: Stamps: In this two hour class you will create your own stamps. Using oven bake polymer clay, you will go from design, to execution, to use, with your hand-made stamps. We will then experiment with how stamps can be used in combination with transfers.

Class B: Sgraffito: using pre-made example pieces we will experiment and explore how to use sgraffito tools on green wear. Sgraffito is the practice of lightly carving away painted clay to reveal the contrasting color of the clay body. We will then experiment with how sgraffito can be used in combination with transfers.

Hand Building Dinnerware Set with Sabrina Kuchta
Day: Sundays
Dates: July 17, 24, 31, Aug 7
Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $190 (4 classes/8 hours), includes materials fee (clay, glazes, firing)
Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Masks are required. Please note, long nails and jewelry get in the way of working with clay!

In this four week course students will use slab, pinching and/or coiling techniques to create a dinnerware set including: a dessert plate, dinner plate, soup bowl, and mug. In the first class, designs and techniques will be discussed, and individual plans will be created for each student to make a dinnerware set unique to them and their taste. In the next two classes, students will create, clean-up and modify pieces, with the last class left for decorating and glazing the pieces. Students are encouraged to bring in any inspiration or design ideas!

Intermediate/Advanced Wheel Throwing with Frank Creney
Days: Thursdays
Dates: Session 1: June 16, 23, 30
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $150 (3 classes/6 hours), includes materials fee (clay, glazes, firing)
Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Please note, long nails and jewelry get in the way of working with clay!

This intermediate/advanced class is for those who have completed a beginner wheel throwing course and can already throw on the wheel. Students will have the opportunity to hone their skills and also learn new shapes and/or how to work on larger projects.

Raku and Alternative Firing Workshop with Frank Creney
Days: Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22
Time: 10:00AM - 4:00PM each day
Location: The Pottery Studio
Fee: $250 for the 2 day workshop, includes glazes and terra sig (clay is additional fee, $1 per lb.) All pieces have to be bisque fired before the workshop (by Thursday, May 19th).

Come spend the weekend outdoors at Featherstone with Frank Creney exploring the magic of several fast-firing techniques. Raku, Obvara, Horse Hair Raku, and Saggar will be some of the unique techniques that will be explored. The unpredictability of the process makes the firing experience exciting!

Small to medium sized pieces, 4-6 pieces each, bisque fired
Obvara with Terra Sig on greenware (will be provided in studio)
Horsehair with Terra Sig on greenware (will be provided in studio)
Saggar with Terra Sig on greenware (will be provided in studio)
Raku will glaze day of workshop

Throwing Pots (Advanced level) with Frank Creney
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: March 9, 16, 23, 30
Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $40 per class, plus the cost of clay and firing fees. Minimum age 18.
If you will be taking multiple classes in the Pottery Studio, a 25 lb. bag of clay is an additional cost of $30, otherwise clay can be purchased in the studio for $1 per lb. Attendees bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Masks are required.

This advanced class is for those who can already throw on the wheel but want to learn new shapes and how to work larger. Each week students will be shown 1-2 shapes and will be able to choose what they will be working on - bottles, platters, large vases, large bowls, etc.

​Ceramics

Previous 2022

Ceramics