Courses

We offer courses in hand-built and wheel-thrown ceramics. To sign up for an upcoming class, contact Tim Kelley at 830-538-9705, Register Online or e-mail Mr. Kelley at clay@castrovillepottery.com.

Throwing and Decoration with Slips

Instructor: John Nelson

(12 Week Course)

Decoration of thrown or handmade pottery enhances the vessel beyond just "dipping and dunking" the piece in glaze. This course will help you develop new ways of developing individual style in your work. It will focus on embellishment with colored clay slips & translucent high-fire glaze. Throwing techniques will be demonstrated with assigned projects. Decorative methods will include, but not be limited to, application of multiple colored slips, stamping, trailing, paste-on-paste slip, mishima, scraffito, & use of under glazes for high fire ware. You will be encouraged to explore new decorative methods. Purchase of scraffito tools & a styrofoam cooler with lid will be required. Students should have a basic knowledge of throwing techniques.

Every Tuesday for 12 weeks $295.00
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. September 14th to November 30thRegister here

Intro to Pottery 101

Instructor: Tim Kelley

(12 week course)

Beginners are introduced to a working pottery studio. During the 12 week course, students will learn both hand building & throwing techniques of pottery. During the first 6 weeks students will undertake a variety of projects associated with hand building including slab, coil, & molds. Instructors will show you the fundamental construction methods for creating functional ceramic forms. Over the last 6 weeks students will be introduced to the components of the wheel. Techniques of wedging & centering the clay are covered in detail. Students learn to open the clay, creating bowls & cups. Trimming & glazing techniques are also covered. This class will give you a great introduction to pottery, so have fun & get your hands muddy!

Every Tuesday for 12 weeks $295.00
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. September 14th to November 30th Register here

Handbuilding

JoAnna Amundson

(12 week course)

Coiling, slab-rolling & pinching are ancient time-honored techniques of handbuilding used to create various sizes & shapes of open or closed forms. During the first 4 weeks we will learn how to make plastic template molds by using spray adhesive & t-shirts jerseys. Get creative! Think dinnerware, trays, & pookies. The next 4 weeks will be more hands on & thought provoking. We will experiment with various methods of making & altering small closed forms into vessels, figures, boxes & treasure keepers. The last 4 weeks we will explore mosaic tiling from slab cut-out designs, using simple stained glass or quilt patterns, creating garden signs, wall art, trays, & trivets. This requires more precise attention to detail. Come get creative with this hands on class!

Every Thursday for 12 weeks - $295.00
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. September 16th to December 9th
(There will be no classes on November 25th due to Thanksgiving)

Register here

Alternative Firing Work Study

(10 week course)

This ten week work study course will focus on the techniques and ideas used by Eduardo Lazo in his June workshop at Castroville Pottery. We will cover Alcohol Fuming, saggar firing, glazing, and vapor glazing using copper matt glazes and stannous chloride. Iridescent glaze surfaces may be produced by the use of metallic vapors in a fuming process. Other processes will be explored in conjunction with these methods. These different techniques will yield remarkable visual effects. During this course, the student will focus more on the study, documenting & observing the different effects that these methods have on pottery rather than producing many various pieces. Class is studio time and firing only. Students should expect lab fees for chemicals & any other special tools as determined by the class. Come join us for this interesting & unique class!

Every Satyrday for 10 weeks - $175.00
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. September 18th to November 20th Register here

Sumptuous Serving Vessels

Instructor: Denise Martin

(12 week course)

In this class we will be making colorful vessels that celebrate life and friendship through the serving and consumption of food. Our first project will be a hand built cake plate and stand. From there we will make related pieces to serve or eat or drink from. We'll be working in earthen ware clay using my layered majolica technique. Majolica is traditionally the use of a white opaque tin bearing glaze on a red earthenware body that yields bright colors when decorated with oxides. Breaking with tradition, you will learn to use a white glaze over a black glaze to get even more brilliant and luminous colors. We will be working in batik like fashion using liquid wax resist, and then applying oxides, stains and commercial under glazes to the surface of our pieces. Majolica is all about surface decoration and with Layered Majolica the surfaces are incredible. This class is for advanced students. One or two classes in basic hand building or throwing are recommended. Students should expect additional fees for extra glazes, stains & other special tools as determined by the class. The class tuition provides the base glaze.

Every Thursday for 12 weeks $295.00
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Septemper 16th to December 9th
(There will be no classes on November 25th due to Thanksgiving) Register here

Clay & Pottery Play Date

Saturdays 2-4 p.m.

Come on out to Castroville and register for a Play Date! Mom and Dad can register the kids and have some free time to shop and explore Castroville. If they want, Mom and Dad can join in on the fun and register for the Play Date too! Pick a Saturday, any Saturday, and come visit us. Come prepared to get a little muddy, and get ready to make some pottery! With your two hours here with us, you’ll get to explore the pottery studio, the kiln, make a piece or two of pottery, pick your glaze, and then we’ll fire it for you so you can come pick it up! The $30 payment for the class includes clay, glazing, instruction, and firing. If you’re 10 or older, come experience something new, and explore your creative side with us out here at Castroville Pottery from 2-4 p.m., every Saturday. Make it a group outing, and bring Mom and Dad, kids, family, and friends!

Every Saturday $ 30.00/class
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Register here

The Pottery Studio will be open:

Wednesdays - 9:00AM to 7:00PM

Saturdsays - 1:00PM to 7:00PM