Ceramics
The Cermaics program serves nearly 500 adult students each year in a positive, creative, community atmosphere. The ceramics program offers classes on hand-building, wheel-throwing, raku, glazing, digital embellishments and much more. Students also have the opportunity to participate and learn from visiting artists during workshops that are offered frequently throughout the year.
Course Requirements
Students registering for ceramic classes should be physically capable of lifting up to 25 lbs. Intermediate and advanced students will be required to spend time outside of the scheduled class period to load, fire, and unload kilns (under appropriate supervision). Currently, students registered for an in-person studio ceramic class will only be allowed practice time on the same day their class is scheduled on. Open studio hours will not be available at this time. Students registered for online classes will have assigned times to drop-off and pick-up work from firing as well as for in studio glazing.
Materials List
Classes not listed here will either have required materials in the class description, discuss needed materials during the first class, or the materials will be supplied.
Class details (meeting times, tuition, etc.) are listed below.
View Materials List Class Guidelines
Ceramic Class Notes
Tuition now includes one 25lb bag of clay for each student registered. Students should be able to lift 25lbs of clay. Tuition also covers shop glazes, and some underglazes as well as kiln firing; however, students should anticipate fees for purchasing additional clay, specialty underglazes, and tools unless otherwise noted. Additional 25lb bags of clay and introductory tool kits are must be purchased online; show your receipt to the instructor to receive your purchase. Clay and materials may also be purchased locally at retail stores.
Open Studio Hours
Limited open studio time for enrolled students to practice will be determined at the beginning of each term; dates and times will be discussed in class and posted on studio doors. Students may arrive one hour before their given class time and may stay no later than 1 hour following their class time. Students should be respectful to monitors and observe all studio policies and practices. Open studio time is intended for practicing techniques and projects covered in class; production purposes or outside work is not allowed.
Registration Information
Classes are open-enrollment to the community. Class registration is a simple process. Read 'How to Register' below to get started. Click here to view all registration policies and guidelines, including information on payments, class withdraws and cancellations, refunds, and more.
- Click the 'Register Now' button below to begin the registration process. If registration is open and you do not see a 'Register Now' button, please refresh your browser.
- Click onto 'Sign In' at the top right side of the page.
- To sign in, enter your user name and password. If you do not have an account, you can create one quickly by specifying a user name, password, and email address.
- Navigate to your desired course. Click the 'Add to Cart' button associated with the course.
- After completing the registration process and remitting payment, you will receive an email containing your registration confirmation.
Registration - Friends
Registration is now open to Friends of Southwest. To become a Friend, view benefit levels.
Registration - Community
Registration is closed. Fill out the sign-up form to recieve notification when registration opens.
Opens December 10
9:00am
Ceramics Classes - Spring 2025
Course Description
This class will focus on the basic skills of wheel throwing—centering, opening, and pulling clay into shape—followed by learning to form bowls, cylinders, and cups. Students will also learn to evaluate form and how form serves a vessel’s function.
Course Description
Fundamental handbuilding skills and techniques will be covered including pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction with a focus on fun, artful, and utilitarian forms as well as surface techniques to add decorative elements to make the work truly one-of-a-kind. The class will learn how to work with mid-range clay and glazes for the purpose of handbuilding.
Course Description
Expand and refine your throwing skills through the forming of bowls, cups, lids, pitchers, and the assemblage of two-part forms. Presentations and discussions will cover how to integrate form with function. This class will use high-fire Balcones clay and gas-fired reduction glazes. Prerequisite: Students should have completed at least two introductory to wheelthrowing courses.
Course Description
Advance your handbuilding skills and learn to take your ideas from concepts to three-dimensional forms. Handbuilding is the fundamental construction method used to create sculptural ceramic forms. You will undertake a variety of projects that incorporate slab construction, flat coil construction, pinch-forming methods, building solid and hollowing out, as well as surface texturing. The class will work in low-fire clay, slips, underglazes and glazes.
Course Description
Expand your range of throwing and glazing skills. We will cover the fundamentals and intricacies of working with porcelain clay bodies with focus on glaze finishing techniques that highlight porcelain’s cleaner and brighter palette in the cone 10 gas kiln. Prerequisite: Students must have completed at least two beginning level wheelthrowing classes and be confident with basic wheelthrowing techniques.
Course Description
Open to individuals who throw and/or hand-build, this class will focus on three methods of low temperature alternative firing—American raku, horsehair resist with high contrast, and vapor fuming in a barrel kiln. Burnishing, the making and use of terra sigillata, using oxides as colorants, and copper wire for mark making will be covered with a focus on understanding appropriate forms for the different firing techniques and some of the various types of resists.
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