The current session ends August 9th… But gear up for our last two of the year:
August 18th to October 11th
We offer instruction that ranges from beginner to advanced levels.
We believe every level deserves attention.
For this round of classes, we have extended from 6-weeks to 8-weeks. The benefit of having an additional 2 weeks is that it allows us to incorporate elements we have only touched on so far and want to explore more in each class.
To keep classes accessible for all students, we have created a scholarship program. This is awarded by application and is funded through donations made by participating students and members. If you are feeling generous you can donate here.
Our last session for the year will be October 20th to December 20th, classes posted in September
Registration includes:
1. Your first bag of clay - you will have the choice of Whitestone, Bennett, or Dessert Gold - all cone 5-6 clays. Please note some classes will use a specific clay.
2. Firing fees and glaze usage
3. Use of open studio hours to practice and improve your skills.
4. Access to our Mighty Network which we will help setup on the first day.
Open studio is unlimited with enrollment.
Current open studio hours are as follows:
Open studio use in the handbuilding room is available during all business hours :
Sunday: 12-5pm
Monday: 10-9pm
Tuesday: reserved exclusively for kids classes
Wednesday: 10-9pm
Thursday: 10-9pm
Friday: 10-9pm
Saturday: 10-6pm
Open Studio hours for working on the wheel: Please contact us as occasionally we have wheels open duringclass times.
Sunday: 12-5pm
Monday: 12:30-9pm
Tuesday: reserved exclusively for kids classes
Wednesday: 12:30-6pm
Thursday: 12:30-6pm
Friday: 10-9pm
Saturday: 12:30-6pm
Closed on all major holidays.
Open studio hours are unavailable during special events.
We recommend that you wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, bring an apron (limited aprons are available) and a towel.
Sketchbooks and notebooks can be a useful tool for ideas and keeping track of clay and glaze choices. Some students use an app called ClayLab.
Basic tool kits are available for purchase.
Other studio tools are available in our tool library.
Mixed level and Beginner Classes
Are you ready to try your hand at the wheel and dabble in handbuilding?
Join us in learning how to use clay to make functional pottery. Students will be introduced to ways the wheel and handbuilding tools can be used to create functional or abstract pieces, such as cylinders, bowls, or trays. These are forms to build strong foundations in clay. Through demonstrations and hands-on learning, each class will build off the other and gain clay skills and confidence.
While Clay, glazes, firings, and a generous amount of studio time are included in the class price (starting at $425), tool kits are extra, as we know some people already have them. This is a mixed level class for ages 14+. No prior clay experience is necessary as we welcome all levels in clay.
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Monday 10a-12:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 18th to October 6th -
Mondays 6p-8:30p
An 8-week class on Mondays:
August 18th to October 6th -
Tuesdays 6p-8:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 19th to October 7th -
Thursdays 10a-12:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 21st to October 9th -
Saturdays 10a-12:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 23rd to October 11th -
Sunday 10a-12:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 24th to October 12th
Beyond Beginner Classes
This class is designed for students who are comfortable with the basics of the potter’s wheel (centering, throwing cylinders, trimming) and want to ease themselves into the next level. We will work on refining your throwing skills while exploring new forms and more complex techniques at your own pace such as throwing larger amounts of clay, adding handles, texture, color and basic surface design.
While there are specific projects in mind and discussed; there is no obligation to make them. Expand on your skills while making functional, sculptural and beautiful pieces.
This is a blended-level class. ages 14+. Prior experience with the potter’s wheel is highly recommended but not required.
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Wednesday 10a-12:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 20th to October 8th -
Wednesday 6p-8:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 20th to October 8th -
Thursdays 6p-8:30p
The 8-week class runs:
August 21st to October 9th
Handbuilding and Sculpture Classes
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Thursdays 10a-12:30p: HandBuilding for Adults
A 4-week class on Thursdays 10a-12:30p, September 18th to October 9th
Move beyond basic handbuilding techniques such as pinching, coil, extrusion, and slab construction to build large-scale pieces, functional and sculptural work. This class is geared towards beginners but open to all!
This is a beginner-level class for ages 14+. No prior clay experience is necessary. If you do have some experience, we welcome you. Just ensure you wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.
WA taxes are included in the price of the class.
Please know that we reserve the right to cancel or shift classes should one not fill
Special Workshops
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Underglaze Transfer Workshop
Join us Thursday morning August 14th from 10am-12:30pm for a morning of Underglaze transfers! Play with Pattern, Texture, and Imagery on Clay!
In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore different ways to use underglaze transfers to bring pattern, line, and color into your pieces. We’ll cover a few easy techniques using newsprint or rice paper to transfer designs—perfect for both handbuilders and wheel-throwers.
You’ll get to experiment with:
- Making your own custom transfers
- Layering underglaze for different effects
- Applying transfers to leather-hard or bisque pieces
- Tips for using them in your own studio practiceNo drawing skills or clay experience needed—just come ready to try things out and get creative. You’ll leave with a few new ideas to bring into your next pieces.
All levels welcome. All materials provided in the cost of the workshop, including:
- One leather hard tray and one leather hard tile to practice on.
- A small tool kit
- A small selection of transfers to bring home and use.
All will be bisqued and glazed in a clear glaze ready for pickup in 2-3 weeks.$85/person
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Raku
Explore Fire and Smoke
Join us September 20th, 1-6pm, for a hands-on Raku workshop where clay meets flame. In this workshop, you'll learn the basics of the Raku firing process—from glazing to pulling red-hot pots from the kiln and plunging them into combustibles for stunning effects.
We will explore unpredictable textures, bold metallic finishes, and smoky crackles that only Raku can deliver. Participants will receive clay a week a head to create and bisque. On the day of the event we will glaze their bisque and take part in the full firing process outdoors.
What’s Included:
- Glazing session and firing of 2–3 pieces
- All materials provided (or bring your own bisque—see notes)
- Outdoor kiln demo and reduction chamber experienceNote: This class involves fire and smoke. Please dress appropriately for outdoor firing—natural fibers and closed-toe shoes required. No prior ceramic experience needed, but some familiarity with making and glazing is helpful.
$120/person
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Pumpkins and Gourds Workshop
This is a 90-minute workshop where we will guide you step-by-step in creating a clay pumpkin or gourd using a variety of handbuilding techniques.
Two making dates available:
—- Saturday October 4th - 7p-8:30p
—- Sunday October 5th - 10:30a-12pAfter creating your piece, it will take 2-3 weeks to dry and go through all the firing processes.
You can choose your glaze combinations or schedule a 60-minute glaze session to come back and glaze (paint) your pumpkins!*Limited spots available
No experience necessary. All Ages. All tools and materials included.
$75/person
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Turkey Candle Holders
Celebrate the season of gratitude by making your very own turkey candle holder! You'll sculpt a whimsical or elegant turkey form designed to hold a small candle.
Students will explore hand-building techniques to shape the turkey’s body, add textured tail feathers, and carve out space for a tea light or taper candle.
Two making dates available:
—- Saturday November 1st - 7p-8:30p
—- Sunday November 2nd - 10:30a-12pAfter creating your piece, it will take 2-3 weeks to dry and go through all the firing processes.
You can choose your glaze combinations or schedule a 60-minute glaze session to come back and glaze (paint) your pumpkins!*Limited spots available
No experience necessary. All Ages. All tools and materials included.
$75/person
Kids Classes
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10a-11p: ages 5-8 handbuilding
3-week sessions for ages 5-7.
--- August 5th to August 19th
--- September 9th to September 23rd
--- October 7th to October 21st
Students will learn beginning clay hand-building techniques and principles of slab, coil, glazing, and firing to create one-of-a-kind artwork, including figures, cups, and seasonal projects tailored to students' interests.
We have found that a 60-minute class is perfect for our little kiddos to finish a project or 2.
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12p-1:30p: ages 8-12 handbuilding
3-week sessions for ages 8-12.
--- August 5th to August 19th
--- September 9th to September 23rd
--- October 7th to October 21st
Students will learn beginning clay hand-building techniques and principles of slab, coil, glazing, and firing to create one-of-a-kind artwork, including figures, cups, and seasonal projects tailored to students' interests.
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4p-6p: ages 12-16 handbuilding
3-week sessions for ages 12-16.
--- August 5th to August 19th
--- September 9th to September 23rd
--- October 7th to October 21st
Students will learn the fundamentals of working with clay. Using hand building, we will make decorative figures and functional items such as plates and bowls. Students will have a demonstration of new skills in each class and structured work time to create their ideas with instructor support.
Other Ways to Clay
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Hourly punchcard
Have experience working in clay and want to pay-as-you-go for studio access? Our Hourly members can drop in to use our clay facilities during our designated open studio hours (space is available on a first come, first serve basis).
Hourly members prepay by purchasing a punch card. We have three pre-paid punch card options available. If you are a more frequent user of our open studio hours, you can purchase a card and get your hours at a discounted rate!
Open Studio blocks (one punch) are tracked hourly. Punch cards are valid for 6 months after the purchase card date.
You can use your hours all in one month, or over the course of the 6 month validity.
We offer a monthly membership for $175/month, allowing full access during business hours. We recommend this option if you do not want to track hours.
Future capacity may effect availability of memberships and is subject to change.
Punch Card Options and Pricing (+ tax):
1. 1-hr at a time for $12/hr
2. 12-hour card, $120 (equates to $10/hour)
3. 24-hour card, $192 (equates to $8/hour)Clay can be purchased in-house or online. We have 5 types available. Outside clay is allowed if approved by staff. Limited tools are available from the lending library and basic tool kits are available for purchase.
Firing charges are not included with punch cards.
Limited shared storage is available for works in progress.
Limited storage for personal tools/clay is available.
No instruction is provided with an hourly membership, our studio monitor is always available for basic needs. While we introduce you to the studio, we will measure your understanding of equipment operation and cover cleaning processes. If you are unsure or you unfamiliar with anything at any time, please ask.
We prefer you have a minimum of 6 weeks of clay instruction before participating in the studio independently.
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Member for a week: August 10th to 16th
During the week between classes, we offer the option to be a “member for a week”. This is a good option for those who are on the fence about our memberships, using punchcards (which can be on pause), between studios or just want a little clay in their life!
While you will have access to our studio for the full week (Sunday to Saturday), clay and firings are additional costs.
We ask that you be familiar with the equipment, as this is a self-guided opportunity. If you are not familiar with our policies and procedures, including cleaning, you will receive an orientation regarding it.
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e-Gift Tacoma Clay
Give the gift of creativity with a Tacoma Clay e-Gift Card. Perfect for artists, hobbyists, or anyone looking to explore the world of pottery and ceramics. Our e-Gift Cards can be used toward classes, workshops, or pottery supplies, allowing your recipient to choose exactly what inspires them. Delivered instantly via email, it’s a convenient and thoughtful gift for any occasion. Purchase today and inspire creativity with Tacoma Clay.
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