Clay Classes

Adult

Love @ First Throw
Monthly on First Fridays 5:30 – 7:30 pm | November 7, February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1 | $100 per couple 

Looking for a fun and creative night out? Join Christine Tavares at the Foundry Art Centre during First Fridays for Love @ First Throw… a playful clay experience in our community clay classroom.

Whether you're bringing a partner or a friend, you’ll have a chance to get your hands dirty, try the pottery wheel, and create something uniquely yours. No experience necessary, just bring your sense of adventure!  Students will typically complete 2 pieces to fire (one for each of you). You pick your colors, and Christine will glaze it for you. Pottery is usually ready for pick-up in 2 weeks but sometimes it takes a little longer. This class is for adult students (ages 18+) with little to no experience in ceramics. (This is a one-day class). When registering, only one name is needed to secure a spot for you + one). If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Let’s Make a Tree
Friday, November 21 | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | $45

Come play in the mud at the Foundry Art Centre and unleash your creativity this holiday season by creating your very own ceramic holiday tree. Under the guidance of Christine Tavares, you'll learn slab building techniques to shape the clay into beautiful unique tree that reflects your personal style. You will form, decorate and glaze your piece all in one workshop. Your fired and finished tree will be ready for pick-up two to three weeks after the workshop. This class is for adult students (ages 18+) of all skill levels. All supplies provided. Dress to be messy! If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Adult Introduction to Wheel Throwing
Friday, January 23 | 11:30 to 1:30 pm | $50

Are you ready to throw down? After this workshop, you will be! Christine Tavares will guide you in the basics of how to throw on the potter's wheel by learning how to center, open, pull and make small cups and bowls. Students will typically complete 2 pieces to fire. You pick your colors, and Christine will glaze it for you. Pottery is usually ready for pick-up in 2 weeks but sometimes it takes a little longer. This class is for adult students (ages 18+) with little to no experience in ceramics. (This is a one-day class). If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Adult Introduction to Wheel Throwing
Saturday, February 14 | 2 - 4 pm | $50

Are you ready to throw down? After this workshop, you will be! Christine Tavares will guide you in the basics of how to throw on the potter's wheel by learning how to center, open, pull and make small cups and bowls. Students will typically complete 2 pieces to fire. You pick your colors, and Christine will glaze it for you. Pottery is usually ready for pick-up in 2 weeks but sometimes it takes a little longer. This class is for adult students (ages 18+) with little to no experience in ceramics. (This is a one-day class). If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Tray Chic – Build a Serving Set
Friday, February 27 | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | $60

Come play in the mud at the Foundry Art Centre as you create your own ceramic serving pieces! Education Coordinator Christine Tavares will guide you in the process of hand building with clay slabs and pinch work. You will form a serving tray from your slab and serving bowls using the pinch method. You pick your colors, and Christine will glaze it for you. Pottery is usually ready for pick-up in 2 weeks but sometimes it takes a little longer. This class is for adult students (ages 18+) with little to no experience in ceramics. (This is a one-day class). If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Closed Forms – Make a Lidded Jar with Maddie
Saturday, February 21 and Saturday, February 28 | 11 am to 1 pm | $65 

In this 2-part intermediate course, artist Maddison O’Keefe will lead experienced students in creating closed form vessels that can be turned into jars. In the first session (February 21), students will create 2-3 closed forms by successfully throwing 1-3 pounds of clay. In the second session (February 28), students will learn trimming techniques to form a gallery for the jar, and then a knob for the lid. This workshop is designed for students 18+ who have a strong foundation in throwing on the potter’s wheel. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able. **This is a 2 part workshop**

Pottery and Petals - A Two-Part Workshop
Saturday, March 21 from 2 to 3:30 pm and Wednesday, April 8 | 6 to 8 pm** | $100

Join Education Coordinator Christine Tavares in this creative two-part workshop as she first leads you in creating your own ceramic vase using handbuilding methods. Artists of all skill levels will design, shape, and add texture to their functional vase. You pick the color, and Christine will glaze your vase for you. This is designed to complement a second workshop on April 8 at 6 pm where florist Christine Lautrentius of Blushing Blooms Designs will take you through the steps in creating a beautiful spring floral arrangement for your amazing vase! This class is for adult students (ages 18+) with little to no experience in ceramics or floral design. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.**This is a 2 part workshop**

From Slab to Fab – Build a Serving Piece
Friday, April 24 | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | $50 

Come play in the mud at the Foundry Art Centre as you create your own ceramic serving piece! Whether it be a wine chiller, a charcuterie or cutting board, or large tray, Foundry Education Coordinator Christine Tavares will make you the star of any social occasion. You’ll roll up your sleeves and get dirty with clay as you learn the process of hand building with clay slabs. You pick the color, and Christine will glaze your vase for you. Your fired and finished serving piece will be ready for pick-up two to three weeks after the workshop. This class is for adult students (ages 18+) of all skill levels. All supplies provided. Dress to be messy! If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Monthly Community Clay Studio Memberships 

Monthly Community Clay Studio Memberships allow pottery enthusiasts the opportunity to work independently in a fully equipped clay studio at their own pace. Members will have full access to the pottery wheels, equipment, tools, and glazes. Twenty-five pounds of white mid-fire clay is included with a monthly membership. Members will also be granted a shelf space of their own on which to keep projects in process, personal tools, etc. 

Clay Studio Members will have the opportunity to be in studio as much as they desire during the Foundry Art Centre’s open business hours (Tuesday-Saturday 10 am to 5 pm). While it is a rare occurrence, the Community Clay Studio may be closed to members occasionally for large classes or special events. Members will be given access to the Open Studio Calendar and closures will be posted with plenty of notice so that plans can be made accordingly.   

Bisque and glaze firings will happen weekly, and glazed pottery is usually ready for pick-up in 1-2 weeks (sometimes it is longer depending on the class schedules at the Foundry). 

**If you are new to the Foundry and our Clay Program, please contact Christine Tavares before registering for a monthly membership**

Tween and Teen

Tween & Teen FUNdamantals of Pottery An Introduction to Wheel Throwing
Ages 8-12 | $150 + $20 Studio Fee | 4 weeks
Winter Session: Saturdays, January 10 – 31     11 am to 12:30 pm
Spring Session: Saturdays, March 7 – 28   11 am to 12:30 pm

In this 4 week class, artist Abigail Banholzer will introduce students to the FUNdamentals of creating art on the potter’s wheel. Students will learn the basic skills of creating work on the wheel including: centering, opening, pulling and shaping. Abigail will also introduce finishing techniques such as trimming, adding handles, and glazing. This class is for ages 8-12 with little to no experience in ceramics. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Abigail Banholzer is a recent graduate of Webster University, holding a BFA in Studio Arts with an emphasis in ceramics. She specializes in functional pottery with detailed surface design. Abigail currently operates out of Folsom Studio in St. Louis City where she assists artist Malaika Tolford (Place Value Pottery), leads workshops, and produces work under her label, Hindsight Studio. She looks forward to FUNdamentals of Pottery and the opportunity to teach the next generation of local artists!

The Clay Lab: Teen Studio
Ages 13+ | $150 + $20 Studio Fee | 4 weeks | Thursdays, January 15 – February 5 | 4:30 to 6 pm

Give the wheel a few spins (pun intended) and discover what makes working with clay so rad. In this four-week class, teens will explore the do’s and don’ts of pottery while experimenting with throwing, trimming, and glazing. It’s hands-on, messy, and all about learning by doing — no experience needed, just curiosity and a good sense of humor. This class is for ages 13+ with little to no experience in ceramics. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

About the Instructor
Jessie Schoenrock is the artist behind Rad & Sad Art and a self-taught ceramicist known for her playful, storytelling approach to clay. Her work blends humor, nostalgia, and heart — from functional mugs to large-scale murals and sculptures. Jessie keeps her classes relaxed and hands-on, helping students explore clay without overthinking it.

Kids

Clay Together

Fall-Winter Session
Monthly on Thursdays or Fridays at 11 am | November 14, December 12 | Ages 3+ | $50 per pair

Winter-Spring Session
Monthly on Thursdays at 11 am | January 8, February 12, March 12, April 9, May 7 | Ages 3+ | $50 per pair

Clay Together invites little hands and their grown-up sidekicks to spin, shape, and create together! Designed for children ages 3 & up and their parent or caregiver, this playful pottery wheel class offers a fun introduction to clay, creativity, and collaboration. No experience needed, just a sense of adventure and a willingness to get a little muddy! Pairs will complete 1 piece to fire. You pick your colors, and Christine Tavares will glaze it for you. Pottery is usually ready for pick-up in 2 weeks but sometimes it takes a little longer. (This is a one-day class). When registering, only one name is needed to secure a spot for you + one. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Snow Person Pinch Pot Dish
Saturday, January 10 | 2 to 3 pm | Ages 6-12 | $40

Foundry Education Coordinator Christine Tavares will lead students in a fun one hour clay class celebrating snow people! Students of all experience levels are invited to participate in this hand building workshop. Students will create and then glaze their snow person dish in one class, and finished pieces will be ready to pick up 2-3 weeks later. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Clay Coil Hearts
Saturday, February 14 | 11 am to 12 pm | Ages 6-12 | $40

Life is sweeter when you’re playing with clay! Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making this adorable coil heart sculpture! Foundry Education Coordinator Christine Tavares will lead students step by step as they use handbuilding techniques to shape, build, and glaze their sweet sculpture. Students of all experience levels are invited to participate in this clay workshop. Students will create and then glaze their sculptures in one class and finished pieces will be ready to pick up 2-3 weeks later. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able. 

Pottery Penny Pal
Saturday, March 21 | 11:00 am to 12:30 pm | Ages 7-12** | $40

In this fun, hands-on class,Education Coordinator Christine Tavares will lead young artists in designing and building their very own functional piggy bank (although the bank does not need to be a pig!). Students will use handbuilding techniques such as pinch and slab to create their pottery penny pal. Students will shape, decorate, and glaze their creation all in one class, and finished pieces will be ready to pick up 2-3 weeks later. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able. **This class has a skill level of intermediate.  If your child is under 10, it is suggested that they have adult accompaniment.

Hey Bud, Let’s Make a Vase
Saturday, April 11 | 11:00 am to Noon | Ages 6-12 | $40

Let’s make a bud vase just in time for Mother’s Day. In this creative workshop, Foundry Education Coordinator Christine Tavares will instruct students as they use handbuilding skills to create a beautiful vase. Students of all experience levels are invited to participate in this clay workshop. Students will create and then glaze their vases in one class, and finished pieces will be ready to pick up 2-3 weeks later. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

Planters with Personality
Saturday, May 9 | 11 am to 12 pm | Ages 6-12 | $40

Come play in the mud and unleash your creativity at our Kid’s Planter Workshop. Foundry Education Coordinator Christine Tavares will instruct students as they use handbuilding skills to create an awesome planter with personality. Students of all experience levels are invited to participate in this clay workshop. Students will create and then glaze their sculptures, and finished pieces will be ready to pick up 2-3 weeks later. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.

REFUNDS & CANCELLATIONS

Limited seats available and advanced registration required so sign up today to secure your creative seat. The Foundry Art Centre does not make up or refund classes if a student misses a class. Accommodations can be made for cancellations 14 days prior to the date of the workshop. Please contact program coordinator Christine Tavares with any concerns.

For more information contact Christine Tavares, Program Coordinator, at ctavares@foundryartcentre.org