Fireborn Studios

Saturday Morning Independent Studio Time for 2026

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New Independent Studio Time

As you read this page, you will learn more about this new offering in 2026

 

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This Saturday morning independent studio is for experienced potters — preferably former Fireborn students with six (6) or more terms of enrollment — who are ready to work on their own, without regular instruction.

The goal is a stable, ongoing group, interested in building a community, and enrolling term after term.

What This Class Is

  • A three-hour weekly session (i.e. Saturdays 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.).
  • A collaborative independent studio format — no formal instruction.
  • A group of about 10–12 intermediate-to-advanced potters, each working according to their own artistic direction.
  • Participants share studio responsibilities (keeping the space clean, loading and unloading kilns, mixing glazes, and drying and storing their own wares).
  • Two members act as group leaders with access to the space and materials as needed.
  • Occasional informal critiques or demos by Fireborn’s Dan Vito may happen, but are not guaranteed.
  • This format works best for potters who want consistent access, value continuity, and are prepared to commit to the group term after term.
  • This is not an opportunity to do production pottery. 
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Similarities

  • Twenty-five pounds of clay will be included with your tuition by term. 
  • You may purchase extra clay.
  • You may not do “production pottery”.
  • Trimmed pots will dry to bone-dry and be bisque fired as usual.
  • The flow of work must be maintained, meaning pots can’t sit around on shelves.
  • You need to trim, glaze, and take home your work in a timely manner.

Differences from Previous Classes

  • There will NOT be formal instruction.
  • Community and cooperation will be emphasized. 
  • You will be responsible for drying your pots to leather hard and storing them on shelves.
  • There will be new shelf assignments to facilitate you’re workflow.
  • You will be collectively responsible for some studio chores: keeping studio clean, wet-mixing glazes, bringing clay into the building, loading the glaze kiln with Dan or Donna, etc. 
  • Two people in your class will be the class “leaders” and will have the door code and give out clay as needed.
  • Dan and Donna may offer critiques, demonstrations or help occasionally.
  • Class will be smaller, 10 to 12 people.
  • Because there will be fewer students, glaze firings will be less frequent. We fire when the kiln is full. This is could be every 2 to 3 months, compared to the 3 to 4 week schedule we had before. 
  • You can bring in work made at home and have it fired for a fee.
  • An 8-week term will cost less than before. The new price is $3:10.
  • You can, and will be expected to rollover from one term to the next, so the group has continuity.
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Sharing

You are encouraged to share your knowledge, kindness, and experience.

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Things You Should Know

How to Dry Pots

Being able to dry your own pots is a basic skill all potters should have.

All pots need to be partially dried, off the table, and put away by the end of class. 

Pots that are leather hard can be put in a designated place on the ware rack. 

Any pots not yet leather hard at the end of class can be placed on a small bat, covered with plastic, and put on the wet-pot storage shelves. You will be assigned shelf space. Please provide your own plastic bags, dry cleaner bags, small trash bags, etc.

To dry your pots, put a fan on them. The closer to the fan, the faster they will dry. Rotate your pots so they dry evenly. Cut again and remove from bat ASAP. Turn them upside down ASAP. Continue to rotate as needed. Try not to have the lips turn white and get brittle.

Slow-Dry: 

After one week in slow-dry, move your pots to the regular drying rack so they will get bisqued.

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Hundreds of Videos

 

  • I have created dozens of videos and linked to hundreds more made by others. As independent learners, you should avail yourself of them. Search my website for help pages and blog posts, and use the learners dropdown in the main navigation bar in the header that appears on the top of all pages. 
  • Below are two examples of my videos. 
  • I have a YouTube channel you can visit as well.
  • Below are a two sample videos
Glaze Firing

Our glaze kiln is 60 cubic feet and holds hundreds of pots. Space can be rented by the cubic foot. Access to Fireborn Glazes is available. We fire to cone 11 using a reducing atmosphere. Our glazes are comparable with Standard Clay brand #257 porcelain which can be purchased directly from their store in Carnegie, PA.

The price for firing is $35 per cu. ft., or 2.5¢ per cu. in. There is a minimum charge of 3 cu. ft. or $105.

Students currently enrolled in class receive a 50% discount.