Pottery Classes

Adult Classes are for beginning through advanced students, with individualized instruction based on student’s interests. Basic and advanced wheel throwing techniques will be covered. Techniques for making a variety of forms such as mugs, plates, bowls, vases, pitchers, and teapots will be demonstrated. Textured and altered forms will be explored as well as a variety of glazing and decorating techniques. Understanding and control of the materials and craft will enable you to design and develop your own style.

• Get on the Class Mailing List
• Check out our Glazes
• See an exhibition of student work
• Sign up right now.

Navigate This Page

• Instructors
• Schedule
• Tuition
• Make-up Policy
• Cancellations, Withdrawals, and Refunds
• Supplies
• A Typical Class
• Private Lessons
• Demonstratons

Information for Prospective Students

Beginning students usually produce from one to three pots per day. When finished, all pots are food safe and usable in a microwave, dishwasher or oven. Choose from a wide range of beautiful glazes. We have thirty exceptional high-fire reduction glazes, from deep cobalt blues to dramatic copper reds. Maximum class size is fifteen students. Beginners and advanced students work alongside each other, so you’ll have plenty of inspiration. We constantly review the basics as well as introduce new and advanced techniques.

Why Choose Us?

• Adult Classes
• Small class sizes – fifteen students or less
• Over 30 gorgeous high-fire reduction glazes
• Frequent firings – consistently excellent results
• Superbly maintained studio
• Individualized instruction in an artist’s studio
• Make-up classes available
• Day and evening classes
• Dedicated trim wheels with Giffen Grips
• Your pots are dried to leather hard for you.
• Personal clay storage
• Low fees
• Great quality, twice pugged, Grolleg porcelain clay
• A secure environment for you and your pots
• South Side location

Instructors

Owners Dan and Donna are full-time professional potters and certified teachers. They make a varied and extensive body of work which has been exhibited in hundreds of galleries. Our other instructors are Garick Tai-Lee, MFA, Bennett Graves, Dacey Haughwout, and Zachary Gideon.

2020 Class Schedule (for the whole year)

There are six terms that run one after the other, without a break between terms, all year long, except for a two-week break in August and December and on these holidays. However due to Covid-19, our start dates are in flux, and have been pushed back.

Classes meet once a week. For example, if you are in the Tuesday evening class, you come for 3 hours every Tuesday night for eight consecutive weeks.

Reviews

Stephanie Tracy, 5 stars Facebook, Mar 11, 2016

I have been lucky to learn under the wing of Dan Vito, and it has turned a hobby into a passion. His glazes are unparalleled. The shop is full of beautiful work, which I have purchased, and his studio full of fun and learning. I couldn’t be happier with my time spent at Fireborn. MORE REVIEWS…

Tuition

There is a 3 tiered price structure. For an 8 week term, new students pay $290. For students not currently enrolled but who have previously taken classes at Fireborn, (“returning students”) there is a $20 discount. For currently enrolled students who are rolling over into the next term without a break, there is a $40 discount. You must make a deposit of $100 to hold your spot. The balance will depend on which category you are in. Balances are due seven days before your class starts.  We will send you a reminder email when balances are due. Pay now.

• Get on the Class Mailing List
• Check out our Glazes
• See a student exhibition of some great work

Make-up Policy – Make up classes are suspended during Covid-19.

We try to be flexible. If you have to miss a class, you may attend a class on another day of the week, space permitting. (For example, if you regularly attend Tuesday’s class, you can make up on a Thursday). You will need to fit your make-up classes within your eight-week term. Click here to schedule a make-up and if you will miss a class, click here to tell us.

Cancellations, Withdrawals & Refunds

Fireborn may cancel or postpone classes if minimum enrollment is not attained, in which case deposits will be refunded. Click here for cancelations due to weather conditions.

A $100 deposit is required to enroll. The balance must be paid online by the Wednesday before the term begins. If students withdraw within 5 to 10 days of the start of class, a $50 withdrawal fee will be charged. Within 4 days of the start of class, a $100 withdrawal fee will be charged. Once classes have started there will be no refunds at all. There are no refunds for students who need to self-quarantine. Stay safe!!

Materials Fee

Twenty-five pounds of clay is included in tuition. If additional clay is needed, it may be purchased. The clay used is Grolleg porcelain, imported from England. Glazes and firing are included in the price of clay. Glaze materials are included in the cost of clay.

Supplies You Should Bring

You should bring a towel. We sell everything else you will need… toolkit, brush, and bucket… which you can buy on the first day of class, and cost $16, $3 and $4 respectively. We recommend you get the brush and toolkit from us, as they are good quality. Brushes are used for slip, waxing, and glazing. The bucket should be one gallon or less and, if you want, you can use an old gallon milk jug with the top cut off. Wear a short-sleeved shirt. Aprons are optional. Clay easily washes out of clothing. Some glaze materials will stain.

• Get on the Class Mailing List
• Check out our Glazes
• See our recent exhibition of student work

Understanding the flow of work through the studio cycle:

Class 1, you make a pot. By class 2, it will be dry enough to trim and sign. When the pots are fully dried (in another 5 to 7 days), they are ready for the bisque firing, which takes 9 hours and goes to 1900 degrees F . After that, your pot is called “bisqueware.” Prior to the bisque firing, pots will dissolve in water. After the bisque, they will not dissolve. On the fourth week of class, the pots you made during week one and trimmed on week two will be bisqued and ready to wax and glaze. After glazing, your pots are fired a second time to 2400 degrees F. That firing takes 18 hours to heat up and 18 hours to cool down. When finished, your porcelain pottery will be safe to use in an oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Each week, you make new pots, trim pots from the previous week, and glaze your bisque ware.

A typical class schedule:

6:30 to 6:45 set up/new student orientation 6:45 to 7:15 demonstrations (see below) 7:15 to 8:30 individual help, throwing and trimming 8:30 glazing 9:15 clean-up 9:30 out the door.

Typical Demonstrations

• Plates and Platters
• Pie, Quiche, and Soufflé
• Small bowls
• Tea-bowls and Unomi
• Rice bowls
• Large bowls variations
• Mugs
• Various mug handle techniques
• Flowerpots, Utensil Holders
• Lids
• Honey Pots, Garlic Keepers
• Jars and Canisters
• Handles and Knobs for lids
• Surface Design and Texture
• Alternate lips and feet
• Casseroles
• Teapots
• Altered Forms
• Trimming
• Critical analysis
• Glaze application

Private Lessons

We do offer private lessons. Click here for more information.

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