CERAMICS | creating with clay, using one’s hands & ancient techniques San Diego Craft Collective offers a growing Ceramics Program, sharing the joy of this tactile, expansive, and grounding medium with people of all ages. The act of creating with clay is one of simple dedication to handmaking. It is a traditional craft with many modern applications. Our Ceramics Program is supported by an engaged group of talented and active ceramicists who enjoy creating with their hands and sharing their passion for this craft with you and your family using eco-friendly, sustainable materials and practices. Read more about Craft Collective’s ceramics classes below and sign up to begin your learning journey today! Clay and Ceramics for Children | 6-12 years Craft Collective offers a variety of learning opportunities for children, including Afterschool Classes, Workshops, and Seasonal Camps. Ceramics classes focus on age-appropriate methods and projects, providing children with a layered foundation in the basics of working with clay. Ceramics classes begin with children as young as six years old. Younger children (ages 3 and up) are exposed to basic clay work through an ever-rotating set of craft experiences through Craft Studio for Younger Children. In addition, each month we offer a Family Clay Workshop that focuses on learning and practicing a new ceramic technique together. Ceramics for Teens | 12-18 years Craft Collective offers a Teen Program that provides a grounded foundation to clay, introducing ceramics as the simple, yet complex, traditional craft that it is. Teens learn about clay as a creative medium, clay properties, and a variety of techniques to approach the medium. The level of difficulty is gradually increased as their skills grow. In each project, instructors encourage foundational practices and support skill practice and the importance of self-expression. Visit our ongoing Teen Ceramics Classes, Tiny Ceramics Wheel Throwing, or 4 or 5-Week Wheel Throwing Courses today. Ceramics for Adults Craft Collective offers a wide range of ceramics classes in our Adult Program. Classes range from beginner level all the way up to professional. What sets our program apart is the level of quality: professional instructors who are highly qualified; a clean, organized, well-maintained workshop and tools; and thoughtful, well-designed class projects. Craft Collective currently offers a variety of classes and multi-week courses. Students will become familiar with low-fire and mid-fire clay while creating functional and sculptural ceramics. We teach various methods of handbuilding forms—coils, slab construction, and clay pinching—as well as the basics of throwing pottery on the wheel with wedging, centering, throwing and trimming. Decorative techniques with glazes and colors are explored. And specific to the class, students have the opportunity to create multiple pieces throughout. No previous experience is necessary. NOTE | Classes fill up quickly, so save your space today. If a class is full or you would like to be notified of future offerings, join our Interest List to be notified when new dates or spaces are available. Recurring Adult Ceramics Classes Tiny Ceramics Wheel Throwing is the place to begin if you’re at all intimidated by wheel throwing! It’s fun, versatile and open to ages 12+years. And, it’s a great way to get acquainted with wheel throwing basics before going into full-sized wheel throwing. 4-Week Beginner Wheel Throwing is the perfect starting place for someone who wants to learn how to create ceramics on a wheel. This 3-class series focuses on the important steps of throwing, trimming, and glazing. Each week a different step is taught. Students learn how to create functional pottery pieces while exploring their creativity. No previous experience necessary. 5-Week Beginner Wheel Throwing is an introductory series that’s perfect for those with a little more time. This is an intro-level series, on either Thursdays or Sundays, that teaches the basics of throwing pottery on the wheel, opening up possibilities to making mugs, cups, bowls and many other utilitarian objects. The class will use mid-fire clay that will create work that will last for years. And students will focus on learning and practicing wedging, centering, throwing, trimming and glazing. No previous experience necessary. Intro to Handbuilding Ceramics is a great starting place for those who are interested in learning the basics of handbuilding with clay to create functional and sculptural ceramics. Working with mid-fire clay, students explore various methods of building forms and decorative techniques with glazes. Students complete various projects throughout the 4-week course, learning the basics of clay materials and handbuilding – skills necessary to work independently in our open studio. No previous experience necessary. Surface Design in Clay is a 5-week series where students learn the basics of handbuilding to create functional pieces with an emphasis on decorative techniques. Working with mid fire clay, students explore various methods of building forms and decorative techniques with underglazes and slips, completing multiple projects throughout the course while applying handmade stencils and layering techniques with colorful patterns as well textured colorful designs using the sgraffito technique. In Ocarina Making | Crafting Melodies with Clay students will learn the step-by-step process of creating an ocarina from raw clay to a beautiful musical instrument. You’ll delve into the world of ceramics, exploring essential techniques, and shaping clay with your hands. From molding the body of the ocarina to intricately carving the finger holes and crafting the mouthpiece, you’ll acquire the skills to bring your musical vision to life. No previous experience necessary. Clay Open Studio is offered monthly, providing access to our studio’s wheels, space for handbuilding, tools, clay, glazes, and firing. No instruction is provided in our open studio, so you must have taken one of our clay courses or have previous clay experience to participate. Open Studio participants receive ½ a bag of clay, 1 bisque fire, 1 glaze fire, and use of our glazes. INTEREST LIST | If a class is full or you would like to be notified of future offerings, join our Interest List to be notified when new dates or spaces are available. PRIVATE LESSONS | Available at request. 404’s | Many of our classes are monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly and seasonal. If a class is not currently offered it may lead to a 404 error at this time. Please check back, or add your name to our Interest List and we will contact you when a class is scheduled. SUBSCRIBE | New projects and workshops are announced each month. Subscribe to SDCC to hear about what’s coming up! QUESTIONS? | Email us at make@sandiegocraft.org with any questions.