8-Week Intermediate Pottery Wheel Course at Richmond

Already comfortable on the wheel and ready to level up? This 8-week intermediate course is designed for potters who can confidently center clay, pull walls, and create basic cylinders — and want to build on those foundational skills to create larger, more complex, and refined work.

Across eight weekly 3-hour sessions, you’ll work closely with our expert instructors to deepen your technical abilities and creative control. You’ll focus on throwing taller forms (8–12 inches), producing consistent shapes, and integrating advanced handbuilding techniques. You’ll also explore surface finishing, glaze application, and firing preparation to complete your functional, intentional pieces.

Ideal For:

• Students who can independently center, pull walls, and throw basic cylinders
• Those ready to increase scale, consistency, and complexity in their work
• Potters eager to create with more control, confidence, and creativity

What You'll Learn Week by Week: 

Week 1: Review & Refine Basics
Focus on perfecting centering, pulling walls, and throwing consistent cylinders. Troubleshoot common issues and set personal goals.

Week 2: Increasing Scale & Height
Practice throwing taller vessels (8–12 inches) with attention to even wall thickness and structural integrity.

Week 3: Creating Sets & Matching Forms
Learn techniques for producing multiple pieces that match in size and shape — perfect for sets like mugs or bowls or pieces that fit together as one such as lids and spouts. You will learn to throw off the hump and how to create a lidded piece or teapot. 

Week 4: Stacking and no roundies on the wheel
You will learn how to throw multiple pieces that you can stack to create one big piece and will also be shown how to create shapes that are not round by reforming pieces with no base as well as learning to dart pieces. 

Week 5: Review and Reflect
Review and learn about trimming pieces by learning about different types of feet you can add to your work, learning how to stack and trim and trimming off of chucks. 

Week 6: Surface Textures & Handbuilding Techniques
Incorporate handbuilt elements for functionality and style, and explore surface treatments to elevate your work's aesthetic. Techniques would include handles, slab spouts, craving, stamping, sgraffito, mishima and little sculptures to elevate your work’s aesthetic. 
**Can continue to trim if needed**

Week 7: Glaze Application Basics
Learn to apply glazes with control and creativity. Experiment with underglaze decoration and layering techniques.

Week 8: Firing Preparation & Review
Finalize your pieces, discuss firing outcomes, and plan your next steps in pottery.

Your finished pieces will be bisque fired, coated with a clear glaze, and fired again to ensure they’re food-safe and dishwasher-friendly.

Pro Tip: For the best results, consider taking our 4-week beginner course twice to build strong foundational skills before advancing to this intermediate level.