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Spend eight Tuesday evenings at Black Hound Clay Studio South learning to throw, trim, decorate, and glaze your own pottery. Small classes, included materials, and expert instruction make this a great beginner experience in South Philadelphia.
Spend eight Tuesday evenings at Black Hound Clay Studio South learning to throw, trim, decorate, and glaze your own pottery. Small classes, included materials, and expert instruction make this a great beginner experience in South Philadelphia.
Book with Black Hound Clay Studio South
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Operated by Black Hound Clay Studio South · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Black Hound Clay Studio South sits at 1701 Federal Street in South Philadelphia, where an eight-week evening wheelthrowing course turns ordinary weeknights into focused, hands-on craft sessions. Wheelthrowing 101: Tuesday Evenings with Drew is a beginner-friendly eight-week class taught by instructor Drew Schenck that walks students through centering, pulling, trimming, decorating, and glazing on the potter’s wheel. The classroom feels like a working lab: rows of potter’s wheels, a dedicated glazing bench, racks for drying, finished shelves for fired work, and access to a studio kiln. Tuition includes 25 pounds of clay, tools, glazes, firing, and one free open-studio session; additional clay can be purchased. Classes are small, limited to about a dozen students, so teaching artists provide hands-on corrections and demonstrations. Sessions meet Tuesdays from 6–9 p.m. over eight weeks (June 2–July 21), and the back classroom is wheelchair accessible. What makes this course special is its practical structure paired with a relaxed studio atmosphere. Beginners are guided through the full ceramic cycle, from wet clay to trimmed and glazed pieces, while more experienced throwers refine technique under attentive instruction. The studio’s well-stocked supplies and inclusive teaching remove friction: you show up, roll up your sleeves, and work. Installment payment plans are available for certain registration windows to spread tuition if you register early. Practical notes matter. The class convenes in the studio’s back classroom at 1701 Federal Street; plan to arrive a few minutes early to set up. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting clay on, and bring closed-toe shoes and a towel or apron. A small notebook is useful for recording measurements, glaze recipes, and instructor tips. This course suits creative travelers who want a hands-on local experience in Philadelphia, as well as residents seeking a regular making practice. It’s an engaging date night, a focused hobby track, or a skill-building evening that yields usable, personal pottery. Accessibility and structured progression make it a strong option for learners 16 and older who prefer guided practice over drop-in studio time. Black Hound Clay Studio South anchors a vibrant craft community in this part of Philadelphia; for makers and curious visitors alike, an evening on the wheel with Drew delivers tangible skills, a fired final product, and several nights’ worth of concentrated, meditative making. Many students report surprising satisfaction from the repeatable techniques learned in these sessions. In-class demonstrations and one-on-one feedback accelerate skill growth. Because glazes and firings are handled by the studio, students leave with finished pieces rather than raw blocks of work. The course also makes a thoughtful gift: finished pottery becomes a lasting reminder of time invested in making. Email [email protected] or consult class-guide online before class
easy.
3 hours per session; 8 weeks.
No special fitness required; comfortable seated posture for throwing helps
Minimum age is 16 for this class.
No experience is necessary—the class is designed for complete beginners as well as those with some throwing experience.
Tuition includes all instruction, tools, glazes, firing, and 25 pounds of clay plus one free open studio session.
Yes, the back classroom where the class is held is wheelchair accessible.
Yes, additional clay is available for purchase through the studio.
Email [email protected] for questions or consult the studio’s class guide online.
South Philadelphia has a long tradition of trades and manufacturing and is now home to a growing community of craft studios and makers.
Ask about clay recycling and glaze disposal practices; many studios reduce waste by reclaiming trimming scraps and following proper hazardous waste protocols.
Black Hound Clay Studio South is a community-focused ceramics studio offering wheelthrowing, handbuilding, glazing, and open studio opportunities. The studio presents a structured curriculum alongside one-day workshops and members-only resources, with offerings that include Wheelthrowing 101, Wheelthrowing 102, Intermediate Wheelthrowing, Intermediate Handbuilding, and specialty workshops like ceramic sculpture and tile carving. Classes are taught by named instructors listed in course descriptions — including Sara Gallo, Veronica Mehl, Madeline Rothman, Isaac, and visiting instructor Jill Allen — and range from beginner Wheelthrowing 101 courses to intermediate-level sessions and focused surface design classes. Several Wheelthrowing 101 listings reference an eight-week format, while other options include single-session workshops such as Make Your Own Tile and One Day Wheel Workshop. The studio supports members with dedicated classes and orientations, including Kiln Orientation, Members Glaze Refresh, and Members Reclaim Refresh, as well as open studio time for students focused on wheelthrowing or handbuilding and glazing. Multiple offerings show active waitlists for in-demand classes, indicating consistent enrollment. Black Hound Clay Studio South appears in class listings tied to South Philadelphia experiences and emphasizes hands-on instruction, small-class environments, and opportunities for creative practice and skill progression.
Book with Black Hound Clay Studio South