Move past beginner exercises and take your handbuilding to the next level with an eight-week, instructor-led series at Black Hound Clay Studio West. Small class size, tools and glazes included, and targeted demos make this an ideal evening course for makers ready to pursue personal projects.
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Difficulty
moderate
Duration
3 hours per session (8-week course)
Fitness Level
No specific fitness level required; expect periods of standing, seated wheel work, and manual dexterity for handbuilding and trimming.
Wildlife
History
Black Hound Clay Studio West operates at 715 South 50th Street within West Philadelphia's growing arts district, where industrial and commercial spaces have been repurposed for maker studios and classrooms.
Conservation
The studio encourages responsible clay use, water-saving practices in the glazing area, and reuse of trimmed clay to reduce waste.
Black Hound Clay Studio West
Black Hound Clay Studio West is a ceramics studio offering a broad schedule of pottery classes, workshops, open studio sessions, summer art camps, and members-only events. The studio presents structured multi-week series such as Wheelthrowing 101 and Wheelthrowing 102, short-format workshops like Make Your Own Holiday Mug and One Day Wheel Workshop, and skill-focused courses including Handbuilt Tableware for Beginners and Intermediate Handbuilding options.
Classes emphasize hands-on instruction in wheelthrowing, slab and coil handbuilding, surface decoration, glazing, and functional tableware. Several class listings note small, supportive settings and instructor-led guidance; named instructors appear in class descriptions, including Frankie Iadarola, Corinna Cowles, and Caroline Hayes-Charuk. The studio also runs open studio sessions for students, member-focused demos and refreshers (kiln, glaze, reclaim, slip, extruder), and bookable private workshops.
Seasonal programming includes Mid-Summer Open Studio Sessions and Black Hound West Summer Art Camp sessions scheduled for August 2025. Multiple offerings show waitlist status for popular time slots, indicating high demand. Membership-only entries provide additional hands-on opportunities and technical demos.
Black Hound Clay Studio West’s program mix supports beginners through intermediate students, offering repeatable class sequences and specialty workshops for makers seeking practical skills, creative play, and finished functional work. The studio lists explicit class names, waitlist entries, and member events to help prospective students find a right-fit experience.
Experiences Offered
38
Classes, workshops, camps, and member events
Members Events
6
Kiln, glaze, reclaim, slip, extruder demos
Summer Camps
2 (2025)
August 2025 camp sessions listed
Waitlist Entries
10
Several popular classes show waitlists
Search wheelthrowing, handbuilding, workshops, summer camps, and members sessions; reserve a spot or join waitlists for in-demand classes and private workshops.
Come with a project plan
Bring sketches or reference photos so the instructor can tailor demos and troubleshooting to your goals.
Wear clothes you can get clay on
An apron and old clothes will keep you comfortable; clay dust and glaze stains are part of the process.
Arrive early to set up
Plan to be at the studio 15 minutes before start time to choose tools, wedge clay, and claim workspace.
Handle fired work after cooling
Kilns stay hot long after firing—wait for staff confirmation before removing pieces to avoid burns and damage.
Apron
Protects clothing and provides pockets for small tools during messy processes.
Towel or sponge
Useful for keeping hands and tools clean while shaping and trimming clay.
Closed-toe shoes
Protect feet from dropped tools, clay, and glazes in a busy studio environment.
Notebook and camera
Record glaze recipes, clay bodies, and steps in your process for future reference.