Do I need prior wheel experience?

Yes. All students must have taken at least one beginning wheel class and be comfortable with basic centering and throwing steps.

What is included in tuition?

Tuition includes all instruction, tools, glazes, firing, and 25 pounds of clay. One free open-studio session is also included.

Can I buy extra clay or supplies?

Yes. Additional clay and studio supplies can be purchased through the studio’s website or at the studio.

Is the studio wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The class listing notes that this location is wheelchair accessible; check in at the back classroom on arrival.

What is the class size and minimum age?

Group size is limited to 10 students and the minimum age is 16.

Who do I contact with questions or cancellations?

Email south@blackhoundclay.com for questions. Refer to the studio’s class guide for policies and any cancellation or payment-plan details.

Push Your Pottery: Wheelthrowing 102 at Black Hound Clay Studio South | Workshop

Black Hound Clay Studio South sits at 1701 Federal Street in South Philadelphia, offering Wheelthrowing 102: Wednesday Evenings — an eight-week, small-group progression for experienced beginners ready to push technique. Taught by Lisa Belsky, the course runs Wednesdays, June 3–July 22, 6–9 pm, in the studio’s back classroom. The rhythm of the class pairs warm-up throwing drills with targeted exercises designed to lengthen forms, thin walls without collapse, and develop confident trimming and attachment methods.

This is a skills-first workshop: students focus on lifting taller, shaping consistent walls, refining foot rings, and practicing secure handle attachments. The studio includes on-site kiln and glaze resources, and tuition covers instruction, tools, glazes, firing, and 25 pounds of clay; extra clay is available for purchase. Each registrant also receives one free open-studio session to practice between classes. Accessibility is considered—Wheelthrowing 102 is marked wheelchair accessible—and group size is intentionally capped at ten to maximize hands-on feedback.

Prerequisite experience is required: students should have completed at least one beginning wheel class elsewhere or with the studio. Under Lisa Belsky’s guidance, repetition becomes the lesson plan: working toward matching sets (cups, bowls, mugs, or vases) helps students measure progress, learn consistent finishing, and test glaze behavior across multiple firings. The curriculum also introduces kiln vocabulary and basic firing cycles so students understand how throwing choices interact with glaze outcomes.

Logistics are straightforward: meet at 1701 Federal Street and check in at the back classroom. The studio offers installment payment plans for early registrants; late registrations require full payment. For practical prep, consult the studio’s class guide before your first night and direct questions to [email protected]. The eight-week evening format is ideal for busy makers who want concentrated technical improvement without a full-time residency.

Why book this in Philadelphia? Black Hound Clay Studio South is part of the city’s hands-on craft community, offering focused night-class training that translates directly to usable, everyday pottery. Whether you’re aiming to produce a coordinated dinnerware set or to dial in a signature vase profile, Wheelthrowing 102 gives repeatable practice, instructor critique, and firing feedback in a compact, supportive schedule—turning incremental improvements on the wheel into reliable studio skills.