Do I need prior experience?

No experience is necessary; the class is designed for all levels and covers basic handbuilding techniques.

What is included in tuition?

Tuition includes instruction, tools, glazes, firing, and 25 pounds of clay, plus one free open studio session.

What is the age requirement?

Participants must be at least 16 years old to enroll.

Is the studio wheelchair accessible?

Yes — Black Hound Clay Studio West is wheelchair accessible at the listed meeting point: 715 South 50th Street.

Yes — additional clay can be purchased through the studio’s website as noted in the course description.

How long until finished pieces are ready?

Firing and glazing schedules add time; the studio handles firing but check kiln dates with instructors to know when to pick up finished work.

Shape Your Own Planters: Handbuilding for the Garden in West Philadelphia

Black Hound Clay Studio West: 715 South 50th Street sits in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a practical art room that invites visitors to shape clay into planters. In the eight-week evening course 'Handbuilding for the Garden' (Mondays, March 30–May 18, 6–9 pm) instructor Miranda Blas guides a small group through coil, pinch, and slab techniques to produce wall planters, free-standing pots, hanging planters, and sculptural stands. The class is open to anyone sixteen and up; no experience is required, and the studio is wheelchair accessible. You’ll work at communal benches under bright task lighting, trade ideas with a ten-person cohort, and learn to use basic hand tools, glazes, and kilns. Tuition includes all instruction, tools, glazes, firing, and 25 pounds of clay; one open studio session is included to refine pieces between classes. Expect hands-on demos from Miranda, timed practice periods, and guided glazing sessions that help you translate a garden concept into a functional object. Extra clay is available for purchase through the studio website. What makes this course stand out in Philadelphia’s creative map is its focus: practical, plant-ready ceramics that function outdoors and indoors. The work centers on tactile construction—coils stacked into organic walls, slabs trimmed into geometric planters, and pinched pieces that hold a single favorite fern. The kiln transforms fragile wet shapes into lasting ceramic vessels, a small-scale alchemy that feels especially rewarding for visitors who want a handmade souvenir to carry home or a gift that grows. Set in West Philadelphia, the studio offers a calm escape from the city’s bustle and a chance to plug into the local maker community. The space doubles as an introduction to ceramic processes that visitors can continue exploring at other Philly studios or community pottery nights. Practical notes: the course runs for three hours per session over eight weeks, with a firm age minimum of 16 and a ten-student cap to keep instruction focused. Why book it? For travelers who love gardens, plants, and craft, this class turns inspiration into a tangible object—planters crafted to fit your windowsill or stoop. Whether you want to learn basic technique, make gifts, or simply spend evenings shaping clay, Miranda Blas and Black Hound Clay Studio West provide a friendly, well-equipped setting to build skills and leave with glazed, fired pieces you’ll use for seasons to come. Show up wearing clothes you don't mind getting clay on, and bring a small towel and a sketch or photo of the planter you imagine. The studio provides tools and glazes but checking glazing schedules ahead reduces wait time. If you plan to travel with finished pieces, ask about secure packing tips; fired ceramics are sturdy but can chip if jostled in transit and insurance.