How do I join the waitlist?

Sign up on the studio’s booking page for Wheelthrowing 101: Monday Evenings; the studio will contact you if a spot becomes available. Joining the waitlist does not guarantee a spot.

What does tuition include?

All instruction, tools, glazes, firing and 25 pounds of clay are included, plus one free open-studio session; additional clay can be purchased from the studio.

Is the studio wheelchair accessible?

Yes — the listing notes that the facility is wheelchair accessible.

What are the age requirements?

Students must be at least 16 years old to enroll in this class.

When can I pick up my finished pieces?

Because pieces require bisque and glaze firings, the studio typically schedules pick-up after the course ends; the staff will notify you when items are ready.

Can I buy extra clay or supplies?

Yes, extra clay can be purchased on the Black Hound Clay website or directly from the studio as needed.

Wheelthrowing 101 in Philadelphia: Monday Evenings at Black Hound Studio | Workshop

On Monday evenings in West Philadelphia, Black Hound Studio invites beginners to work clay into usable forms at Wheelthrowing 101: Monday Evenings. Held at 715 South 50th Street, this eight-week course runs June 1–July 20 from 6–9 pm and is taught by instructor Isaac Scott. The class is currently on a waitlist; sign-up via the studio’s booking page and the team will notify you if space opens. This is a hands-on, small-group experience—ten students max—designed for total newcomers to the potter’s wheel as well as those wanting to strengthen basic technique.

Inside the studio you’ll find rowed wheels, bins of prepared clay, glaze tables and a kiln that fires work to completion. Tuition covers all instruction, tools, glazes, firing and 25 pounds of clay; extra clay is available for purchase. One free open-studio session is included, giving you a low-pressure block of time to practice what you learned during class. The shop is wheelchair accessible and welcomes students aged 16 and up.

Wheelthrowing is tactile and immediate: you learn to recentre a lump of clay, pull symmetrical walls, trim foot rings and apply glaze. Isaac Scott walks students through this sequence with demonstrative throws and hands-on correction, so the focus is as much on feel and rhythm as it is on form. For travelers, the class is a rewarding, slow-paced counterpoint to Philadelphia’s energetic outdoor loop: after a morning on the Schuylkill River Trail or Fairmount Park, an evening at the wheel offers a creative, restorative balance.

Black Hound Studio sits in a neighborhood known for creative makers and access to green space; that proximity makes it an appealing stop for visitors who want an active day outdoors followed by a craft experience rooted in place. The results are practical art—cups, bowls, plates you can use at home—that double as memorable travel keepsakes.

Practical details: the course meets weekly for three-hour sessions; the eight-class schedule runs over eight weeks. Reserve a spot on the studio waitlist and include your contact information. Questions can be directed to [email protected]. Because kiln times are involved, completed pieces are typically available for pick-up after the course ends; the studio will coordinate glazing and firing.

Bring closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting speckled with clay; the studio provides aprons but pottery is a hands-on craft. If you’re traveling, allow a day after the final session to collect fired pieces or request shipping if available; contact the studio in advance to arrange pickup or shipping options. Expect a collaborative room of beginners and makers and collectors.