Do I need prior experience?

Yes—this class is for experienced beginners; you should have taken at least one beginning wheel class and be comfortable with basic throwing steps.

What is included in tuition?

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

How old do I need to be to enroll?

Participants must be at least 16 years old to register for this class.

Is the studio accessible?

Yes; Black Hound Clay Studio West is wheelchair accessible. Contact the studio ahead of time for specific accommodation requests.

How do I get my finished pieces?

The studio handles glazing and kiln firing; turnaround times vary but expect at least a few days after the final firing—ask at check-in for exact pick-up details.

Are payment plans available?

Installment payment plans are offered; details and payment dates are provided on the booking page during checkout.

Wheelthrowing 102 at Black Hound Clay West: Advance Your Pottery Skills in Philadelphia

Black Hound Clay Studio West sits at 715 South 50th Street in West Philadelphia, hosting Wheelthrowing 102: Monday Evenings — an eight-week, three-hour-per-session course led by Isaac Scott that runs September 21 - November 9. Designed for experienced beginners, this class pushes wheel skills beyond the basics in a small-group setting capped at ten students.

Step into the studio and the first things you notice are the line of pottery wheels, the stacked kilns humming in the back, and shelves of trimmed forms drying under studio lights. The course zeroes in on the hands-on mechanics of throwing taller, thinner, and more consistent walls, then moves into shaping, trimming, surface design, and attachments. Students are encouraged to produce matching sets—cups, mugs, bowls, or vases—so incremental improvements compound into usable work. The studio supplies 25 pounds of clay, all tools, glazes, and kiln firing; one free open-studio session is included with tuition, which makes the class an efficient way to transform practice into finished pieces.

What makes this offering particularly valuable is its combination of focused technique drills and generous studio resources. Instructor Isaac Scott leads warm-ups and troubleshooting sessions that mimic a coach-athlete model: repeated exercises to build muscle memory, paired with pointed feedback on centering, pulling, and wall thickness. The intimate group size and accessible layout (wheelchair accessible) create a patient environment for steady progress.

Although this is an urban studio rather than a landscape, clay is the single natural element at the heart of the work—an earthy medium that connects contemporary makers to millennia of craft. Black Hound Clay sits within West Philadelphia's active maker community, close to university art departments and neighborhood parks, which gives students easy access to exhibits, supply shops, and local craft markets when they're ready to show or sell work.

Practical details matter: the class meets Monday evenings from 6-9 pm across eight weeks; participants must be at least 16 and should already be comfortable with the basic steps of throwing. The studio offers installment payment options and recommends reading the studio's What to Know guide before the first session. For travelers, pairing a class evening with a visit to nearby Clark Park or the Schuylkill River Trail makes for a balanced trip of craft and urban exploration.

If you're looking to refine technique, develop a small body of functional work, and learn within a supportive studio that handles glazing and firing for you, Wheelthrowing 102 at Black Hound Clay West offers the resources and structure to make meaningful strides in the potter's wheel. Enrollment is limited to ten students per session; to reserve a seat or review payment plans visit the studio's booking page or email [email protected]. Wear clothes you don't mind getting clay on.