Pottery Classes in Minneapolis

Best Pottery Classes in Minneapolis

Pottery classes in Minneapolis are a wonderful way to spend time with friends, family or colleagues while learning a new hobby. They make terrific choices for a date night, a team building experience or a birthday celebration.

Part of the Twin Cities, along with neighboring Saint Paul, Minneapolis combines the nature and recreation of the Mississippi River with a thriving art scene. Head to the river or attractions like the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Walker Art Center or the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery to find creative inspiration for pottery classes in Minneapolis.

If you’re a beginner searching for a way to learn pottery techniques, or even if you’re an experienced pottery enthusiast, look no further than pottery classes in Minneapolis. You’re bound to find a fun and interactive class to get those artistic juices flowing.

What is Pottery?

Pottery is a vessel that holds something, like a vase, a mug, a salad bowl or a flower vase. Classes in Minneapolis offer the chance to make fun and unique items like dog bowls, cowboy boot vases, candle holders and hanging planters.

Difference Between Pottery and Ceramics

Ceramics is the overall artistic medium, while pottery is a category within that genre. Ceramics are objects that are made from non-metal materials, such as clay, earthenware, porcelain or stoneware. Sculptures are included in the ceramic category.

Pottery is a type of ceramic that holds something, like a vase, a bowl or a mug. Any object that is made from clay is called ceramic. Mugs or vases are called ceramic pottery. Ceramics are artistic; pottery is functional (like a coffee mug or vase).

Benefits of Attending Pottery Classes in Minneapolis

• Relieve stress
• Learn a new hobby
• Enhance current pottery skills and artistic techniques
• Increase happiness by spending time with friends and family
• Meet new people

Steps in Pottery Creation

When taking pottery classes in Minneapolis, you’ll learn a wide variety of techniques to shape, build and glaze a piece of pottery.

Wheel Throwing

Wheel throwing is when a traditional potter’s wheel is used to spin clay into shapes using your hands. Wet clay is shaped and formed as the wheel spins. The wheel can also be used to add decorative accents to pottery pieces. Other pottery techniques include hand building, slab and coil, pinching and slip casting.

Glazing

Glaze is the glossy coating, or paint, used on pottery pieces. Glazing seals the clay, making it waterproof and providing a tough exterior.

Firing

Firing happens twice in the pottery creation process and is known as bisque firing or glaze firing. Firing is when the pottery is placed in a kiln and left to sit at a high temperature. This makes it hard and “sets” the clay. 

Bisque firing is performed after the clay is shaped for the first time, but before it’s glazed. It has to be completely dry. This process makes it “glasslike,” and when done, it’s called bisqueware. This is the point when the artist paints, or glazes, the pottery. After this, the pottery is placed back in the kiln for glaze firing, which finishes off the project.

How long does it take to learn pottery?

Pottery is a fun hobby that you can expand on and use as creative self-expression and stress relief. Practice and patience are two key elements involved in learning to make pottery. You may start with a basic technique like a pinch pot, which is simply a small pot made by “pinching” the clay to create a small vessel that can fit in your hand.

How much is a ceramics or pottery class?

Classes are available in price ranges from $70 to $100. Pottery classes in Minneapolis are led by experienced potters and artists and last about two hours. Learn step-by-step techniques for creating your own unique pieces of pottery.