Throw with More Skill, Shape with More Confidence

 

Beyond the Basics is perfect for potters who feel comfortable with the foundations and are ready to keep building skills in a guided environment—students who want new challenges, fresh techniques, and a teacher who helps them progress week after week.

Beyond the Basics is repeatable, flexible, and designed to keep you challenged, inspired, and steadily growing as a potter. This is where your pottery journey takes on new depth and variety. Every 8 weeks you’ll tackle two fresh focuses—like decorating surfaces, scaling up to bigger pieces, altering forms for personality, or blending in handbuilt elements that take your throwing further. 

You’ll feel inspired to try new methods of creating and supported as you stretch beyond your comfort zone. Each session sparks curiosity with fresh techniques and encourages you to play, experiment, and discover new ways to shape clay. You’ll experience the confidence that comes from guided practice, the joy of watching your ideas come to life, and the satisfaction of seeing your skills grow in a supportive, creative community.

With small classes and a dedicated teacher, you’ll share ideas, celebrate progress, and learn from the unique approaches of others in the group. The mix of new techniques and collaborative energy makes it easy to cheer each other on, trade inspiration, and feel like you’re truly part of a pottery family that grows together session after session.

This class can be taken again and again as your continuing or independent learning course. Each 8-week session, your teacher will sit down with you to talk through your goals, what you’d like to learn or improve, and how to get there. You’ll always have a teacher by your side for guidance, plus a community of makers to share the experience with. Every session also includes 1–2 new tools, hand-picked by your teacher or the studio manager, to support the skills you’re building and help you achieve your personal goals.

Our weeks will look more fluid:

This class is for potters ready to stretch their skills and grow their personal style in a supportive community. Each 8-week session has two areas of focus — one to refine throwing technique and one to explore creative expression through surface design, altering forms, or adding handbuilt elements.

Each week begins with a short demonstration introducing that session’s focus. From there, you’ll move into your own work time — practicing, experimenting, and finding ways to add new flair to your pottery.

Examples of session focuses include:

• Throwing & altering forms

• Slip decoration & sgraffito

• Going bigger & building in sections

• Serving pieces & multi-part forms

Every focus is designed to feel simple, clear, and approachable — just one new skill at a time — so you can confidently build on what you already know.

This is where pottery starts to feel personal. Your ideas, your rhythm, your next step forward.

Returning student? Your skills progression will be tailored just for you. Before each 8-week session begins, your teacher will give you a call to talk through your goals and map out a plan for what you’ll focus on each week — so every class moves you closer to the pottery you want to create. 

Practice Time
You’ll come to the wheel with a clearer sense of direction and a spark of creativity. Beyond the Basics gives you room to practice, play, and find your own rhythm—supported, but self-guided.

Supportive Community
At this point, the studio feels like home base—a space filled with familiar faces and kind encouragement. You’ll keep learning together, celebrating each win, and remembering that the joy is in the making.

In-Depth Ceramics Study
This class invites you deeper—into more complex forms, stronger technique, and projects that ask you to problem-solve and self-correct. 

You’ll Receive:

 

• FWC Sketchbook to become intentional in your making
• MudTools Rib and Calipers to make lids
• Up to $30 of tools (discuss with teacher before class)
• Weekly 2 Hour Lessons
• Unlimited practice time during retail hours
• Dedicated shelf in the studio
  

• Specialized Kiln Firings in Spring/Fall
• Convenient Parking
• Easy access to groceries, library, restaurants and coffee
• Simple Enrollment
• Current Members get 25% off using code

Keep Me Centered - Enroll Now!

 

Fort Wayne Clay is conveniently located at Georgetown Square between Blueberry Pancake and the Bowling Alley.

During the school year, classes are held Wednesday Mornings, Wednesday and Thursday Evenings, and Saturday mid-day.

Classes are $380 for 8 Weeks of 2 Hour Lessons

Open Studio and Retail Hours

Mondays - Thursdays           12 - 8 pm

Fridays            12 - 4 pm

Saturdays            10 am - 2 pm

Closed Sundays

 

" It was no accident that I took the class when I did. While it stretched me, it also was a healing experience that I wasn’t expecting."

- Emily

 

Sign Me Up for the Next Level

FAQs

What if I can't make it to all the scheduled classes?

This is the perfect chance to use your unlimited Open Studio Hours and Weekly Videos to make it up! We've included these hours with your lessons so you can take full advantage of the studio equipment and grow to your highest potential. 

I've never touched the pottery wheel or clay before. Is this class right for me?

No. Our Wheel Foundations 1: The Starting Point is where you want to begin. It's is a relaxed, beginner-friendly class where you’ll learn the essentials of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing—with step-by-step guidance, lots of encouragement, and time to discover the simple joy of working with clay.

Can I take Beyond the Basics more than once?

Absolutely! Many students repeat Beyond the Basics as a continuing or independent learning course. Before each new 8-week session, your teacher will give you a call to talk through your goals, plan your week-by-week skills progression, and even discuss which tools could help you get there. You’ll always have a teacher by your side for guidance, plus a supportive community to make alongside.

What do I need to bring to class?

Great question. Bring an apron if you'd like one, large kitchen trash bags, and wear clothes that can get messy. This class, you're also responsible for your own clay. We've got all the clay you need at the studio. (You'll enjoy the ease of being able to use as much clay as you'd like with our convenient QR codes located above each kind of clay). Bring your tools from your prior class in your awesome FWC Tote Bag!

If I want to keep doing classes, how do I know which ones to do next?

There are just so many options, right?! Our teachers will help point you to the class they think you'd enjoy most. They'll have a good understanding of where you're at and help point you toward the next fun adventure. Your weekly emails will also lay out options you might want to consider. 

Our suggestions:

• Retake this class. The second round, you'll get a personalized plan (plus hand-picked tools) to help you reach your goals each session.
• Cylinder Bootcamp. Throw taller, cleaner cylinders faster, and push your limits with personalized feedback that sharpens technique and builds confidence. It really shows how you've grown and helps get you to the next level.
• Mud Club. Full studio access, freedom to work independently, and a supportive community that’s always there when you need advice or inspiration.
• Specialized 4 Week Classes. The Great Glaze Experiment, Going Bigger, and Surface Decoration let you dive deep into specific skills, explore new techniques, and expand your creative toolkit in a focused, supportive setting.

I'm hesitating because of the price. Can I make payments with installments?

Our ShopPay and PayPal methods of payment are easy and convenient checkout options to use for installments. 

 

" The learning environment and community around the studio have been phenomenal.

I immediately felt welcome and supported ..."

- Andy

Enroll Now!

 

P.S. If you want to find out if this class is perfect for you or have more specific questions, email Nicole@fortwayneclay.com and we'll figure things out together.