Wheel throwing workshop – Vases and Bottles

Join our 3-Day Vases & Bottles Workshop

Take your wheel throwing to the next level in this three-day workshop dedicated to creating elegant bottles and larger vase forms.

Designed for potters with basic wheel throwing experience, this workshop focuses on the techniques needed to successfully throw taller, more challenging forms. Working with at least 2 to 3kg of clay, participants will learn how to centre and control larger amounts of clay, pull consistent walls, and create balanced forms with height, volume, and character.

Throughout the three sessions, we will explore a range of vase and bottle shapes, discussing proportion, neck construction, form development, and finishing techniques. Demonstrations will cover strategies for throwing in one piece, refining profiles, and achieving clean, confident forms.

This workshop is ideal for those who are comfortable throwing basic cylinders and bowls and would like to expand their skills towards taller vessels.

By the end of the course, participants will have completed several bottles and vases while gaining a deeper understanding of form, scale, and clay control.

Experience level: Basic wheel throwing experience is sufficient
Duration: 3 sessions
Clay: Minimum 1 – 2kg per piece
What to bring: Tools, and aprons will be provided. You are welcome to bring your favourite throwing tools.

Workshop Schedule

7 September
Preparing Clay & Throwing Tall Forms
Learn how to prepare your clay, centre larger amounts, pull even walls, and throw a variety of bottle and vase shapes.

14 September
Refining Your Technique
Build on what you learned in the first session with more throwing practice. You’ll gain confidence working with taller forms while refining shape, proportion, and control.

21 September
No Class
There is no workshop this week while your pieces are bisque fired.

28 September
Glazing Your Work
Choose your two favourite pieces and learn how to glaze them using professional techniques to achieve beautiful, durable finishes.

You’ll throw several bottles and vases over the first two sessions, giving you the opportunity to practise and experiment before selecting your two favourite pieces to glaze.

Your work will then be glaze fired for a second time. Finished pieces will be ready for collection approximately 2–3 weeks after the final session.

You’ll also learn a whole bunch of wheel-throwing techniques and skills:

• Preparing clay, centering, pulling, and throwing tall bottles and vases
• Learn how to use various tools to add patterns and shapes to the surface of the clay
• Learn how to take your finished piece off the wheel without distorting it
• Our tutor will assist you throughout the workshop in case the pieces become too wobbly
• How to position your body and hands for pulling the clay straight up

Course details:

• Dates: 7th till the 28th of September (We will skip the 21st of September)
• Time: Monday 18:00 – 20:00
• Instructor: Luis Ortega
• Language: English, Spanish
• Included in cost: Expert teaching with personal one-on-one help, 2 hours session, all materials and firing costs, sales tax
• Address: Clayground Studio, Danneckerstrasse 7, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain

Have specific questions? Email us directly and we’ll help: hey@claygroundceramics.com

Cancellations

Cancellations must be made at least 7 days before the course starts for a full refund. No refunds will be given when cancellations are made after this date.

Students must attend all SCHEDULED class times. As this is a single session, if a student misses a session, NO MAKE-UP CLASSES will be offered.