Moving Mud: Throwing on the Pottery Wheel

Registration link will not be public until 10 am on Thursday, December 5.

Mondays & Wednesdays
January 6 – February 17*

*No class Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20)

Ages 18+
Experience Level All experience levels. No previous experience required.


Class Description

This class offers an introduction to throwing classic pottery forms on the wheel. During this 6-week course, students will become familiar with the potter’s wheel as a tool for production and artistic expression, and work on developing the fundamental skills of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing. Every week will include an introductory talk, demonstration, work time, guided one-on-one help, and a simple homework assignment to help direct students’ engagement with clay.


Materials Needed

Students will be provided with
•  Fresh clay
•  Access to traditional throwing and trimming tools
•  Space in our kilns to fire pots
•  Use of shop glazes

Additional materials are available for a fee.


Class Goals

  • Introduce students to the operations of a pottery studio.
  • Develop a foundational understanding of pottery terminology and process.
  • Learn and practice major steps of the wheel-thrown pottery process including wedging, centering, opening, pulling, ribbing, trimming, handling, bisque firing, glazing, glaze firing, and cleaning.
  • Familiarize students with the larger landscape of American ceramics and encourage exploration outside of class time.
  • Successfully complete three major projects: Cylinders, Mugs, and Bowls.
  • Promote an atmosphere of respect and positivity in the classroom and encourage one another in the learning process.


Ceramics Open Studio

Monthly passes are available for experienced students to access the ceramics studio for independent outside-of-class worktime. Contact Maxwell at [email protected] to learn more.


Maxwell Starr

Maxwell Starr

Pottery Instructor & Program Associate @languidstokes

[email protected]

About the Instructor

Maxwell Starr was born and raised in a small town outside of Philadelphia and has been a life-long visitor to the Adirondacks. Maxwell first learned to throw on the wheel over a decade ago from his father, who was himself a recreational potter. In the years since, he has been involved in academic programs, arts centers, and both public and private kiln firings. After graduating from Skidmore College in 2021, he spent a year working for the national renowned graduate program in Ceramics at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania before moving full-time to Lake Placid. Maxwell’s own ceramic work focuses on traditional pottery forms fired in atmospheric kilns. His other areas of interest and experience include natural draft kiln design and construction, glaze and clay chemistry, and wood firing kilns.

ClayIn-PersonMulti-DayBeginner

Questions? Know you may need to miss class sessions? Contact [email protected].