Frequently asked questions

This is a tricky question. A general rule of thumb is students glaze fire 6-8 pieces in a beginner wheel or handbuilding class. 8-10 pieces in an intermediate wheel class. Hold onto your bisque pieces so you can select and edit which pieces you want to glaze. We encourage practicing, so we are happy to bisque fire as many pieces as you'd like (prior the the bisque deadline- week 5), but part of learning is editing what you should glaze fire. Because their are many variables in the output quantity, we don't provide hard numbers, because glazing 6 cups is vastly difference than glazing 6 plates. Your teacher will provide guidance on this. ​ There will no more glazing after the bonus week. ​

We provide 6-week class participants with a door code. You can use this code whenever there isn't another class or workshop happening. For example: if you are in a wheel class, you may NOT practice while a handbuilding class is happening. The studio can get very busy and want to make sure members can still practice, so we limit (very minimally) when students can access the studio. ​

There are no make-up sessions for missed classes. During class you can ask your teacher to go over what you missed. We provide a bonus week, ends 1 week after you last class. That is also the last day to add pots to the glaze shelf. ​

Students have 30 days to pick up any finished items. After 30 days we will dispose of the items. On our calendar page (https://www.portlandclayhouse.com/calendar)we have our "open studio" hours. Or can email us to arrange a time to pick them up.

The brush-on glazes are for members only. Underglazes are taught in the hand-building classes and thus only available to the hand-building students. Wheel classes can only use the dipping glazes. We have 14+ of them and they are lovely! ​

Dipping glazes can be tricky. Too thin and the colors may not turn out. Too thick and the pots may crawl or "run" excessively. We require students to wax the bottom of your pots and to wait 10-15 mins before adding a layering glaze. If you are just doing one glaze, then a 2-3 second dip is all that's needed. If you are layering two glazes, then both dips need to very very quick, and again the pot must dry 10-15 min (longer if the pot isn't dry after 15 mins) between glaze dips. ​​​ ​ You must wax the bottoms of your pots and wipe them free of glaze. The bottom 1/4th of your pot must be free of glaze. We won't fire your piece if there is glaze on the bottom. ​ All student pots must be placed on a kiln cookie.

You can only use clay or glaze provided by the studio.

Shelves must be cleared off on the last day of class, week 6. During the bonus week there should be no pots on shelves. We will clear off any left behind items. You can still glaze pieces in that bonus week and have 30 days to pick up your pots. The door code stops working at the end of the bonus week.

Wet-Work: Last Day to make new pieces is on your 4th week of class. If you are person who comes in between classes you might be able to make new pieces and have them trimmed and dried in time to meet the bisque fire deadline, but that's at your own risk and your instructor will advise against it. Bisque Firing Deadline: Last day to add pieces to the greenware shelf is on your 5th week. This helps ensure you'll have something to glaze by the last day of your bonus week, which is one week from your last class. ​ Last Class: Student shelves need to be cleared off by the end of class. Glaze Firing Deadline: You can glaze pieces until the last day of your bonus week, which is a week from you last class. There will no more glazing pots after this week. ​ Pickup Deadline: You have 30 days to collect any glazes pieces. You can view our calendar page to see our pick up times.

Portland Clay House Youtube(https://www.youtube.com/@PortlandClayHouse/playlists) Curated Pottery videos to help you grow as a potter

Sure! https://youtu.be/luJEslAenGQ?si=2tVdGBnXtWWFhy0-