3/16/2024: As of 4pm on Sat 3/16 there are 14 seats remaining, split between the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday daytime classes. Click the "Register" button below to register for any remaining seats.
We do not keep a wait list - if anyone drops out of a class before they start, we will post the spot on Instagram.
We do not keep a wait list - if anyone drops out of a class before they start, we will post the spot on Instagram.
The Spring 2024 session will run from Friday April 5 through Monday June 17. All 10-week classes are $395, plus the cost of clay. See the Class Tools & Materials section below for more details about clay costs.
Please Note:
Please Note:
- Class Space Availability - Current students, members, and Studio Grant recipients will continue to receive advance access to register for the classes. Typically, about 50% of the adult class seats are filled before registration opens to the raffle winners. This means some of the classes may already be full before raffle winners are able to register.
- Kids Classes - This raffle system does not include the Kids and Teen Classes. None of the information on this page is applicable for them. Use this link to go to the kids class registration page. Teens age 16+ may register for the adult classes
- Attendance is mandatory: Just for the first 2 classes if you are new to the studio. There is so much foundational information conveyed in the 1st 2 classes that all remaining classes build on that it is really difficult to catch up.
CLASS REGISTRATION RAFFLE
Raffle Process
- Review the information in the Class Details & Logistics section below carefully to make sure you are comfortable with the expenses and time commitments of the classes.
- Enter the raffle by completing the form in the next section. The deadline to complete the raffle form is midnight, Sunday March 10.
- The first 10 raffle winners will be emailed a link to the website to register for classes by 10AM on Tuesday 3/12.
The next 10 winners will receive the link on Wednesday 3/13, the last 10 winners will be emailed the link on Thursday 3/14. All remaining raffle entrants will be emailed the link on Friday 3/15, and any remaining spots will be opened to the public on Saturday 3/16.
- You must use the same email address for your class registration as you do for the raffle. To prevent raffle winners from sharing the link, any registrations that do not match the raffle winner list will be cancelled.
- Email notifications will be sent out from Heather@BurnishClayStudio.com. Please add Heather@BurnishClayStudio.com to your email address book to avoid it being marked as SPAM/JUNK - especially if you have a gmail account (google hates us.)
- If you still don’t see an email from Burnish by 3/16, check your Promotions, Focused and Other Inbox (different email providers call it different things) and your Junk Mail folders. You can also search your emails for "Heather@Burnishclaystudio.com"
- Mailing List: The class raffle is intended for people who want to take a class this session. If you just want to be notified about future classes, join our mailing list instead by clicking here.
- Waiting List: If you signed up for the class waiting list or raffle in the past, please note that only applied to that class session. The raffle refreshes each session to ensure we are only messaging people who are actively interested.
- Enter the raffle by completing the form in the next section. The deadline to complete the raffle form is midnight, Sunday March 10.
- The first 10 raffle winners will be emailed a link to the website to register for classes by 10AM on Tuesday 3/12.
The next 10 winners will receive the link on Wednesday 3/13, the last 10 winners will be emailed the link on Thursday 3/14. All remaining raffle entrants will be emailed the link on Friday 3/15, and any remaining spots will be opened to the public on Saturday 3/16.
- You must use the same email address for your class registration as you do for the raffle. To prevent raffle winners from sharing the link, any registrations that do not match the raffle winner list will be cancelled.
- Email notifications will be sent out from Heather@BurnishClayStudio.com. Please add Heather@BurnishClayStudio.com to your email address book to avoid it being marked as SPAM/JUNK - especially if you have a gmail account (google hates us.)
- If you still don’t see an email from Burnish by 3/16, check your Promotions, Focused and Other Inbox (different email providers call it different things) and your Junk Mail folders. You can also search your emails for "Heather@Burnishclaystudio.com"
- Mailing List: The class raffle is intended for people who want to take a class this session. If you just want to be notified about future classes, join our mailing list instead by clicking here.
- Waiting List: If you signed up for the class waiting list or raffle in the past, please note that only applied to that class session. The raffle refreshes each session to ensure we are only messaging people who are actively interested.
Raffle Instructions
- Fill out all the requested information on the form in the next section and then click on the Submit button.
- After submitting the form, you will see a message on your screen that says, "Thank you. Your information has been submitted." If you don't see the Thank You message, scroll up to the top of the form to look for the message.
- If you are still concerned that your form did not go through or if you need to make a change to your form, you can fill it out and submit it a 2nd time. Only the most recent form for each person will be retained.
- After submitting the form, you will see a message on your screen that says, "Thank you. Your information has been submitted." If you don't see the Thank You message, scroll up to the top of the form to look for the message.
- If you are still concerned that your form did not go through or if you need to make a change to your form, you can fill it out and submit it a 2nd time. Only the most recent form for each person will be retained.
Class RaffLe Form
3/11/2024: The Class Raffle entry is now closed for the Spring session. If any class spots remain available after we complete the raffle process, they will be available on this website starting on Saturday 3/16/2024.
Why We Raffle
Our old registration system required new customers to be online at a specific date and time to grab a class on a first-come, first-served basis. Previous classes sold out in 6 minutes and only went to those whose schedule allowed them to be online at that moment and had Apple or Google Pay set up on their devices.
We hope this raffle system will make the class registration process easier and fairer for those people who have slower Wifi, a slower set of payment platforms, or just move a little bit slower.
We hope this raffle system will make the class registration process easier and fairer for those people who have slower Wifi, a slower set of payment platforms, or just move a little bit slower.
CLASS DETAILS & LOGISTICS
Class Duration & Attendance
- Classes are 10 weeks, 2.5 hours per class with a total instruction time of 25 hours, and are for ages 16+. Cost of $395 includes access to 70 hours per week of open studio practice time, but does not include clay.
- Attendance is mandatory for the first 2 classes if you are new to the studio. There is so much foundational information conveyed in those classes that all remaining classes build on that it is really difficult to catch up.
- Make-Up Classes: After the 2nd class, students may make up a missed class by attending one day of another class during the same session. Refunds are not provided for missed classes.
- Attendance is mandatory for the first 2 classes if you are new to the studio. There is so much foundational information conveyed in those classes that all remaining classes build on that it is really difficult to catch up.
- Make-Up Classes: After the 2nd class, students may make up a missed class by attending one day of another class during the same session. Refunds are not provided for missed classes.
Tools & Materials
Tools:
- Beginners are welcome to use the studio tools to start with to ensure this is a hobby you want to commit to. If you have tools already you are encouraged to bring them.
- At some point if you continue taking classes you will want to start investing in your own tools, which you can purchase at Burnish or at a number of online retailers.
Materials:
- Clay is sold separately; it is not included in the class fee so that you only pay for the amount of clay and firings you actually use.
- Bags of clay come in 25lbs blocks. The current cost for a bag of the clay we typically use for throwing classes is $42, which includes the cost for bisque and glaze firings, access to use the studio glazes & slips, and sales tax.
- The amount of clay each person uses is a factor of how often they come in to practice and the size of the pieces they are making. Usually 1-2 bags per session for someone who has never touched clay before, but more prolific makers can go through as much as a bag per week or more.
- Students who wish to use underglazes to decorate their pots must purchase their own. We sell a wide range of underglaze colors from Clay Art Center Tacoma in our retail store.
- Cash Discount: If you purchase tools or clay in the studio with cash or a check you will receive a 3% discount at the register.
- Beginners are welcome to use the studio tools to start with to ensure this is a hobby you want to commit to. If you have tools already you are encouraged to bring them.
- At some point if you continue taking classes you will want to start investing in your own tools, which you can purchase at Burnish or at a number of online retailers.
Materials:
- Clay is sold separately; it is not included in the class fee so that you only pay for the amount of clay and firings you actually use.
- Bags of clay come in 25lbs blocks. The current cost for a bag of the clay we typically use for throwing classes is $42, which includes the cost for bisque and glaze firings, access to use the studio glazes & slips, and sales tax.
- Materials costs and availability continue to be volatile. While we keep costs as low as we can for you, we do have to pass on price increases when they happen. We are expecting a small increase before the end of 2023, which I hope to have finalized before raffle winners get access to register.
- The amount of clay each person uses is a factor of how often they come in to practice and the size of the pieces they are making. Usually 1-2 bags per session for someone who has never touched clay before, but more prolific makers can go through as much as a bag per week or more.
- Students who wish to use underglazes to decorate their pots must purchase their own. We sell a wide range of underglaze colors from Clay Art Center Tacoma in our retail store.
- Cash Discount: If you purchase tools or clay in the studio with cash or a check you will receive a 3% discount at the register.
What to Bring / Wear
- Dress for a mess. The white stoneware clays we use in the studio will not stain your clothes and shoes, but they will get dirty.
- Communal aprons are not available, but you are welcome to bring your own.
- You must bring a hand towel that you do not mind getting muddy. You are responsible for taking your towel home and washing it regularly.
- You may also want to trim your nails prior to arrival, especially if you are in one of the throwing classes. It is not impossible to work with long nails, but it can be more difficult.
- Be prepared to remove rings. Either leave them at home, or bring a safety pin to pin the rings to your shirt. They are the most commonly lost personal item in the studio. While you can technically keep your rings on, clay is abrasive and can scratch softer metals like gold.
- If you have long hair and are taking a wheel class please pull it back/up. Long hair can get pulled into the wheel, which would be painful at best and cause serious injury at worst.
- Communal aprons are not available, but you are welcome to bring your own.
- You must bring a hand towel that you do not mind getting muddy. You are responsible for taking your towel home and washing it regularly.
- You may also want to trim your nails prior to arrival, especially if you are in one of the throwing classes. It is not impossible to work with long nails, but it can be more difficult.
- Be prepared to remove rings. Either leave them at home, or bring a safety pin to pin the rings to your shirt. They are the most commonly lost personal item in the studio. While you can technically keep your rings on, clay is abrasive and can scratch softer metals like gold.
- If you have long hair and are taking a wheel class please pull it back/up. Long hair can get pulled into the wheel, which would be painful at best and cause serious injury at worst.
open studio / practice time
- All adult students are encouraged to use open studio time to practice and make work. Learning how to work with clay is hard and it takes practice to get proficient at it. Just like learning how to play a new sport or a musical instrument, it takes time and repetition to build up that muscle memory.
- No appointment needed for open studio, come in during open studio hours whenever you can for as short or as long as you want.
- Some open studio hours overlap with class times. You are welcome to use the opposite side of the studio during those times. For example, the wheels will be available to use while the Hand Building class is happening on the other side of the space, but the glazing area and adjacent tables cannot be used during hand building or kids classes.
- Open studio hours are more extensive than the Retail Hours listed on google or other areas on this website. Retail hours are the times that studio employees are available to assist walk-in customers. Morning and evening open studio hours are supervised by instructors there to teach a class, or volunteer Studio Monitors.
- Open studio hours during the class session will be:
- No appointment needed for open studio, come in during open studio hours whenever you can for as short or as long as you want.
- Some open studio hours overlap with class times. You are welcome to use the opposite side of the studio during those times. For example, the wheels will be available to use while the Hand Building class is happening on the other side of the space, but the glazing area and adjacent tables cannot be used during hand building or kids classes.
- Open studio hours are more extensive than the Retail Hours listed on google or other areas on this website. Retail hours are the times that studio employees are available to assist walk-in customers. Morning and evening open studio hours are supervised by instructors there to teach a class, or volunteer Studio Monitors.
- Open studio hours during the class session will be:
- Monday-Friday: 10AM-9PM
- Saturdays & Sundays: 10AM-6PM
SPRING 2024 CLASS SCHEDULE
Hand Building
Hand Building (10 students per class):
All experience levels welcome, including no experience at all. Students will follow along on guided projects at the start of each class to learn the foundational skills that you can then apply to your own project ideas. You will learn how to use the extruder and slab roller to create a variety of shapes and forms to use as building blocks for your creations. You will also learn a variety of hand building techniques including slab, coil, or pinching to create functional or sculptural pieces
All experience levels welcome, including no experience at all. Students will follow along on guided projects at the start of each class to learn the foundational skills that you can then apply to your own project ideas. You will learn how to use the extruder and slab roller to create a variety of shapes and forms to use as building blocks for your creations. You will also learn a variety of hand building techniques including slab, coil, or pinching to create functional or sculptural pieces
- Hand building with Hilde Schaaf (she/her): Mondays 12:30-3PM, 4/8 - 6/17 (no class Memorial Day.) Demonstrations for this class will focus on Garden Art, but the skills taught can be applied to all types of hand built pieces.
- Hand Building with Kacie Guthrie (she/her): Wednesdays 6:00 PM-8:30 PM, 4/10-6/12
Potter's Wheel
Potter’s Wheel (13 students per class):
Over the 10-week class, adults will learn techniques for throwing such forms as bowls, cups, vases, and others using the pottery wheel as a tool. Bring your own project ideas or follow along with a guided project led by your instructor.
Over the 10-week class, adults will learn techniques for throwing such forms as bowls, cups, vases, and others using the pottery wheel as a tool. Bring your own project ideas or follow along with a guided project led by your instructor.
- All Level Wheel - Classes for all experience levels, including no experience at all:
- Monday 4/8-6/17, 6:00 PM-8:30 PM with Finley Rick (they/he) No class on Memorial Day
- Tuesday 4/9-6/11, 6:00 PM-8:30 PM with Shelly Stark (she her)
- Thursday 4/11-6/13, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM with Sara Young (she/her)
- Friday 4/5-6/14, 12:30-3PM with Finley Rick (they/he) No class on 5/2
- Beginner Wheel: for those who are brand new to clay, or who are still really struggling with centering.
- Thursday 4/11-6/13, 6:00 PM-8:30 PM with Finley Rick (they/he)
- Saturday 4/6-6/15, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM with Finley Rick (they/he) No class on 5/3
- Not a Beginner Wheel: for those who are ok with centering and pulling walls and are ready to take it up a notch.
- Sunday 4/7-6/16, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM with Sara Young (she/her) No class on 5/4
Holidays and Studio Closures
- The studio will be closed for a 3-day workshop Fri 5/3-Sun 5/5. No classes, and no open studio access. The entire studio will be dedicated to the workshop with visiting artist Virgil Ortiz.
- The studio will be open Sat & Sun 5/25 & 5/26 Memorial Weekend and classes will be in session for those days. Students who will be out of town for the holiday weekend may make up the missed class by attending any other class during the Spring session. The studio will be closed on Mon 5/27 - no classes and no open studio access.
- The studio will be open Sat & Sun 5/25 & 5/26 Memorial Weekend and classes will be in session for those days. Students who will be out of town for the holiday weekend may make up the missed class by attending any other class during the Spring session. The studio will be closed on Mon 5/27 - no classes and no open studio access.