Ceramics
The Cermaics program serves nearly 500 adult students each year in a positive, creative, community atmosphere. The ceramics program offers classes on hand-building, wheel-throwing, raku, glazing, digital embellishments and much more. Students also have the opportunity to participate and learn from visiting artists during workshops that are offered frequently throughout the year.
Course Requirements
Students registering for ceramic classes should be physically capable of lifting up to 25 lbs. Intermediate and advanced students will be required to spend time outside of the scheduled class period to load, fire, and unload kilns (under appropriate supervision). Currently, students registered for an in-person studio ceramic class will only be allowed practice time on the same day their class is scheduled on. Open studio hours will not be available at this time. Students registered for online classes will have assigned times to drop-off and pick-up work from firing as well as for in studio glazing.
Materials List
Classes not listed here will either have required materials in the class description, discuss needed materials during the first class, or the materials will be supplied.
Class details (meeting times, tuition, etc.) are listed below.
View Materials List Class Guidelines
Ceramic Class Notes
Tuition now includes one 25lb bag of clay for each student registered. Students should be able to lift 25lbs of clay. Tuition also covers shop glazes, and some underglazes as well as kiln firing; however, students should anticipate fees for purchasing additional clay, specialty underglazes, and tools unless otherwise noted. Additional 25lb bags of clay and introductory tool kits are must be purchased online; show your receipt to the instructor to receive your purchase. Clay and materials may also be purchased locally at retail stores.
Open Studio Hours
Limited open studio time for enrolled students to practice will be determined at the beginning of each term; dates and times will be discussed in class and posted on studio doors. Students may arrive one hour before their given class time and may stay no later than 1 hour following their class time. Students should be respectful to monitors and observe all studio policies and practices. Open studio time is intended for practicing techniques and projects covered in class; production purposes or outside work is not allowed.
Registration Information
Classes are open-enrollment to the community. Class registration is a simple process. Read 'How to Register' below to get started. Click here to view all registration policies and guidelines, including information on payments, class withdraws and cancellations, refunds, and more.
- Click the 'Register Now' button below to begin the registration process. If registration is open and you do not see a 'Register Now' button, please refresh your browser.
- Click onto 'Sign In' at the top right side of the page.
- To sign in, enter your user name and password. If you do not have an account, you can create one quickly by specifying a user name, password, and email address.
- Navigate to your desired course. Click the 'Add to Cart' button associated with the course.
- After completing the registration process and remitting payment, you will receive an email containing your registration confirmation.
Ceramics Classes - Summer 2025
Course Description
This class will focus on the basic skills of wheel throwing—centering, opening, and pulling clay into shape—followed by learning to form bowls, cylinders, and cups. Students will also learn to evaluate form and how form serves a vessel’s function.
Course Description
Fundamental handbuilding skills and techniques will be covered including pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction with a focus on fun, artful, and utilitarian forms as well as surface techniques to add decorative elements to make the work truly one-of-a-kind. The class will work in low-fire terracotta clay and glazes; students will learn how to use these materials for the purpose of handbuilding.
Course Description
Expand and refine your throwing skills through the forming of bowls, cups, lids, pitchers, and the assemblage of two-part forms. Presentations and discussions will cover how to integrate form with function. This class will use high-fire clay and gas fired reduction glazes.
Course Description
Together we will explore large scale sculptural vessel forms in this mini-course. Through coil building we will create large-scale vessels that we decorate with a variety of surface techniques from use of press molds to slips, underglazes, slip trailing, sgraffito, and glaze. All sculptures will be once fired. Contemporary and historical sources of inspiration will be shared as a starting point to create a vessel that embodies each student’s unique vision.
Course Description
Independent Study is designed for students who are self-motivated, technically capable of firing kilns, willing to push their creative abilities, and wish to create a body of work during the term. This class will focus on functional and sculptural handbuilding approaches using mid-range clay and colorants in an oxidation firing. Students should come prepared with a written proposal of the goals or projects they plan to accomplish during the term. The instructor reserves the right to reject proposals that are outside the limitation of the class time and studio. Decoration options will include white and colored slips, underglazes, and mid-range glazes; other options may be acceptable depending on the requirements of each student’s individual project proposal.
© 2022 The University of Texas at San Antonio | One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX 78249 | Privacy Statement