Pottery

Clay Pumpkins

Friday, August 28 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.

Welcome the fall season by creating two charming clay pumpkins, one using pinch pot techniques and one using a new slab-building style. Each pumpkin will be as unique as the real thing and add a touch of handmade charm to your autumn décor for years to come. If time allows, you’ll also create a slab leaf.

Your instructor will guide the class step by step through the building process. Once your pumpkins are complete, decorate them with colorful underglazes or choose from a selection of studio glazes to suit your style. After class, our staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Your pumpkins will be bisque-fired, glazed in clear or the colors you selected, and fired again. We’ll email you in approximately 14 to 18 days when your finished pieces are ready for pickup.

This class is open to adults ages 18 and older. No prerequisite or prior clay experience is required. Just bring your creativity and celebrate the season with clay!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Halloween Votive Holders

Friday, September 4 ~ 1:30pm to 3:30pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.

Bring a little Halloween magic to your home by creating a handmade votive holder. Participants will create their choice of a jack-o’-lantern and black cat-themed votive holder, or make two of the same design, perfect for adding a handmade glow to your Halloween décor.

You’ll begin with two pre-extruded clay tubes and transform them into your chosen designs. Your instructor will guide the class step by step, demonstrating how to cut and refine openings in the clay to create a jack-o’-lantern face or cat-inspired features. Along the way, you’ll explore different ways to add texture, sculptural details, and decorative elements to give each votive holder plenty of personality.

Once your clay work is complete, you’ll have the opportunity to add pops of color using underglazes (liquid colored clay) before choosing from a selection of studio glazes for the final finish. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Each votive holder will be bisque-fired, glazed, and fired again to create a durable finished piece you’ll enjoy displaying. You’ll be notified by email when your finished projects are ready for pickup, approximately 14–18 days after class.

This class is open to adults ages 18 and older. No prerequisite or prior clay experience is required. Just bring your creativity and celebrate the season with clay!

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Acorns & Autumn Leaves

Friday, September 25 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.

Capture the beauty of autumn in a collection of handmade pottery. Participants will create a charming acorn-shaped plate along with several small leaf-shaped dishes made using real leaves, resulting in beautiful handmade pieces perfect for decorating, serving, or gifting.

Your instructor will guide the class step by step, demonstrating how to roll a clay slab and use a template to cut, shape, and texture an acorn-shaped plate. You’ll also learn how to press real leaves into clay to capture their natural shapes, textures, and delicate details before transforming them into small dishes.

Once your clay work is complete, you’ll have the opportunity to add color using underglazes (liquid colored clay) or choose from a selection of studio glazes for the final finish. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Each piece will be bisque-fired, glazed, and fired again to create durable finished pieces you’ll enjoy season after season. You’ll be notified by email when your finished projects are ready for pickup, approximately 14–18 days after class.

Open to adults 18 and older of all experience levels, this class is a wonderful introduction to slab-building while exploring the beauty and textures of the natural world through clay.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Clay Polar Bears

Tuesday, October 13 ~ 5:30pm to 7pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.

Create a playful polar bear full of personality in this hands-on pottery class. Participants will explore slab-building techniques and learn how to use a simple armature to create a large polar bear sculpture using white clay.

Your instructor will guide the class step by step, demonstrating how to build and shape the clay around an armature to form the bear. Along the way, you’ll explore different options for creating facial features, including choosing the perfect eye style, and adding details that give your polar bear its own unique personality.

Once your bear takes shape, have fun making it your own! Add a cozy scarf, Santa hat, or other creative decorations, then choose colors and finishing details to complete your one-of-a-kind polar bear. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. You’ll be notified by email when your finished project is ready for pickup.

For 577 six-week pottery class graduates: If you’re also enrolled in the October–November Raku class and would like to explore Raku firing your polar bear, let Julie know when you arrive at class.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Creating with Clay: Serving Tray

Monday, October 26 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.

Get ready for the holiday season by creating a handmade serving tray of your own! In this hands-on pottery class, participants will create a large serving tray, perfect for bringing to potlucks, serving a Thanksgiving turkey, or sharing favorite cookies and desserts with family and friends.

Your instructor will guide the class step by step, demonstrating how to properly roll a clay slab, use a provided template to cut out the tray, and shape the clay into a finished serving piece. Along the way, you’ll explore different techniques for adding texture and decorative details, giving your tray a personal touch and making it uniquely yours. Once the clay work is complete, you’ll choose from a selection of studio glazes for the finishing touch.

After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Your serving tray will be bisque-fired, glazed in your selected finish, and fired again to create a durable, functional piece ready for holiday gatherings and celebrations. You’ll be notified by email when your finished tray is ready for pickup.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Creating with Clay: Fall Gnomes

Wednesday, October 28 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.

Gnomes are popping up in the Pottery Studio this fall! Create your own whimsical fall gnome, personalized with a playful face, cozy accessories, and seasonal details.

Your instructor will guide the class step by step, demonstrating how to properly roll clay slabs, then cut and form them into the base of the gnome. Alison will also demonstrate how to create the gnome’s face and add fall-inspired accessories to give each piece its own personality. Think cozy hats, pumpkins, leaves, acorns, and other seasonal details! Once the clay work is complete, you’ll have the opportunity to add color using underglazes (liquid colored clay), personalizing your gnome with your own autumn-inspired color palette.

After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Your gnome will be fired and glazed to create a finished fall keepsake you can enjoy season after season. You’ll be notified by email when your finished piece is ready for pickup.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Creating with Clay: Berry & Herb Bowl

Friday, October 30 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.

Harvest season may be winding down, but berry bowls are useful all year long! Due to the popularity of this class throughout 2026, we’re sneaking in one more opportunity to create this charming and functional pottery favorite. Participants will use slab-building techniques to create a berry bowl inspired by a classic fruit pint container, perfect for rinsing and serving fruits, veggies, herbs, and more.

Your instructor will guide the class step by step, demonstrating how to roll clay slabs, construct the bowl, and add drainage holes. Participants can even explore adding little details like clay berries or cute coil accents to make their piece their own. Along the way, Julie will share tips for successful construction and decoration, creating a finished piece that’s as useful as it is charming, whether you’re harvesting from your own garden or shopping at a local market.

Once the clay work is complete, participants will choose from a selection of single-color glazes for the final finish. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Each berry bowl will be bisque-fired, glazed in the selected color, and fired again to create a durable, functional piece. You’ll be notified by email when your finished berry bowl is ready for pickup, approximately two weeks after class.

This has been one of our most popular pottery classes of 2026, and we’re excited to offer one more opportunity to make a berry bowl before the end of the year!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Adult Pottery 6-Week Course

Wednesdays, September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Thursdays, September 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.

Join us for this comprehensive adult pottery class. This multiple-week class is for adult beginners through advanced potters – all levels are welcome. This class is the pre-requisite class needed for many of our pottery classes at The 577 Foundation.

Open to students 18 and over, this class offers in-depth demos followed immediately by your own work time to create and have fun. You will be able to try all hand-building methods like pinch, coil, slab, and extruded techniques, plus a chance at the wheel. Finally, we will learn about glazing. Class is built around learning one skill each week. 

All supplies and firings are included. Come play in the clay!

577 Staff Instructors: Julie Beutler, Pottery Studio Manager and Ceramic Artist & Alison Buchanan, Pottery Coordinator 

Youth Pottery: Pumpkins & Bats 

Tuesday, September 22 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

Ages 7-17

Let’s get spooky! In this hands-on pottery class, youth will create two pinch pot pumpkins and a bat-shaped wall hanging, making a festive collection of handmade decorations perfect for Halloween and the fall season.

Your instructor will guide participants step by step, demonstrating how to form pumpkins using the pinch pot method. Along the way, youth will have plenty of opportunities to add textures, patterns, carved faces, and other creative details to give each pumpkin its own unique personality. Participants will also learn how to cut a bat shape from a clay slab, then refine and smooth the edges to create a finished wall hanging.

Once the clay work is complete, participants will decorate their pumpkins and bats with underglazes (liquid colored clay), bringing their creations to life with festive colors and imaginative designs. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Each project will be bisque-fired, glazed, and fired again to create durable keepsakes that can be enjoyed for many seasons to come. Families will be notified by email in approximately two weeks when their finished pieces are ready for pickup.

Important Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Youth Pottery: Autumn Bear 

Monday, October 12 ~ 9:30am to 11am

Ages 7-17

Get cozy with the changing seasons! In this hands-on pottery class, youth participants will create their own adorable fall-themed bear sculpture, building the bear’s head and body using the pinch pot technique and adding plenty of personality with handmade details and autumn-inspired accessories.

Your instructor will guide participants step by step, demonstrating how to form pinch pots and transform them into the bear’s head and body. Along the way, youth will learn how to sculpt and attach individual pieces, including ears, arms, legs, and facial features. Participants will also have the opportunity to personalize their bears with handmade accessories such as hats, scarves, and other fall-inspired details.

Once the clay work is complete, participants will decorate their bears with underglazes (liquid colored clay), bringing their sculptures to life with color and creative details. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Each sculpture will be fired and glazed to create a finished fall keepsake. Families will be notified by email when their finished bears are ready for pickup.

Perrysburg Schools are closed on this date, making it a great day for a little extra creativity! Homeschool families are welcome to join us, too.

Important Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Haunted House Wall Hangings

Monday, October 12 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Ages 7-17/Adults 18+

Get into the spooky spirit together! In this hands-on family pottery class, an adult and child will work together to create one haunted house wall hanging, making a festive piece of Halloween décor to enjoy year after year.

Your instructor will guide families step by step, beginning with a pre-rolled clay slab and demonstrating how to use a provided template to cut out the haunted house shape, then refine and smooth the edges. Once the basic house is formed, families will have plenty of creative freedom to make their haunted house their own. Add doors and windows, friendly ghosts, pumpkins, bats, spooky trees, and other Halloween-inspired details to create a one-of-a-kind scene.

Once the clay work is complete, families will decorate their haunted house with underglazes (liquid colored clay), bringing their spooky scene to life with their own colors and creative designs. After class, our pottery staff will complete the firing and glazing process. Each wall hanging will be glazed and fired to create a finished Halloween keepsake. Families will be notified by email when their finished pieces are ready for pickup.

Perrysburg Schools are closed on this date, so take part of the day to get creative together at 577! Homeschool families are welcome to join us, too

Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 7 and 17, with one accompanying adult age 18 or older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany each registered youth. If an adult would like to attend with multiple youth participants, please register each youth individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

At the Wheel with Julie: Throwing & Trimming Demo

Thursday, August 27 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Join 577 Pottery Manager and Ceramic Artist Julie Beutler for an in-depth wheel-throwing demonstration packed with techniques, tips, and plenty of time for questions. With nearly 35 years of wheel experience in both creating and teaching, Julie offers a unique opportunity to watch, ask questions, and learn.

Julie will begin with the fundamentals of throwing cylinders and demonstrate how they can be transformed into vases, pitchers, bowls, and bottles. You’ll also see demonstrations of collaring, plates, baking dishes, and tips for creating lidded pieces and altered forms. Julie will wrap up the evening with a trimming demonstration and suggestions for continuing to develop your wheel skills. Throughout the evening, Julie will explain not only what she’s doing, but also how she positions her arms, hands, and body while working at the wheel.

This demo class is ideal for all experience levels—from those curious about trying wheel throwing for the first time to experienced potters looking to refine their techniques. Come watch, learn, ask questions, and discover new ideas to try during your next studio session.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Chip-N-Dip Platter

Monday, September 14 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Get ready for tailgate season, cozy gatherings, and everyday entertaining with a handmade chip and dip platter. Participants will create a large serving platter complete with a coordinating dip bowl, with several design options to choose from.

Julie will guide you through slab-building, pinch-pot construction, and cut-slab techniques as you create your one-of-a-kind serving set. Along the way, you’ll choose the style that best fits your vision while learning tips for building larger functional pieces. Julie will also share glazing techniques to help make finishing larger forms as simple and successful as possible.

As a bonus, if time allows, Julie will give a short pottery wheel demonstration showing how similar chip-and-dip forms can be thrown, offering inspiration for future projects and possibilities. Important Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during indie time.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Frankenstein Vase/Vessel

Tuesday, September 29 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Create a frightfully fun Frankenstein that’s as functional as it is adorable! This class will use the extruder to build a Frankenstein-inspired piece that can be used as a vase, pencil holder, candy container, or even a cup.

Julie will guide the class step by step, demonstrating how to create the cylinder form before adding Frankenstein’s signature hair, eyes, bolts, and other facial features. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to personalize your project with your own creative details, giving your little Frankie its own unique personality.

Once your clay work is complete, you’ll add color using underglazes (liquid colored clay) and discuss glaze options before your piece is bisque-fired. Important Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during indie time.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Sculpting a Clay Toad

Monday, October 5 ~ 5:30pm to 8pm

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Ready to take your sculpting skills to the next level? in this new class, participants will create a characterful toad sculpture while exploring techniques that can be applied to future sculptural projects.

Alison will guide you through the process step by step, beginning with a thick pinch pot that will form the foundation of your toad. She will demonstrate how to build and securely attach the legs, then explore how to approach sculpting the face by breaking more complex forms down into simple, manageable shapes.

Along the way, you’ll learn helpful sculpting tips and techniques for constructing, shaping, and attaching clay forms, as well as ways to manage the drying process for successful sculptural work. You’ll also explore techniques for adding realistic and expressive textures, creating details that give your toad plenty of personality and bring the sculpture to life. Once your sculpture is complete, you’ll have the option to add color with underglazes (liquid colored clay) or choose from the studio’s selection of glazes for the final finish.

This class is a great opportunity for experienced 577 potters to build confidence in sculpting, experiment with form and texture, and create a unique little toad of their own.

Important Class Note: Final glazing will be completed independently during indie time, allowing you to take your finished toad in your own creative direction.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Clay Turtles!

Tuesday, October 27 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Who doesn’t love a cute turtle? In this hands-on pottery class, participants will carve, hand-build, and decorate their own life-size turtle sculpture, creating a one-of-a-kind piece perfect for a patio, garden, bookshelf, or favorite spot at home.

Julie will guide you through the process step by step, beginning with a simple bowl shape that will become the foundation of your turtle. You’ll learn how to carve and manipulate the clay to form the shell, then hand-build and attach the head, tail, and little legs to bring your turtle to life. From there, the creative direction is up to you! Go realistic with natural colors, textures, and details, or have fun with bold patterns, playful features, and your own unique ideas. Along the way, Julie will share tips, tricks, and techniques for sculpting, carving, construction, and adding details to help give your turtle plenty of personality.

Have a particular turtle in mind? Feel free to bring a printed photo for inspiration. Having a physical reference nearby can be especially helpful when working on shapes, textures, and details.

Important Class Note: Final glazing will be completed independently during indie time, allowing you to take your finished turtle in your own creative direction.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Half Day Throwing

Monday, August 31 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Thursday, September 3 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Monday, September 21 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Friday, October 9 ~ 9am to 12pm

Monday, October 19 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Practice your pottery skills in this intensive wheel-focused class! Designed around your personal goals, the class aims to build your confidence and refine your technique on the potter’s wheel.

Each session begins with a couple of quick demonstrations from Alison, providing inspiration and guidance to get you started. Afterward, you’ll have plenty of time to practice and work on your projects. Don’t worry if you’re feeling a bit out of practice, Alison will rotate between everyone in the class, offering personalized tips and support.

To help you prepare, you’ll also receive an email before class with links to helpful throwing videos, so you can refresh your memory and hit the ground running

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Supervised Indie Time

Thursday, September 22 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Friday, October 2 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am 

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Supervised Indie Time sessions are perfect for those who have recently completed the 6-week adult class and want a little extra time with instructors, or for anyone needing a refresher after a short break from the studio. It’s also a great opportunity if you’re looking to challenge yourself with new projects or are feeling low on inspiration. Many participants find these sessions helpful for fresh ideas and extra guidance.

Join us for these casual supervised classes, perfect for you to work independently on your projects, where you can use the table, extruder, slab roller, the wheel, and glazing advice. If you need some tips on projects or ideas you are working on, Alison or Julie will be in the studio to help answer questions, remind you of techniques or where things are, and just be there to help give you inspiration on a project.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan or Julie Beutler

Hybrid Pottery to Go – Raku

Sessions Available Each Month

September Firing: Pick-up: Aug. 1; Drop-off: Aug. 31; Raku Fire: Sept. 28

October Firing: Pick-up: Sept. 4; Drop-off: Sept. 30; Raku Fire: Oct. 21

November Firing: Pick-up: Oct. 2; Drop-off: Oct. 30; Raku Fire: Nov. 18

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

This class is a hybrid of our popular “work from home” classes where you will make all the pieces at home and then join us for an in-person outdoor firing of the raku kiln. We will supply you with all the tools and resources you need to make four to six pieces: clay, pottery tools, drywall board, plastic bags to make your pieces at home.

You will also have options to receive links to videos on basic constructions to make pots of your choosing using techniques including, pinch, coils, slabs, as well as instructions/ideas for what to make for your raku firing. You can also choose to use your block of clay to create your pieces at home, in your own indie times or other clay classes at 577, or a combo of both.

Pottery to Go – Custom Design by You!

Multiple Dates – See below

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Try this unique at-home class that allows students a chance to work from the comfort of their home strengthening their pottery skills. The only (mostly) limits are your imagination. This class is designed to be what you want to make. Experiment with new forms, work out a pattern, or work on more labor-intensive techniques like sgraffito or coils. It’s your clay to create what you would like.

Don’t worry if you are stumped for ideas. Julie can provide you with videos from previous Pottery-to-Go classes like pinch pot animals, slab plates, coil pots, and more. In this “work from your home” class, we will supply you with all the tools and resources you need to make this project: clay, pottery tools, drywall board, plastic bags, a few short videos if you choose, plus email support from Julie. Optional: underglazes are available for an additional fee.

Important Note: For those interested in this class, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND completing 15 to 20 hours of indie studio time and a couple of other pottery classes before signing up for these at-home classes (in addition to the required 577 six-week class). Please note: This class no longer counts toward the three classes needed to keep indie time privileges.  

September ~ Pick up: Septemeber 4; Return: September 25

October ~ Pick up: October 2; Return: October 30