Ceramics Orientation
Sign up for a free Ceramics 100 - Orientation class - you can sign up for events open to non-members without a DMS membership. This class is required to use the Ceramics tools, glazes, and pottery wheels at Dallas Makerspace.
- Go to the DMS calendar and find an open Ceramics 100 class
- Click the "More Info and RSVP" link to the full page of the event
- Click on the button that says “Register for this Event"
- Fill out your details
- Show up at the makerspace on the date of your class!
Most ceramics members use the back door on the far north side of the building to enter, but instructors will be checking the front door for people without a membership. If you don’t have a membership, hang out in the lobby until the instructor arrives.
Taking Your First Classes
Check the DMS calendar over the next few days for upcoming classes like
- Ceramics 100 - Orientation This class will clear you to use Ceramics tools, glazes, and pottery wheels at Dallas Makerspace.
- Beginners Throwing 101
- Beginners Trimming 102
- Beginners Glazing 103
- And many more...
If there’s a specific class you want to take, or work toward taking, you can post a request for a class in the Ceramics area of Talk.
How Do I Get Started?
What do I do first?
Sign up for a Ceramics 100 Orientation class.
Review the other Ceramics pages here for the Ceramics community rules, and expectations for our community.
If you have questions, or want to see what’s going on lately, visit the Talk forum. You can message @Team_Ceramics to let us know you're interested, or if you have questions about the Ceramics space.
How do I get to know the community?
The official communication method for the Makerspace is the Talk Forum. There are new posts almost every day, and it’s the best way to learn what’s going on in the space.
We also have a Discord, but not everyone uses it, so posts in Discord may not reach everyone.
A TV in the Ceramics area displays slides promoting upcoming events
There is a bulletin board in the Ceramics area where people post information.
Follow our social media accounts - we currently have Facebook and Instagram accounts. If you think we should have an account on a different social media platform, talk to the Ceramics Social Media chair.
Attend social events! Most months we have a social event arranged for members to get to know each other.
Take a lot of classes. You’ll meet new people in every class, and learn more at the same time. Most classes can be taken more than once, and with different instructors.
What do I need to bring to class?
Most classes don’t require you to bring anything unless something is mentioned in the class description.
Many classes provide clay and the appropriate tools for you, but for glazing classes, you’ll need to bring your own bisqued piece of pottery unless the class description says otherwise.
Wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty. Clay classes can get messy, especially if someone has an "oops”. Many clays and glazes have raw minerals and chemicals in them that will stain clothes and shoes. We have several community aprons you can wear, as well.
Check the class description for any requirements. More advanced classes will have more complicated requirements than basics.
How and when are classes usually scheduled?
The Events calendar has new Ceramics classes very often, and at different times of the day/week.
Classes fill up quickly, so make it a habit to check the calendar, or subscribe to the RSS feed.
When an instructor submits a class, it must go through an approval process. It can take up to 3 days to be approved and open for registration.
- Classes can be scheduled just a few days before they’re supposed to happen, so check the schedule regularly.
If there’s a specific skill you’re interested in, post a new topic on Talk, our community forum and ask if anyone is interested in teaching it.
You could also ask around when you’re at the makerspace to see if anyone’s interested in taking a class. For a class to officially happen, at least 3 people have to attend.
Who are the instructors?
All of our teachers are volunteers and members like you. They schedule classes when they’re personally available to teach. Someday you, too, could be teaching a class!
Instructors receive a small stipend for teaching a class, but they are not makerspace employees.
If you need help or access to something, ask them like you’d ask a friend.
What kind of clay should I get?
"Mid-fire” clay, also sometimes called “high fire" - the most important thing to know is that the clay vitrifies at Cone 6.
We currently sell 25lb bags of Trinity White Stoneware With Grog, and a starter pack of beginners tools.
Ask your instructor to sell you some clay / supplies when you take a class. You’ll pay the Makerspace on a tablet in the Ceramics area.
If you don’t have a class coming up, you can ask on Talk if someone would kindly meet you at the Makerspace so you can buy some.
The closest clay supplier to the Makerspace is Trinity Ceramic Supply, and they have a large variety of clays and tools, but you must make sure you get Cone 6 clay for it to vitrify fully in our kilns.
You can buy a huge variety of clays online, some with free shipping.
Stoneware with grog is the best clay for both throwing and handbuilding.
Grog enhances the clay’s water retention and resists collapsing, making it ideal for many techniques.
Stoneware fires exceptionally well at cone 6
Stoneware comes in a buff white, red, brown, and speckled hues.
T-Mix is an intermediate to advanced white clay available at Trinity Ceramics.
T-Mix, has no grog, and fires white.
Both thrown and delicate hand-built pieces look great when they’re made from this clay.
T-Mix holds glazes beautifully, and reflects a truer color than white stoneware.
Frost is an advanced Cone 6 white porcelain from Laguna (also available at Trinity).
Frost is challenging and not recommended for beginners
This clay feels buttery on the wheel, and throws easily, but is prone to cracking.
If you choose to use this clay, you'll have to dry your pieces very, very slowly by controlling the amount of moisture the clay loses. A casual plastic bag thrown over the top won’t control the moisture for Frost like it does for White Stoneware.
Downloads
- Ceramics 101 Syllabus (word doc)
