Spinning Beginnings: First Steps on the Potter‘s Wheel
Wheel Throwing Beginner Course · 4 Weekly Classes
Date and time
Wednesday, 2. December 2026, 18.30
Further dates
Overview
Beginner
No previous knowledge required for this event.
DE & EN
Our Instructor speaks fluent English and German.
Studio Basel
4 × 2.5 hours
Weekly classes over 4 consecutive weeks
Multi-day Course
A structured learning journey over multiple sessions, where you'll learn new techniques and develop a solid foundation in the chosen art form.
Description
From your first lump of clay to pieces you’ve thrown yourself.
There’s something almost hypnotic about watching a piece of clay take shape on the wheel – but getting there is a skill. And this course is where you learn it properly.
Starting from the very beginning, you’ll get comfortable at the pottery wheel and gradually build the techniques needed to create your own vessels. You’ll learn how to prepare and centre your clay, open it, pull up the walls and start controlling shape and proportion.
As the course progresses, you’ll move from simply keeping the clay under control to intentionally creating cups, bowls, small vessels and other forms – then refining, trimming and decorating the pieces you want to keep.
It takes patience. Things will wobble. Some pieces might collapse. And then suddenly your hands start understanding what to do – and that’s where the magic happens.
✏️ What to Expect
- Guided demonstrations followed by plenty of hands-on practice
- Your own workspace at the pottery wheel
- A gradual progression from basic exercises to creating your own vessels
- Individual feedback and guidance throughout the course
- Time to repeat techniques, experiment and build confidence
- Trimming, refining and decorating your selected pieces
- An introduction to glazing and finishing your work
🧠 What You’ll Learn
- How to prepare clay for throwing
- How to centre clay confidently on the wheel
- Opening the clay and establishing an even base
- Pulling and controlling walls
- Creating and refining different vessel shapes
- Trimming and finishing your pieces
- Basic surface decoration and glazing techniques
- The foundations you need to continue practising wheel throwing independently
🤔 Is This the Right Course for Me?
This course is for you if you want to actually learn how to throw on the pottery wheel, rather than simply try it once.
You’ll probably enjoy it most if you like learning with your hands, don’t mind repeating a technique several times and find satisfaction in gradually getting better at something. Wheel throwing takes patience – your first bowl might be wonky, your second might collapse, and that’s very much part of learning.
If you’re mainly looking for a relaxed one-time experience and want to try the wheel without committing to learning the technique, our Wheel Throwing Taster Workshop might be a better fit.
But if you want to build solid foundations, understand what your hands are actually doing and gain the confidence to continue practising afterwards, this is your course.
More Infos
Not at all!
Our courses are designed for the level indicated in the course description, whether you’re a complete beginner or already have some experience. All you need is curiosity, motivation, and the willingness to learn and improve in your new creative hobby.
Not at all. We provide the clay as well as all the materials, tools and studio equipment you’ll need throughout the course.
Yes. Clay and firing are included in your course.
We’ll fire one piece you create per course hour. If you fall in love with more of your creations and would like to keep them too, no problem – additional pieces can be fired for an extra fee, which you can pay directly at the studio.
Usually within 2–4 weeks after the course ends. We’re normally closer to the lower end of this range, but during particularly busy periods, firing may take a little longer.
At the end of your course, we’ll explain when and where you can collect your finished pieces.
We’ll store your finished pieces for one month.
The date shown is the first session of the course. The remaining lessons generally take place on the same day of the week and at the same time in the following weeks, unless otherwise stated in the course description.
Your booking, of course, covers the entire course and all its sessions.
Our courses generally run in consecutive weeks – including public holidays. This helps maintain the learning rhythm and avoids longer breaks during the course.
Unless otherwise stated in the course description, your class will take place as scheduled, even if the date falls on a public holiday.
No problem.
If the same course runs again at a later date and there are spaces available, you can make up the missed lesson then. Just let us know by email beforehand.
Often, one of our Studio Classes is an even better solution. There, you can catch up on the missed project with support from your tutor. Since everyone in a Studio Class works on their own individual projects, your tutor can guide you personally while also supporting the other participants.
Tickets are transferable, but non-refundable within 36 hours.
You can reschedule your booking up to 72 hours before the course starts.
Please note that a course booking covers the entire course series rather than individual lessons. If you miss an individual lesson once the course has started, please see “What happens if I miss a lesson?” above.
Please arrive around 10–15 minutes before your class starts. This gives you enough time to get settled, grab a drink and be ready when the session begins.
We start on time so that everyone gets the full course experience.
Our courses are taught by experienced ceramic artists. Many of our instructors are based in Switzerland, while others come from different parts of the world – bringing with them diverse ceramic backgrounds, techniques and plenty of hands-on experience.
They’ll demonstrate the techniques step by step and support you individually throughout your learning journey.
We intentionally keep our groups small so that everyone has enough space and receives personal attention.
Wheel Throwing Courses: maximum 6 participants
Handbuilding Courses: maximum 10 participants
You don’t have to – but you’re absolutely welcome to!
If you’d like some additional studio time between lessons, you can practise independently in our Open Atelier and deepen the skills you’ve learned.
Learning is at the heart of our courses – but of course, we don’t want to miss out on the typical Paint It Easy atmosphere.
Throughout the course, coffee, tea and water are always available to you. Before the first lesson, we’ll also raise a glass together with Prosecco or a non-alcoholic alternative to celebrate the start of the course.
Cheers!
Keep creating!
In our Studio Classes, you can continue developing your skills with the support of a tutor, or use our Open Atelier to practise independently and work on your own projects.
And if ceramics becomes a regular part of your life, our Ceramics Membership gives you even more studio time and member benefits.
What are PIE multi-day course?
Learn art in 4-6 weeks for sustainable learning
Learn more about PIE multi-day courses
Further dates for this PIE multi-day course
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