A Selection of 10 Free Online Pottery Classes for Beginners

Are you wondering if learning Pottery online would be a good choice?

We understand your concern about the online pottery classes. The good news is that online pottery classes can be as impactful and helpful as offline classes. Technically, you can start making basic structures at home with clay. However, if you wish to advance and make perfect pieces, you need a pottery wheel and a kiln.

Pottery will not be an expensive hobby that only a few can afford. These free online courses cover the most basic to advanced concepts. Read ahead to get the list of the 10 best free online pottery courses and begin your creative journey.

List of Free Online Pottery Classes

1. Find Clay and Process it [Youtube]

The quality of clay is crucial for a successful outcome in making clay items. ‘Find Clay and Process it’ is a collection of videos that guides a learner on identifying suitable clay. If you are clueless about the type of clay and are curious to learn more about it, online pottery classes will help.

This free series of videos emphasize identifying the clay and creating a utility out of it. Andy ward has spent a decade studying ancient Pottery and shares the learnings of his experience. Hone your basic pottery skills by mastering the core process and identifying the right quality of clay.

Topics Covered:

• Making clay from dirt by recognizing the source
• Advice for improving wild clay
• 4 types of wild clay
• Methods of identifying clay in different lands
• Wet & Dry Method of processing clay

Duration – 4 hours

Facilitator – Andy Ward

Skill Level – Beginner

2. Pottery Wheel for Beginners – Learn How to Make Pottery on the Wheel! [SkillShare]

This course by Skillshare is a perfect way to creatively invest your time in learning something new. A pottery studio owner, Mia Mueller, delivers the content with enthusiasm and passion. You do not need any prior knowledge to enroll in this course. This course will make you an expert in creating wheel-throw Pottery. 

Being the most basic form to learn, the cylinder can help the students get a grip on making many other objects. Along with the course, she also offers FREE pottery tutorials and a printable guide to set up a studio. The free-trial period of a Skillshare subscription can be a great way to access this course.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding the ingredients and use of tools
• Wheel basics and clay preparation
• Making holes, trimming, wall, and centering
• Drying and Bisque firing
• Glazing

Duration – 56 minutes

Facilitator – Mia Mueller

Skill Level – Beginners

3. Learning Wheel Throwing for Beginners [Big ceramic store]

‘Pottery on the wheel’ is a platform that offers 2 detailed series of videos covering beginning, intermediate, and advanced aspects. Tim See delivers content for beginners who have just begun their journey. Hsin Chuen Lin offers a detailed understanding of how to master the art of Pottery. New videos are regularly added in the advanced series to enhance the learner’s skill with time.

Such free online pottery course classes are like a blessing for individuals who wish to learn from the comfort of their homes. It is the perfect course for you if you have the necessary equipment but lack guidance.

Topics Covered:

• Step by Step instructions from preparing the clay to centering and throwing
• Learning to form basic forms like cylinders, bowls, and plates
• Trimming and Glazing
• Detailed video of every process to help the learner understand better

Duration – Self-paced videos

Facilitators – Tim See and Hsin Chuen Lin

Skill Level – Intermediate to Advanced

4. Understanding Pottery [Youtube]

‘Understanding Pottery’ is a detailed course listed on Class Central and offered by Youtube. It directly addresses the core aspects like clay, glazing, firing, and the whole process. So whether you see it as a hobby or want to develop it as a profession, this course gives you the needed knowledge.

Such online pottery classes focus on passing on the expertise of an artist to learners located in the most remote area. Through this free pottery course online, you can create a complete & usable piece of art.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding clay and its properties
• Bisque Firing
• Successful Glazing
• Chemistry for potters
• Oxides, washes, underglazes, and stains
• Geology for potters
• Atmospheric Firing

Duration – 26 hours

Facilitator – Washington Street Studios

Skill Level – Beginner

5. Introduction to Handbuilding [Clayshare]

ClayShare offers ‘Introduction to Handbuilding,’ a brief understanding of building clay items with the help of hands. When we hear Pottery, we imagine a wheel and some clay. However, the hand-building technique allows you to explore your creativity with just your hands. This form of creation does not need any wheel.

It is perfect if you like to explore things beyond your comfort zone. Such online pottery classes enable you to build usable products and presentable sculptures within a few hours. Learning a new skill and making progress vastly improves how you feel about yourself and helps in feeling confident.

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to Handbuilding
• Building flat and voluminous structures
• Coil Building to build mugs, functional vessels, or sculptures

Duration – 20 minutes

Facilitator – ClayShare

Skill Level – Intermediate

6. Advanced Pottery  [Youtube]

‘Advanced Pottery’ focuses on delivering knowledge of the equipment and the processes used in the Pottery at the advanced stage. To join this course, you will need a basic understanding of Pottery and the equipment. Such online pottery classes are fit for individuals who have gained years of experience in creating clay items.

The process of heating and strengthening the clay product is crucial. This course offers insight into various heating methods and making the final product. Class Central delivers this course in the English language.

Topics Covered:

• Pit Firing Porcelain
• Using Fire Gold Luster
• Kiln Wash
• Chemicals Change Over Time
• Buying your first Kiln
• How to Silk Screen Pottery
• Calculating specific gravity in your glaze

Duration – 4 hours

Facilitator – Earth Nation Ceramics

Skill Level – Advanced

7. Making Ceramic Drum [Youtube]

Once you know the type of clay and equipment needed, it’s time to move ahead. ‘Making Ceramic Drum’ is an online series of self-paced videos on YouTube for intermediate to advanced learners. It guides every individual through a step-by-step process of building a djembe drum.

Founder of Evolution Stoneware Pottery, Janis Wilson Hughes, brings her expertise and years of experience to this series. Such free online pottery classes provide an opportunity for learners all over the world to get knowledge from experts in the industry.

Topics Covered:

• Throwing and Glazing a Djembe Drum
• Gluing the head and finishing the skin
• Wrapping and Knotting the rings
• Mounting and Tightening the Head
• The whole process from start to finish of making a ceramic djembe drum

Duration – 3 hours

Facilitator – Janis Wilson Hughes

Skill Level – Intermediate to Advanced

8. Making Tea Pots with Pottery [Youtube]

If you are fond of tea pots and would love to make one for your own, these videos of online pottery classes are for you. An experienced potter, Hsin Chuen Lin, exhibits all the possibilities of making a teapot through numerous videos. Each video takes you a step closer to creating a perfect teapot.

This course will help you in learning the functioning of a pottery wheel and select the type of clay to use. Self-paced videos in this online class allow you to learn at your own pace. Experience the joy of drinking tea from a self-made teapot with this online pottery class from Class Central.

Topics Covered:

• Making a Flat Porcelain Teapot
• Bamboo Handle Tea Pot
• Assembling Tea Pot Spout and Handle
• Altering, Assembling, Trimming, and Throwing a porcelain teapot
• Variations and combinations in which unique teapots can be made

Duration – 7 hours

Facilitator – Hsin Chuen Lin

Skill Level – Intermediate to Advanced

9. Pottery Lessons, Tips, and Frequently Asked Questions [Lakeside Pottery]

‘Lake Side Pottery’ offers a one-stop solution for all your pottery-related questions. Various free online pottery classes on their website cover the crucial process of making clay and ceramic structures. The knowledge is imparted through articles and videos. This course is a perfect fit for those who have just begun their journey and also for those looking to gain expertise.

Lake Side Pottery covers the basic to the most advanced techniques in this course. It is an opportunity for every curious mind to explore Pottery through online classes. The course material is available on their website without any restrictions, 24*7 in the English language.

Topics Covered:

• Learning wheel throwing
• Everything about the hand-building technique
• Repairing broken Pottery
• Methods of firing and glazing
• Building and developing a pottery studio

Duration – Videos and Articles

Facilitator – Lake Side Pottery

Skill Level – Beginner to Advanced

10. Designing a Mug with Lots of Volume [Clayshare] 

How wonderful it feels to have the capability to design your coffee mug. This free online pottery class offers an opportunity to gain that skill. Learn how to make your mug with a larger volume, add the designs, and use it daily. Basic experience in curating ceramic structures is expected from learners who wish to join this course. 

You will need a list of ingredients to make the mug with the facilitator. The list is visible on the homepage of the course. Make sure to have all the ingredients ready before you begin. This online class offered in the English Language is a wonderful opportunity for you to express your creativity.

Topics Covered:

• The process of building a mug with a big volume
• Rolling and joining
• Adding volume
• Making it creative with unique designs
• Adding the handle
• The final touchup

Duration – 1 hour

Facilitator – Clay Share

Skill Level – Intermediate

Let Creativity Emerge!

These online pottery classes are hand-picked to meet the needs of beginners and advanced learners. Based on your skill level, you can choose a suitable course.

In addition to being a wonderful hobby, it is also considered a good business. The courses listed will satisfy your creative craving and assist in setting up a pottery studio.

Get the best pottery guidance from highly skilled instructors from the comfort of your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Teach Myself Pottery?

Yes, you can teach yourself Pottery through different online learning mediums. The above list of courses is the best source to begin your learning journey at home. Such online courses prove to be a good teacher in your learning journey.

How Can I Practice Pottery at Home?

To practice Pottery at home, you will need knowledge of Pottery and a few tools. The knowledge can be gained through online classes on platforms like Udemy, YouTube, Class Central, and Clay Share. Tools and raw materials include clay, pottery wheel, and some shaping tools.

How Much Does It Cost to Learn Pottery?

The cost to learn Pottery is free with the above online courses. However, if you choose to go with any paid classes, the beginner courses begin at $5.