Creative Clay Experiences

Close up image of a white wet clay luminary being crafted. The luminary is cylindrical with a tall, thin bottle neck-like piece at the top. The luminary is being held with one hand and the other is using a sculpting tool to draw and carve a floral design into the clay.

Photo by Roger Benedict, 2024

MAKE-YOUR-OWN: Creative Clay Experiences

Gather friends and family for a unique & creative night out! Our ceramic artists provide one-on-one guidance throughout every project. Whether planning an experience for a special event such as a Bachelorette Party, Birthday Party or just looking for a creative spin on a usual night out, these clay experiences are for you!

The experience fee includes one “Come-back Pass” per person! Passes function as an admission ticket, providing the full WheatonArts experience with access to our narrated studio demonstrations, the Museum of American Glass, and Folklife Center exhibits. Come-back Passes are valid within one year of your experience.

The ceramic process takes time! Please allow three to four weeks for us to dry, fire, and glaze your pieces. We will contact you when your pieces are ready for pick up. If needed, we can ship them. Shipping fees are the responsibility of the participant.

Book Your Creative Clay Experience!

Reservations are required.
Please call 856.825.6800 ext. 152 or email myop@wheatonarts.org. 
A two-week notice is required for all Creative Clay reservations. Your group will be scheduled based on availability. Please see all ceramic options below. Note days and ages vary by teaching artist. 

Proper Attire:

  • Creative Clay Experiences are Messy! Please dress in clothes that you do not mind getting covered with clay. Also, we suggest bringing a change of clothes to switch into after the experience to keep your vehicle’s interior clean. 
  • Please bring a hair tie or clip to pin back long hair out of the way while you are working.
Two women posing to show off their sculpted face jugs

Creative Clay Experiences with artist Tessa Carlton

Dates: Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays
Times: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
Experience Fee Per Person: $55
Participant Limit: Ten (10) 
Participant Minimum: Five (5)
Ages: All ages welcome. One Adult Chaperone is required to stay the duration of the experience per every 5 kids under the age of 16.

Cats with Tessa
Purrfect for cat lovers, and there’s no cat hair to clean up here! Create your own stylistic cat by adding a moody face and unique design elements throughout the body. 

Chickens with Tessa
Design a Ceramic Chicken for your garden! Build your skills in handbuilding techniques as you create whimsical chicken components, adding character and charm to your creation. Explore design composition by arranging the chicken components and applying patterns and textures. Each chicken sculpture is approximately 7 inches wide by 5 inches high—ideal for indoor and outdoor displays.

Ghosts with Tessa
Learn how to mold and sculpt clay while making Ceramic Ghosts for Halloween! In this class, Tessa will lead you through the process of turning pre-thrown ceramic forms into uniquely styled ghosts. When finished, they can even be used with a tea light (we suggest battery-powered!) to light up their ghostly faces!

Jack O’lanterns with Tessa
Are you ready for a spooky good time? Using pre-thrown pumpkin forms, Tessa will lead the group in designing and carving expressive faces, and how to mold and sculpt on additional forms. Light up their finished forms with a tea light (we suggest battery-powered) to show off their ghoulish good looks indoors or out! 

Piggy Banks with Tessa
These little piggies won’t break the bank! Design a piggy bank to collect all your treasured coins. Is it wearing a suit and tie, sporting a top hat, or sticking its tongue out? The pig’s design is all up to you! 

Snowmen with Tessa
There is no wrong way to build a snowman! Starting with a pre-thrown form, bring your seasonally charged creativity to design the face, add hats or scarves, and decide whether to add sculpted arms or a couple of holes so twigs can be inserted as arms.

Creative Clay Experiences with artist Phyllis Seidner

Dates: Thursdays, Fridays, & Sundays
Times: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
Experience Fee Per Person: $55
Participant Limit: Ten (10) 
Participant Minimum: Five (5)
Ages: 16 & older

Bird House or Bird Feeder with Phyllis
Create handmade feeders or houses for local birds! Ceramic Artist Phyllis Seidner will provide a pre-thrown clay bottle form for you to make your own. She will guide you through the steps of turning into a bird feeder or bird house using hand-building techniques.

Ceramic Luminaries with Phyllis
Discover how to create a luminary ceramic candle holder using high-fire clay! Ceramic Artist Phyllis Seidner will guide you through the process of carving and embellishing your one-of-a-kind luminary to add to your collection of handmade home decor. At the end of the class, you will choose your glaze, which Phyllis will apply, and fire your piece for you. 

Face Jugs with Phyllis
Learn how to handbuild elements of a face jug using high-fire clay. Use traditional or modern stories as inspiration to create unique faces using hand-building methods on pre-formed clay jugs, which our potters will fire for you. 

Hanging Face Planters with Phyllis
A fun twist to the traditional Face Jug, create a hanging planter with an inverted pre-thrown clay pot. Learn how to handbuild elements of a face jug using high-fire clay. Use traditional or modern stories as inspiration to create unique faces using the hand-building methods taught. Our potters will fire your finished design for you. 

Sushi Set with Phyllis
Create a beautiful handmade sushi set. Learn the process of hand-building clay to make functional pottery. Your sushi set will include a slab-built sushi plate, a small soy sauce bowl, and a chopstick holder. At the end of the class, you will choose your glaze, which Phyllis will apply, and fire your piece for you. 

Prices are subject to change without notice.
WheatonArts cannot be held responsible for minor flaws that may occur during the firing process. 

Cancelation Policy: A $25.00 fee will be charged to those who do not show up for their appointment. We require 24 hours notice to cancel an appointment; otherwise, it will be considered a no-show, except in the case of illness. Are you feeling unwell or showing symptoms of COVID-19? Please stay home. Appointments can be rescheduled by phone or email. 

Handicap access, Large Print, Assisted Listening, and Sign Language interpretation icons

WheatonArts will provide assistive services upon request. Individuals needing special assistance or accommodations should contact us at least two weeks in advance. WheatonArts strives to ensure the accessibility of its exhibitions, events, and programs to all persons with disabilities.