Clay Studio Program
Welcome to Farmington Valley Arts Center's Ceramic Classes. Members save 10% for a year on tuition (Clay Coop excluded).
Click here for membership information
Registration for WINTER classes opens November 9, 2025, at noon.
Seats are limited to 8-10 students.
Cancellation Policy
To be eligible for a full refund or credit, you must cancel your registration more than 14 calendar days before the start of the class (subject to a $20 cancellation fee).
You will receive a 50% refund or credit if you cancel your registration between 8 and 14 calendar days before the class.
No refund or credit can be issued if you cancel with less than 7 calendar days' notice.
Handbuilding
Combo
Intro to Ceramics: Wheel Throwing and Handbuilding
8 Thurs, Sept 25 - Nov 13
10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Elyse Cote
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Combo
Creative Clay: Wheel Throwing and Handbuilding
8 Tues, Sept 23 - Nov 11
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Erika Novak
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Glazing
WHEEL THROWING CERAMICS
Intermediate to Advanced Wheel Throwing
Wheel Throwing
Intermediate to Advanced
8 Wed, Sept 24 - Nov 12
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Drew Darley
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CLAY CO-OP
Clay Co-op 2025
Winter Session: January 27 – March 23
Spring Session: April 21 – June 15
Summer Session: June 23 – August 17
Fall Session: September 22 - November 16
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Interim Clay Studio Use
Give it a Spin Pottery Night
Give it a Spin Pottery Night
Friday, September 26, 2025, 7-8:30 PM
Friday, October 17, 2025, 7-8:30 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 4:30-6 PM
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Reserve Ceramic Studio / Task Sheet
Purchase Clay
Clay: $33 per 25lbs
Black Clay: $43 per 25lbs
Porcelain: $43 per 25lbs
Clay Studio Director
Clay Studio Director Erika Novak
Erika is a ceramic artist who focuses on wheel-thrown collections of pottery both functional and decorative. Her work includes series of cups and mugs as well as vases, bottles, and hanging objects such as lamps and planters. Erika pulls inspiration from patterns and textures found in Art deco architecture, early 20th-century design, as well as patterns found in American Southwestern textiles. After studying ceramics and art in college Erika now works as a full-time potter creating and selling her work at nationally ranked art fairs and showcases. She and husband Drew Darley were recently featured in the highly regarded magazine Ceramics Monthly.
Clay Studio Manager
Clay Studio Manager Drew Darley
Drew is a full-time potter specializing in wheel-thrown vessels, with a strong emphasis on clean, refined forms. Inspired by both form and glaze chemistry, Drew's work focuses on creating crystalline, metallic, and iridescent glazes. He is passionate about exploring unique glaze effects that have never been seen before, meticulously formulating and mixing glazes by hand in small batches. His background in ceramics and mathematics has allowed him to find connections between these disciplines, particularly in glaze calculation and form. This unique perspective drives him to push the boundaries of his materials, constantly striving for innovation and excellence. Together with his wife, Erika Novak, he owns Round Trip Clayworks, a ceramics studio at the Farmington Valley Arts Center.