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 8, 2026, at noon.
Seats are limited to 10 students.
Holiday Workshops
Handbuilt Lanterns and Luminaries
4 Mon, Nov 23 - Dec 14
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
All Levels
Monica Hewryk
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Wheel Throwing Techniques
4 Mon, Nov 23 - Dec 14
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Level: Some Throwing Experience
Drew Darley
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Glaze Making Basics
4 Mon, Nov 23 - Dec 14
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Level: 1+ Clay Class at FVAC
Drew Darley
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Guided Independent Study
4 Tue, Nov 24 - Dec 15
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Level: Some Clay Experience
Erika Novak
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Can you Handle This? Handles, Knobs & Feet
4 Tue, Nov 24 - Dec 15
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Level: Some Clay Experience
Erika Novak
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Clay Studio Access For Current Students and Clay Coop Members not enrolled in a holiday workshop
4 weeks, Nov 23-Dec 20
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WINTER CLASSES
Handbuilding
Working with Clay
All Levels
8 Wed, Feb 3 - Mar 31 (no 3/10)
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM or 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Monica Hewryk
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Combo
Intro to Ceramics: Wheel Throwing and Handbuilding
8 Thur, Feb 4 - Apr 1 (no 3/11)
10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Elyse Cote
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Combo
Creative Clay: Wheel Throwing and Handbuilding
8 Tues, Feb 2 - Mar 30 (no 3/9)
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Erika Novak
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WHEEL THROWING CERAMICS
Wheel Throwing Monday
All Levels
8 Mon, Feb 1 - Mar 29 (no 3/8)
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Drew Darley
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Wheel Throwing Tuesday
All Levels
8 Tues, Feb 2 - Mar 30 (no 3/9)
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Erika Novak
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Wheel Throwing Wednesday
All Levels
8 Wed, Feb 3 - Mar 31 (no 3/10)
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Drew Darley
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Wheel Throwing Thursday
All Levels
8 Thur, Feb 4 - Apr 1 (no 3/11)
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Ashley Paskov
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Wheel Throwing Wednesdays
Beyond the Basics
8 Wed, Feb 3 - Mar 31 (no 3/10)
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Drew Darley
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Wheel Throwing
Intermediate to Advanced
8 Mon, Feb 1 - Mar 29 (no 3/8)
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Drew Darley
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CLAY CO-OP
Give it a Spin Pottery Night
Reserve Clay Studio Time
Purchase Clay
Clay: $40 per 25lbs
Porcelain: $50 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.
