FAQs

+ How can I take a class at Hawaii Potters' Guild?

We typically offer handbuilding and wheel classes to students and members of all experience levels. Each class session is 12 weeks and classes meet once a week for three hours.

+ When are the class sessions for the year and what are the available classes?

Sessions generally follow this schedule, each year the exact dates vary. Each session is 12 weeks long and Interim sessions are 8 weeks long.

• Winter Session - January to March
• Spring Session - April to June
• Summer Interim - June to August
• Fall Session - August to November
• Winter Interim - November to January
• *Exact dates will be listed on our website.
• **Interim is a non-instructional sitting period for members and students that have taken at least one class.

+ How do I register for classes?

All registration is done online. Visit our Class Schedule page to learn about upcoming class offerings and registration dates. Registration dates will be listed on the website approximately two to three weeks before classes are scheduled to begin. Priority is given to members and students that are currently registered for class sessions. They are allowed to continue in their time-slot for a total of three sessions. All remaining spots will be filled in open registration by lottery.

+ How does the lottery work?

HPGʻs open registration is done by lottery. Student selection is completely random. The initial drawing is based on studentsʻ first choice selections. Selected students are given 48 hours from email notification to reserve their spot in class. We follow up with a text and/or phone call to ensure students receive notification and have sufficient opportunity to register for the upcoming session. This means that the lottery process can take a week or more to complete.

+I registered for class, but can no longer attend. Can I give my spot to someone else?

No, class registration is not transferable.

+Can I register for a class that I've already taken three times?

If you’ve reached the three time limit, you cannot automatically register, but you can still enter the lottery to get into the same class.

+Does HPG offer classes for children and teens?

The minimum age requirement to attend classes at HPG is 8 years old. Children ages 8 to 12 may sign-up for a class if a parent, grandparent or guardian also signs up for the same class, attends the class with the child and takes responsibility for her/him during class and practice times. People ages 13 to 17 may take classes independently with the permission of the instructor (their waiver form must be signed by a parent or guardian).

+ Can I come to Hawaii Potters' Guild to work independently?

Hawaii Potters' Guild is open to students that registered for a wheel or handbuilding class and to our members. We are not able to accommodate open studio time to those that are not students or members.

+Are visitors allowed at HPG?

Visitors/guests are not allowed in the studio. If you need help picking up your pieces, a guest may assist you in gathering your work. The guest should be masked and vaccinated and should exit the studio immediately.

+ How can I become a member of Hawaii Potters' Guild?

Learn more about becoming a member, and the benefits of membership, here .

+ How can I order clay and other supplies?

Visit our "Order Supplies" page to order clay, a basic toolkit and/or throwing bats. Reminder: you must purchase all of your clay from HPG. No outside clay allowed.

+What type of clay should I buy for my first class?

Each instructor has a different preference for clay. Please see the instructor profile for their preference. However, one overall clay suggestion for all beginning students is to NOT start with porcelain. It is very difficult to work with when you are first learning.

+ I'm not a student or member of Hawaii Potters' Guild. Can I still order clay?

Clay and miscellaneous supplies are only for sale to current students and members of Hawaii Potters' Guild.

+What are the stages of clay?

Greenware - Clay that has been formed but not fired. Clay is still fragile in this state and contains more moisture than other stages. Do NOT put wet clay on the greenware shelf in the front of the kilns. Please place the piece(s) in the damp closets if you are planning to work on the piece further. Otherwise, place on the greenware shelves in the back of the studio until bone dry.
Leather Hard - Clay that has been formed but still not fired and can still be altered. This clay is still considered greenware but is slightly harder and can still be carved or manipulated to add details. At this stage you can add your unique mark to your piece. This identifying mark should be logged on the non-member’s mark list in the studio. Once your design is complete, please place the piece(s) on the greenware shelves in the back of the studio until bone dry.
Bone Dry - Clay that has been formed but still not fired and is ready to go to bisque firing. This clay has very little moisture remaining and can be put on the greenware shelf in front of the kilns to be bisque fired.
Bisque - Clay that has been fired and is ready to be glazed.

+What’s the difference between cone 10 and cone 6 glaze firing? Which glazes do I use?

Cone 10 and Cone 6 firings are different levels of firing. Cone 10 is high fire and Cone 6 is mid-fire. Most of the glazes that we offer are Cone 10 glazes. These are the glazes located in the buckets in the back of the studio in the glazing section. We offer a small selection of Cone 6 glazes and underglazes. These are located on the shelves in the back of the studio. Please ask your instructor if you are not sure where the glazes are or which glaze to use. Do not use Cone 6 glazes for Cone 10 firings.

Please be sure to leave the bottom of your piece(s) unglazed with a ¼” allowance from the bottom of the piece. The only exception would be if you have stilts that your piece can be placed on to allow for complete glazing.

Once you’ve glazed your piece, please be sure to put your piece in the correct glaze area to be fired. Cone 10 glaze shelves are located in front of the kilns. Cone 6 has a (small) special rack located in the Cone 10 area. Please ask your instructor if you’re not sure where to place your piece for glaze firing. You are also required to list the date, glaze name and height of each piece on a small piece of paper to be kept with your piece.

+Why are my pieces not getting fired when I put them on the glaze shelf?

It is each student's responsibility to ensure that glaze has been applied correctly on their piece. It is not the firing team's responsibility to fix pieces that have too much glaze,are glazed on the bottom, etc. Please ask instructors for help when applying glaze for the first time.