Open Studio Passes are intended for folks who do not need basic instruction about how to use clay and/or clay equipment. If you can work safely and independently on your own ceramics and pottery, a studio pass is right for you! All of our Studio Passes entitle you to use the studio during our regular business hours. This does not include instruction or materials. To have your pieces fired in our kilns, you can purchase firing tickets separately.
Scholarships
We have scholarship funds available on our website for all youth and adult classes. If you or your child would love to take an art class, but it is just not within your family’s means right now, we may be able to help.
Download, print, and fill out the appropriate application, then send or bring it in to the studio. You will be notified if you are chosen as a recipient.
Waitlist
If you would like to be added to a waitlist for a class or workshop that has been closed, please call 503-365-3911.
Cancellation/Class Refund Policy
Willamette Art Center reserves the right to cancel, combine or reschedule classes in order to adjust for enrollment. If we must cancel a class we will notify all registered participants. Registrants will have the opportunity to register for another class (depending on space available) or receive a full refund. If you withdraw from a class more than 10 days before the start date, you will be subject to a $25 processing fee. If you withdraw from a class 10 or fewer days before the start of class, you will not receive a refund.
Propose a Class or Workshop
Do you have an idea for a class or workshop? If you would like to have your proposal considered for a WAC-sponsored activity, please complete the following form. If your proposal fits the mission of the center, and if our schedule can accommodate it, we will contact you for further information.
April 3, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$245.00
Out of stock
Explore a new project each week while refining your throwing, trimming, and glazing skills. Create mixing bowls, jars, a French butter keeper, and more. The first half of class is dedicated to demonstrations, followed by supported practice.
Prior experience required. Participants must be 18 years or older. One 25 lb. bag of clay is included.
Class details:
Duration: 8 weeks (April 3 – May 29)
Meets weekly* from Thursday, April 3 – May 29, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Cost: $245
Due to our upcoming move, the spring session will not include a bonus week (week 9).
Please note: WAC will be closed from April 21 – 27. As a result, a make-up week has been added to the end of each class.
Jim Ransom shows how bottle forms are a versatile foundation for many applications. He’ll demonstrate on the wheel how to manage your clay to achieve a good bottle neck. Then, based on the interests of the class, he’ll show how to take that bottle in different directions. It could become an olive oil bottle, a lamp base, or a magic genie teapot. This is a beginner-plus workshop; students should be able to pull an even cylinder from 2-3 lbs of clay. Bring your own clay and your throwing tools to make a couple bottles with expert coaching or bring your camera to video Jim’s demo.
March 14, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$25.00
Out of stock
Here kitty kitty! This 2-part workshop is a purrfect introduction to clay for beginners, and you’ll end up with the cutest new zero-maintenance pet. Instructor Ann Coskey-Wasserman will show you how to turn a slab of moist clay into a kitty figure or a cat-shaped mini-planter. You’ll learn how to cut shapes out of clay, decorate them with texture, and assemble them into a 3-dimensional sculpture. A week later, after your pieces have been fired in a kiln, you’ll return to glaze them for their second firing. Pick up your finished pieces in early April. No experience necessary; all clay, tools, glazes and firing included.
March 19, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$25.00
Out of stock
Ancient tribes decorated their pots with slip for centuries before glaze was invented. Now we can take slips in exciting new directions. Fred Hamann will demonstrate several ways that slips can create exciting texture and color patterns. Learn about Slip trailing, Scraffito (carving through slip to reveal clay beneath) and various texture techniques to give your glaze something to talk about. Bring 2 or 3 freshly made or leather-hard pots (hand or wheel-built) to try this out. Fred will provide coaching. Slips made from white porcelain, red clay, local clay, as well as colored slips will be provided for use during the workshop.
Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned artist, this workshop is all about getting creative, playing with clay, and making something uniquely yours. You’ll get a slab of clay. Andrea Misbach will show you ways to texture and decorate it to your heart’s content and form it into a mug—and yes, it will be fully functional for your morning coffee or tea! You’ll pick out a glaze and we will do the rest. When it is all finished being glazed and fired, which takes a couple of weeks, we will call you to come pick up your masterpiece. Come get your hands dirty, have some laughs, make a mug and maybe even some new friends.
November 16, 2024
There are no spaces available at this time.
$90.00
Out of stock
In this three-session workshop, join instructor Doug Dacar to design and craft your own unique ornaments. WAC will bisque fire your pieces, then you’ll glaze and Raku fire them, creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind decorations. Take home ornaments perfect for gifting or adding a personal touch to your holiday decor!
This beginner-friendly class introduces fundamental handbuilding techniques while familiarizing students with the WAC’s open studio. Topics include clay preparation, attachment methods, texture application, and glazing.
Session one will focus on creating functional ware, including a set of four dessert plates and a medium snack bowl.
Open to all skill levels. Participants must be 18 years or older; children may enroll if accompanied by an adult.
Class details:
Duration: 4 weeks (April 2 – April 30)
Schedule: Meets weekly on Wednesdays, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Cost: $90
Due to our upcoming move, the spring session will not include a bonus week (week 5).
Please note: WAC will be closed from April 21 – 27. As a result, a make-up week has been added to the end of each class.
May 7, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$90.00
Out of stock
This beginner-friendly class introduces fundamental handbuilding techniques while familiarizing students with the WAC’s open studio. Topics include clay preparation, attachment methods, texture application, and glazing.
Session two will be dedicated to nature-inspired art, featuring a hand-sculpted bird for a wall hanging.
Open to all skill levels. Participants must be 18 years or older; children may enroll if accompanied by an adult.
Class details:
Duration: 4 weeks (May 7 – May 28)
Schedule: Meets weekly on Wednesdays, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Cost: $90
Due to our upcoming move, the spring session will not include a bonus week (week 5).
March 23, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$100.00
Out of stock
Class Schedule:
Sunday, March 23, 1pm-5pm*
Class may run over briefly for some students depending on their individual pace*
Class Description:
In this 4 hour class, you will learn how to use the Tiffany method of foiling, gain guided experience with soldering technique, learn how to frame with lead came, and how to properly clean and polish stained glass. Each student will receive and work with a pre-cut and ground glass kit of the design pictured. All materials are included.
At the beginning of class, we will cover best safety practices working with stained glass, and briefly cover the tools and materials you will be using before diving in.
Instructor Bio:
William Reichle is a stained glass artist and traveling instructor. He has introduced over 600 people to the joy of creating with stained glass through his satellite workshops. He looks forward to continuing sharing his passion for this craft with more people and empowering others to create with this captivating medium.
Monday March 17 5:00 to 8:30, AND Wednesday March 19 6:00 – 7:00
Participants will receive a bisque-ware drum made by Instructor Jim Ransom. On the first day of the workshop, you’ll glaze your drum then watch it get pulled red-hot from the kiln and immersed in woodchips, smoke and flames. When it cools, you’ll attach the leather drumhead. Two days later, return for a shorter session to finish the drum and try it out. All materials to complete a drum will be provided as well as a demonstration on throwing a drum barrel. For raku-fire safety, wear non-synthetic clothes and closed-toe shoes; KN95 masks will be available for the smoke.
May 17, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$25.00
Out of stock
Join Rollie Smith and Doug Dacar for a pit firing experience.
Pit firing is an ancient pottery firing technique that involves burying pottery in a pit and surrounding it with combustible materials to create a fire. This method, often used for its unique atmospheric effects and color palettes, results in pottery with a variety of textures and colors. Pit firing differs from traditional kiln firing as it doesn’t rely on controlled heat and instead uses the natural burning process of organic materials to transform the clay.
This event is limited to 10 people, 18 and older. Please bring bisque ware to fill an area of no more than 16” x 16”. All other materials will be provided.
Optional: bring a dish to share with your classmates as the fire burns.
June 9, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$75.00
Out of stock
This is your last chance to experience the dynamic art of raku firing at the fairgrounds.
Doug Dacar will explain glaze choices and special effects, then you’ll jump right in to glazing while the kilns warm up. Your pieces will be placed in the kiln and heated to orange-hot 1850 degrees. You’ll watch as each piece is carefully pulled out and quenched in a metal can of wood chips or other carbon source. Dramatic smoke and flames lead to fascinating effects including metallic shine and crackle. Bring your own Bisque-ware or purchase pieces ready to glaze for $5-10. The price of the workshop includes glazing and firing up to three six-inch cubes of pottery volume. If you like, bring an extra pot in case there is time to fire more, for an extra $10.
For raku-fire safety, wear non-synthetic clothes and closed-toe shoes; KN95 masks will be available or you can bring your own.
March 18, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$75.00
Out of stock
This is your chance to experience the dynamic art of raku firing outside of an 8-week class. Doug Dacar will explain glaze choices and special effects, then you’ll jump right in to glazing while the kilns warm up. Your pieces will be placed in the kiln and heated to orange-hot 1850 degrees. You’ll watch as each piece is carefully pulled out and quenched in a metal can of wood chips or other carbon source. Dramatic smoke and flames lead to fascinating effects including metallic shine and crackle. Bring your own Bisque-ware or purchase pieces ready to glaze for $5-10. The price of the workshop includes glazing and firing up to three six-inch cubes of pottery volume. If you like, bring an extra pot in case there is time to fire more, for an extra $10.
For raku-fire safety, wear non-synthetic clothes and closed-toe shoes; KN95 masks will be available or you can bring your own.
August 15, 2024
There are no spaces available at this time.
$75.00
Out of stock
BYOB – Bring your own Bisqueware!
Bring pots that have already gone through a bisque kiln.
Bring four small to medium-sized bisque vessels per person. (Small equals 4” high or smaller/ Medium equals up to 7” high. Larger than this counts for two pieces.) Additional pots can be fired only if we are under-registered and there is extra space in the kiln. Firing these extra pieces will cost $10 each, which you can pay at the monitor desk during the workshop.
Raku Workshop Participation:
We start glazing at 6 p.m. The cut-off time to glaze is at 7 p.m.. After glazing, we will fire the kiln until all the work is done – usually around 2-3 hours after the start time. Glazes provided.
Your instructor will advise and assist you through the process.
March 12, 2025
There are no spaces available at this time.
$25.00
Out of stock
Celebrate spring and learn how to sculpt figures in clay with this two-part beginners workshop. Instructor Ann Coskey-Wasserman will demonstrate how to use slabs of clay and texture mats or rollers to create delightful little clay chickens and lambs. You’ll receive expert coaching to build and personalize your critters. Return a week later for session 2, to apply colorful and shiny glazes. Then your work is done! The staff will fire the pieces and they will be ready to go home with you in early April. No experience necessary; all clay, tools, glazes and firing included.
Out of stock
