Classes and Workshops
Maria Spies Pottery

Classes and Workshops:

Updated Feb. 24, 2024. Click/ tap event for detail.

Class/ Workshop Date Location Contact info More Info
Glaze Formulation and Application
   Workshop

   at Eastern Shore Art
  Sat. July 15, and
  Sun. July 16, 2023
  10:AM to 4:PM
Pine Wood Clay Studio
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
email: reanna@esartcenter.org
The workshop will help you develop a glaze palette that will make your work unique and independent. Includes exploration of glaze qualities such as matt, satin and gloss; measurement of glaze ingredients, design glaze tests, affects of overlapped glazes, stains and slips ... glaze test and evaluation ... Participants will choose a glaze to make in a 1 gallon amount to take home.

Maria, a professional potter for over 50 years, will share her knowledge of glaze and glazing. This workshop will be limited in size to ensure each student has access to all supplies and will be tailored to each students needs. Fee includes charges for all instruction, chemicals and firings.
Intermed. to Advanced Pottery
   at Eastern Shore Art
  Adults, 8 wks
Tuesday Mornings 2024
  Mar. 26 -May. 14, 
  9:00.AM - 12 Noon
Pine Wood Clay Studio
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
email: reanna@esartcenter.org
Improve your wheel throwing and handbuilding techniques, even combine these two in this intermediate to advance class. Weekly projects will be demonstrated by Maria with each student’s interpretation expressed in their own work. Surface treatment such as handles, textures, slips and glaze will be discussed to create well-balanced pieces.

Bring an apron, an old towel, paper towels, notebook and pencil and soft plastic to cover work in progress.

A basic pottery tool kit for $15 and 25 lbs of clay for $25 are available at ESAC.
Intermed. to Advanced Pottery
Pottery at Eastern Shore Art
   Tuesday Mid-Day 
   Adults, 8 wks
 Tuesdays Mid-Day
  Mar. 26 -May. 14, 
  12 Noon - 3:00 PM
Pine Wood Clay Studio
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
email: reanna@esartcenter.org
Improve your wheel throwing and handbuilding techniques, even combine these two in this intermediate to advance class. Weekly projects will be demonstrated by Maria with each student’s interpretation expressed in their own work. Surface treatment such as handles, textures, slips and glaze will be discussed to create well-balanced pieces.

Bring an apron, an old towel, paper towels, notebook and pencil and soft plastic to cover work in progress.

A basic pottery tool kit for $15 and 25 lbs of clay for $25 are available at ESAC.
Intermed. to Advanced Pottery
   at Eastern Shore Art
  Adults, 8 wks
Thursday Mornings 2024
  Mar. 28 -May. 16, 
  9:30.AM - 12:30 PM
Pine Wood Clay Studio
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
email: reanna@esartcenter.org
Improve your wheel throwing and handbuilding techniques, even combine these two in this intermediate to advance class. Weekly projects will be demonstrated by Maria with each student’s interpretation expressed in their own work. Surface treatment such as handles, textures, slips and glaze will be discussed to create well-balanced pieces.

Bring an apron, an old towel, paper towels, notebook and pencil and soft plastic to cover work in progress.

A basic pottery tool kit for $15 and 25 lbs of clay for $25 are available at ESAC.
April 2024  Wood Firing Workshop
 in the ESAC Manibigama kiln
       Book Space Early!  
     Come to Weds. Opening!  
Sat. Apr. 13 - Glaze& Load
Sun. Apr. 14 - Fire
Weds.,10:AM Apr. 17 -Unload
Pine Wood Kilnyard
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
Join us in a woodfiring at Eastern Shore Art Center’s Manabigama Kiln. It’s a 24 cubic foot kiln with beautiful results from front to back. This kiln is designed as a quick fire teaching kiln that takes approximately 12 hours to fire.

Sat. April 13 ___ Students should bring their bisque fired cone 10 clay work. The ESArt Center will have glaze available as well as wadding. Maria will begin with a review of the wood firing process. She will guide students on the glazing and wadding of pieces to achieve best results. The kiln will be loaded following glazing and wadding.

Sun. April 14 ___ Firing will start ~ 6:00 A.M. There will be an attendance schedule for student stokers.

Weds. April 17 ___ the Manabigama will be unloaded @ 1:00 PM. Pieces will be analyzed and results compared to e.g. position in the kiln, glaze choices for other pieces etc. PotLuck group lunch! Bring something!
Invite Friends to this Opening!

Call 251-928-2228, ext. 107 to ask questions.

Book Shelf Space Early!
May 2024  Wood Firing Workshop
 in the ESAC Manibigama kiln
       Book Space Early!  
     Come to Weds. Opening!  
Sat. May 11 - Glaze& Load
Sun. May 12 - Fire
Weds.,10:AM May 15 -Unload
Pine Wood Kilnyard
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
Join us in a woodfiring at Eastern Shore Art Center’s Manabigama Kiln. It’s a 24 cubic foot kiln with beautiful results from front to back. This kiln is designed as a quick fire teaching kiln that takes approximately 12 hours to fire.

Sat. May 11 ___ Students should bring their bisque fired cone 10 clay work. The ESArt Center will have glaze available as well as wadding. Maria will begin with a review of the wood firing process. She will guide students on the glazing and wadding of pieces to achieve best results. The kiln will be loaded following glazing and wadding.

Sun. May 12 ___ Firing will start ~ 6:00 A.M. There will be an attendance schedule for student stokers.

Weds. May 15 ___ the Manabigama will be unloaded @ 1:00 PM. Pieces will be analyzed and results compared to e.g. position in the kiln, glaze choices for other pieces etc. PotLuck group lunch! Bring something!
Invite Friends to this Opening!

Call 251-928-2228, ext. 107 to ask questions.

Book Shelf Space Early!
Oct. 2024  Wood Firing Workshop
 in the ESAC Manibigama kiln
       Book Space Early!  
     Come to Weds. Opening!  
Sat. Oct. 7 - Glaze & Load
Sun. Oct. 8 - Fire
Weds.,10:AM Oct. 11 -Unload
Pine Wood Kilnyard
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
Join us in a woodfiring at Eastern Shore Art Center’s Manabigama Kiln. It’s a 24 cubic foot kiln with beautiful results from front to back. This kiln is designed as a quick fire teaching kiln that takes approximately 12 hours to fire.

Sat. Oct. 7 ___ Students should bring their bisque fired cone 10 clay work. The ESArt Center will have glaze available as well as wadding. Maria will begin with a review of the wood firing process. She will guide students on the glazing and wadding of pieces to achieve best results. The kiln will be loaded following glazing and wadding.

Sun. Oct. 8 ___ Firing will start ~ 6:00 A.M. There will be an attendance schedule for student stokers.

Weds. Oct. 11 ___ the Manabigama will be unloaded @ 1:00 PM. Pieces will be analyzed and results compared to e.g. position in the kiln, glaze choices for other pieces etc. PotLuck group lunch! Bring something!
Invite Friends to this Opening!

Call 251-928-2228, ext. 107 to ask questions.

Book Shelf Space Early!
Nov.   Wood Firing Workshop
 in the ESAC Manibigama kiln
       Book Space Early!  
     Come to Weds. Opening!  
Sat. Nov. 11 - Glaze & Load
Sun. Nov. 12 - Fire
Weds.,10:AM Nov. 15 -Unload
Pine Wood Kilnyard
Eastern Shore Art
Fairhope, AL 36532
ESArtCenter.org
251-928-2228 xt.107
Join us in a woodfiring at Eastern Shore Art Center’s Manabigama Kiln. It’s a 24 cubic foot kiln with beautiful results from front to back. This kiln is designed as a quick fire teaching kiln that takes approximately 12 hours to fire.

Sat. Nov. 11 ___ Students should bring their bisque fired cone 10 clay work. The ESArt Center will have glaze available as well as wadding. Maria will begin with a review of the wood firing process. She will guide students on the glazing and wadding of pieces to achieve best results. The kiln will be loaded following glazing and wadding.

Sun. Nov. 12 ___ Firing will start ~ 6:00 A.M. There will be an attendance schedule for student stokers.

Weds. Nov. 15 ___ the Manabigama will be unloaded @ 1:00 PM. Pieces will be analyzed and results compared to e.g. position in the kiln, glaze choices for other pieces etc. PotLuck group lunch! Bring something!
Invite Friends to this Opening!

Call 251-928-2228, ext. 107 to ask questions.

Book Shelf Space Early!
Combining Handbuilding
        and Throwing

         2 Day Workshop at
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
Sat. Apr. 6, and
Sun. Apr. 7,
10:AM to 5:PM
Ohr-O’Keefe Mus.
Ceramics Studio

136 G.E. Ohr Street
Biloxi, MS 39530
Ohr website link
228-374-5547 
This workshop is for anyone looking for a way to combine the two methods of handbuilding and throwing to make new and creative projects. The possible results are magnified by the use of the two methods together. Maria will demonstrate projects that each student can then interpret and use as a starting concept.

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum fee: $165 per student,Level: Ages 18 and up Call 251-928-2228 to ask questions.
Pottery Throwing Workshop 2 day Workshop, date TBD My Studio or your Organization
Call or email for details.
For those who want to master the techniques of throwing pots on the wheel. The workshop will include demonstration and hands-on practice. (Click for Slideshow)
Raku Firing Workshop
  (You bring bisque ware)
1 Day Workshop, date TBD My Studio or your Organization Call or email for details. Includes instructions, Raku glazes and multiple firings.
Bring bisque ware!
Supply list provided upon registration.
Contact Maria at 251-689-8869 or by email
(Click for Slideshow)
Combining Handbuilding
        and Throwing
2 day Workshop My Studio or your Organization Call or email for details. This workshop is for anyone looking for a way to combine the two methods of handbuilding and throwing to make new and creative projects. The possible results are magnified by the use of the two methods together. Maria will demonstrate projects that each student can then interpret and use as a starting concept.

Supply list provided upon registration.

Contact Maria at 251-689-8869 or by email
Saggar Firing Techniques 2 day Workshop, date TBD My Studio or your Organization Call or email for details. Includes instructions, terra sigillata, bisque firing, saggars and multiple saggar firings Supply list provided upon registration.

Contact Maria at 251-689-8869 or by email
(Click for Slideshow)
Photographing Your Art 1 Day workshop, date TBD My Studio or your Organization Call or email for details. Gain valuable and practical info for Photographing Your Art work. Maria will share her approach to taking great digital photos for one's portfolio. Focused for busy artists who need quality entry photos.
(Click for Slideshow)
Individual Lessons Call / email for details My Studio or
contact me
Call or email for details. Tailor a program of instruction for your own or someone else's needs.

Click/ tap on any event text for details. Check back occasionally for new workshops listings. Call or email the contact listed in the details for information or call or email me to schedule a workshop at your school or studio.

Gift certificates are available for pottery, classes and workshops. Please call or email for details.

Private group classes can be arranged for adults or children. Whether you’re planning a business team-building activity, bridal shower or a child’s birthday party, an activity can be arranged. Please call or email for details.