2024 Spring Class Registration is Open!

Classes meet for 3 hours every week with open studio access Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays.

Class size is 8 people, act fast!

Register for a class: Please email your class request to damiangrava@gmail.com. Registration requests are queued on a first come first served basis, meaning I will register students in the order the emails show up in my inbox. Please list your first choice and add a second choice “back up” if you have one. If there is availability in the class, I will send you an email requesting payment. Registration is complete once payment is received. If the class is full I will respond with options and you will be put on the waitlist.

I can accept payment through: Venmo (@damiangrava, last 4 of phone #1303), Zelle, or Paypal

In order to keep our community safe, Westwood Art Studio is following all CDC guidelines and WA State mandates regarding Covid-19.

  • Do not come to the studio if you have any covid-19 symptoms or are sick.

  • A HEPA filter will be circulating air and the window will be open for ventilation, wear warm clothes.

Workshops and Classes at Westwood Art Studio

Westwood Art Studio is a cone 10, reduction fire studio. We just built a new 30 cubic foot gas fire kiln that is incredibly efficient and producing amazing results. I have a 2 stoneware and 2 porcelain clay bodies for students to work with. We have 5 colored slips, and 12 stunning glazes to decorate surfaces with.

Teaching is an integral part of who I am. I have been teaching ceramics in Seattle since 2005. Pottery classes at Westwood Art Studio are wonderful social setting to get inspired, experiment with new techniques, and expand your voice in clay. The process of forming and firing clay is transformative. We teach tools and techniques, so you can become confident in expressing your mind and achieving your creative goals. Absorb the experience at Westwood Art Studio.

Westwood Art Studio is located at 9042 31st Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126

Weekly Adult Classes

Weekly classes meet for 3 hours each week of class. First bag of clay and firing fees are part of tuition (subsequent bags can be purchased at the studio). You will receive highly focused attention in these intimate class sizes of 8 students. Westwood Art Studio is a beautiful back yard studio setting surrounded by gardens and kilns. Enjoy the tranquility of the studio and garden while you are here. Open studio practice times are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays, working on projects at home is welcome and encouraged. Age 18+

Spring 2024 Class Offerings!!

Spring quarter runs from the week of March 25th - week of May 27th. The studio will be closed April 8th - 13th. Registered students have open studio access Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays.

  • Continuing Wheel Monday, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, 9 classes, $475, 3/25 - 5/27 (studio closed 4/8 - 4/13)

    • Focus: Put a lid on it! Tight lids, loose lids, funky lids, what’s your style? Let’s try them all and see what fits… We will dive deep into handles and knobs for lids (and mugs) too.

    • In this wheel throwing class, you will be exposed to the history of ceramics and the cultural advances and styles that gave birth to contemporary pots. Most cultures made pottery throughout history. Style and design developed in response to resources, beliefs, landscape, politics, and functional needs to name a few. Find styles and techniques you connect with and explore them in your pursuit of a great pot. Surface, form, and function are foundational conversations. Additive and subtractive decorating techniques using slip, carving, and glazing will also be in the conversation as we refine our pot making in this class. All levels are welcome!

  • Beginning Wheel Throwing Tuesday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm, 9 classes, $475, 3/26 - 5/28 (studio closed 4/8 - 4/13)

    • Get on that wheel! Learn to make pots or build on what you know in this wheel throwing class. You will be guided through every step of making pots on the wheel no matter your experience level. We will have discussions about off the wheel surface techniques to add a unique personalized touch to your pottery. Surface decorating techniques using slip, carving, and glazing will be covered. Fun handmade ceramics created entirely by you are guaranteed! Designed for beginners, but all levels are welcome.

  • Continuing Wheel - Wednesday, 10:00am - 1:00pm, 9 classes, $475, 3/27 - 5/29 (studio closed 4/8 - 4/13) Inst: Jessica Kiessel

    • Focus: Altering pots to explore asymmetry. Thrown forms are the foundation of the class, but many class discussions will be around taking the pot out of round. It could be a gentle nudge or a dramatic sculptural shift, you decide!

    • This wheel throwing class is designed to hone your skills and ideas relating to pottery. Jessica will lead conversations around what kind of pots you want to make and why. Demos will include handles, lids, and altering thrown forms into sculptural ideas. Find styles and techniques you connect with and explore them in your pursuit of a great pot. Surface, form, and function are foundational conversations. Additive and subtractive decorating techniques using slip, carving, and glazing will also be in the conversation as we refine our pot making in this class. All levels are welcome!

  • Continuing Wheel Wednesday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm, 9 classes, $475, 3/27 - 5/29 (studio closed 4/8 - 4/13)

    • Focus: combining pots to create new forms. This includes stacking wet pieces to create a seamless large pot and scoring and slipping components together with a sculptural design.

    • This wheel throwing class is designed to give you a glance at the world of ceramics to expand your knowledge of the cultural advances and styles that gave birth to contemporary ceramics. Most cultures made pottery throughout history. Style and design developed in response to resources, beliefs, landscape, politics, and functional needs to name a few. Find styles and techniques you connect with and explore them in your pursuit of a great pot. Surface, form, and function are foundational conversations. Additive and subtractive decorating techniques using slip, carving, and glazing will also be in the conversation as we refine our pot making in this class. All levels are welcome!

  • Continuing Wheel - FULL - Thursday, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, 9 classes, $475, 3/28 - 5/30 (studio closed 4/8 - 4/13)

    • Focus: Throwing and altering. Adding to, subtracting from, and building on the pot after it is thrown is what demonstrations will focus on. Creatively explore tangential paths with each thrown piece.

    • This wheel throwing class is designed to give you a glance at the world of ceramics to expand your knowledge of the cultural advances and styles that gave birth to contemporary ceramics. Most cultures made pottery throughout history. Style and design developed in response to resources, beliefs, landscape, politics, and functional needs to name a few. Find styles and techniques you connect with and explore them in your pursuit of a great pot. Surface, form, and function are foundational conversations. Additive and subtractive decorating techniques using slip, carving, and glazing will also be in the conversation as we refine our pot making in this class. All levels are welcome!

Class Refund Policy: If you withdraw from a class prior to 7 days before the start of that class you can receive a full refund minus $50 for administrative fees. Refunds are not given within 7 days prior to class beginning. You are welcome to keep your registration payment as a credit towards another class to be used within a year of cancellation.

 Workshops

2024 Soda fire workshops TBD after the new kiln is built this summer!

Weekend Soda Firing - Saturday 10am - 6pm, Sunday 9am - 8pm: $275 - Email damiangrava@gmail.com to reserve your spot and make payment.

I began firing with soda in 2002 when I became a studio potter at Pottery Northwest in Seattle. I was immediately attracted to the process, textures, and colors that formed on slips and clay bodies. I saw the kiln as a tool that could achieve similar effects as the wood kilns I was used to firing. I began my research on clay bodies and flashing slips that develop unique surfaces in the kiln.  In 2005, I worked as Gail Nichols’ assistant during a workshop at Pottery Northwest, that experience rooted my love for soda firing and I have continued to explore materials and the firing process since. I’m compelled to push boundaries in soda fire ceramics, and I have learned that there is still so much more to be discovered!

Workshop Details: Saturday 10am - 6pm; lesson, slip & glaze, wad, load kiln. Sunday 9am - 8pm; fire kiln, discussions, forming demonstrations.  We unload Monday evening or an agreed date.

The kiln is a glazing tool.  Bring cone 10 bisque ware, use my flashing slips if you like, learn to fire a soda kiln!  I converted an old soft brick electric kiln into a gas fired downdraft soda kiln, and it continues to work beautifully!  The kiln is small, each participant will get roughly 1 cubic foot of work out of the kiln (roughly 6-8 cups).  In this workshop you will learn: 

  • The history of soda firing including Gail Nichols’ crumble introduction method, which I practice.

  • How and why I came to developing the high resist flashing slips (for bisque ware) that you will have access to, and the scientific material discussion behind their success.

  • Approaching the kiln as a glazing tool instead of just a kiln.

  • How to build a Grava Upcycle Downdraft kiln of your own!

  • Soda Fire Participants:

    • Use any high fire (cone 10) clay you choose. They all work beautifully in their own right. I have slips that work for all clay bodies.

    • Line the inside of the pot with whatever cone 10 glaze you like, I have a few ash glazes and a slip glaze you are welcome to use when you're here.

    • Potentially fluid glazes should not be applied to the outside of pots, we will put a notable amount of soda in the kiln and most glazes will run off the pot. You are welcome to bring a small container of your own glaze for exterior accents if you like. small test tiles can be half dipped in a glaze and loaded.

    • Each participant should plan on roughly 1 cubic foot of stacking space, give or take. Mostly focus on small objects (cups, bottles, sugar bowls, bud vases, desert bowls, etc...) 4-6 inches high so we can have a variety of interactive pieces for the load. The kiln can accommodate a 4-6 inch diameter plate stack, and some 9-12 inch slim pieces, but they would need to work with the group.

One Time Experiential Classes

  • Clay Studio Experience - 3 hours: - $75 per participant, minimum of 4 students to run.

    Grab some friends and get on that pottery wheel! This is a one time class for you to have fun throwing pots on the wheel. There will be a quick demonstration to get you started, and then the fun begins! All experience levels are welcome. Each person can take home up to 3 pieces once bisque fired, expect at least 2 weeks for pieces to be ready. (*If you would like to glaze what was made you can register for another class that specifically addresses the glaze process.) The last 20 minutes of class is reserved for clean-up. E-mail damiangrava@gmail.com to reserve your spot and make payment.

  • Private Parties / Birthday Parties:

    Sign up for a private party at Westwood Art Studio! Birthday parties, team building events, or friend and family art experiences, the studio is reserved for your group only. Play the music of your choice, bring beverages and snacks, have fun creating art! Each person can take home up to 3 pieces once bisque fired, expect at least 2 weeks for pieces to be ready. (*If you would like to glaze what was made you can register for another class that specifically addresses the glaze process.) The last 20 minutes of class is reserved for clean-up. Private party fees are $200/hour for up to 8 participants, each additional participant is $25/hr. We have 8 wheels, parties over 8 participants should consider handbuilding or sculpting projects. Reach out with questions or to schedule an event.

    Email damiangrava@gmail.com

Private Lessons

Private lessons are tailored to your needs and your schedule. This is time for focused attention on your specific needs or project. Hand building, wheel throwing, sculpting, decorating, glazing, you name it and we will dive in! Call or email to schedule a time! Email damiangrava@gmail.com to reserve your spot and make payment.

  • $90 / hour for one student.

  • $150 / hour for two students.

  • $180 / hour for three students.

Please reach out for pricing on specialized company team building events or other special requests.

Upcoming 2023 Workshops

  • Two weekend Building and Firing Workshop - Make a body of work the first weekend, then come back the following weekend to slip, glaze and fire in the soda kiln.

  • Eco friendly kiln building workshop - Learn to build an economic, easy to fire, Grava Green Kiln for your back yard! Walk away with the designs for a 9 cubic foot downdraft kiln that fires evenly to cone 10 in 12 hours using less than 30 gallons of propane!

  • Build it Big workshop - Learn coil and throw techniques and 2-3 part jar construction techniques.

Class Refund Policy: If you withdraw from a class prior to 7 days before the start of that class you can receive a full refund minus $50 for administrative fees. Refunds are not given within 7 days prior to start of class. You are welcome to keep your registration payment as a credit towards another class to be used within a year of cancellation. No refunds or credits are given once class has begun.

Outside of Westwood Art Studio you can take class from me at Seward Park Clay Studio (Tuesday afternoon and evening) where I have been an integral part of the community since 2007.

In 2009 I started a ceramic art studio in Redmond, WA called Redmond Clay Studio. The City of Redmond gave me a small space with 9 old Shimpo wheels, 2 small electric kilns, and a modest budget for equipment. From that I built a school teaching clay classed for all ages. I employed many artists as teachers, curated art shows and a wonderful clay community grew and flourished. In 2017, I moved my studio and community building efforts to Westwood Art Studio. I now offer clay art opportunities to my West Seattle community!!

Studio Policies:

All registered students at Westwood Art Studio are expected to act responsibly when in the studio and treat themselves and others with acceptance and kindness. Students who are registered for a class or workshop have access to the Studio and resources made available for that class or workshop during the time frame listed for said class or workshop. Westwood Art Studio is not held responsible to provide makeup time for classes missed in the event of illness, vacation, or natural disasters. All work created at Westwood Art Studio must be taken away after the last firings after each class quarter ends. All unglazed bisque ware must be taken home at the end of each quarter. Unglazed bisque ware created at Westwood Art Studio (and only Westwood Art Studio) can be brought back during another registered class session to be glazed and fired. There is no access to the studio between classes.