Frequently Asked Questions:

What temperature do you fire your kilns to?

Cone 5 oxidation which is a mid-range high fire in an electric kiln. 

What type of clays do you use at Out of Step Clay?

We use one type of clay, Cone 5 B-mix with Grog. No other clays are allowed in our studio. 

Can I bring my own Glazes?

Nope. We have all the glazes that we allow in our kilns. Outside glazes are not allowed as they could be the wrong temperature or unsafe to handle. We do occasionally accept suggestions for new and exciting glazes to add to our studio, but they need to be thoroughly tested before they make the cut.

Can I use more than the 25 lbs of clay allotted to me in the course description?

We really post that number as a deterrent to any production potters that might try and sign up for a class. You can expect to make between 5-10 pieces in our wheel classes. If you make a bunch more than that, we are probably not the right fit of a studio for you and we can help suggest another studio that might better accommodate your desire to pump out a bunch of awesome clay pieces. Or you can check out our advanced membership studio Next Step Clay

I need to miss a class. Can I just come to another night?

No. All our classes fill up and we do not have the space to accommodate students hopping around from class to class. The exception would be if it was a glaze demo night where you would not be using a wheel. If you need to make up studio time you can come to a non instruction open studio time to do so. We will do our best to help if you missed something important. 

Can I switch my enrollment to another night?

Not currently. You would need to get a refund for the class you are enrolled in(minus a transaction fee) and then re-enroll for another night. I wish this was simpler, but my registration system doesn’t allow me to move students around, and we get dinged financially for refunded transaction. 

I need to miss the first wheel class and I’ve never taken a clay class at Out of Step Clay?

Contact me for a refund asap(minus a processing fee). You can not take our classes if you plan to miss the first class. This isn’t fair to you, your instructor, or your fellow students. On the first class I go over the protocol for how to navigate our studio and the wheel. I have an extremely successful teaching model that requires students to work together, step by step, to learn the ways of working on the wheel. If you miss that class, you miss a huge chunk of why students find success in my classes. 

Do you offer studio memberships?

No. This is not something we are NOT interested in offering at Out of Step Clay, but we no offer this at our sister site, Next Step Clay

Do you offer gift certificates? 

Not at this time. Our classes fill up too fast to make these useful. 

Do you teach how to use the kilns? 

Not in class. I am happy to go over the concepts, but if you want to learn how to fire the kilns we can schedule a private lesson for that specialized skill. 

How long can I use open studio after my class is over?

Former students are welcome to use open studio as a way to finish glazing work that they didn’t have time to complete during their class session. No new work can be created during this time, just glazing. If your work is still in the studio 2 months after your class has ended, another student can claim it to glaze or to take home if already finished. 

Can my family members or friends come to open studio time with me?

Open studio time and class time is for registered students only. Listen. If someone really important in your life is visiting and wants to check out this new place you are spending all your time. Sure, bring them along. They can hang out in the studio if there is space or check out the gallery show. But they should not participate in any clay making activities or glazing unless they are enrolled in a class.