Level I Hand-building for students wanting to explore the basic techniques for hand-building functional, sculptural, or decorative pieces.

Learn about the various hand-building tools, and the three basic hand-building techniques: pinching, coiling, and slab rolling through a series of self-guided projects.

Ages: 16+

Class meets weekly on FRIDAYS for 8 weeks

Note: This class will meet at the new Main location at 3750 Canfield Street in NE Boulder. You will only have open lab access at the same studio as your class. 

Does NOT include Firing Fees. For details on our Firing Fees, please click here: https://www.groundworksartlab.org/firing-fees

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $285

All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in a reduction kiln.

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.

Our Wood and Metal studios are birds of a feather in this eight-week studio crossover class! These studios are teaming up to teach you how to make your very own three-dimensional sculptural wall hanging of a wooden bird in a metal tree.

Students will spend four weeks in our Wood Studio receiving instruction in carving in the round using basswood (a light, easy to carve wood from the linden trees) using chisels and gouges, the band saw, rasps, and rotary and sanding tools to create their bird sculpture. The other four weeks will be in our Metal Studio, learning the basics of MIG welding, forging/blacksmithing to shape the tree background for their bird.

This is the perfect opportunity to try your hand at two art forms for the price of one and come away with an amazing and unique piece of art all your own!

This class has no prerequisites and is specifically set up for absolute beginners to both of these art forms. Our Metal and Wood Studios do have some safety basics before anyone is allowed to join in the fun (failure to meet these requirements will result in not being granted access to the equipment): 

• Please come dressed in close-toe and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, and long pants. 

• Sparks fly in the Metal Studio, so we recommend wearing long sleeves and a shirt that covers your whole chest.

• No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings or scarves.

• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.

• We will provide safety goggles and other PPE, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!

Class Policies & Information:

Open Lab: This class includes access to the studio during Open Lab hours. Open Lab is exclusively for students who are currently enrolled in the program. You are allowed to attend one Open Lab session per week, totaling 3 hours during the duration of your class. You may only attend the Open Lab session for the class in which you are registered. This time is intended for independent work on your class project. While studio staff will be present, they are there to ensure you are using the tools safely, not to provide instruction.

Class Make-Up: Our studios are full with adult and youth classes 7 days a week, 48 weeks a year. Typically, every class is full, which means there is simply no space for students to make up classes. If we cancel an entire class due to weather or other emergencies, we can not guarantee we will be able to schedule a make-up class. Individuals who miss a class will not be able to make it up. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about missed classes.

Studio Clean Up: Clean-up is critical! Please help our hardworking staff and volunteers by beginning clean-up 30 minutes before the end of class, helping out with common areas, and leaving class on time.

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.

Always wanted to try the potter's wheel, but didn't know where to start? This class is a great intro to the wheel in 5 short weeks!

This class is intended to get you familiar with the basics of throwing on the potter's wheel. Students will have 3 weeks of throwing instruction, one week of trimming, and one week of glazing. This class is ideal for those who have limited experience and want to learn the basics of centering, trimming and glazing, with a short instructor demo and hands-on assistance each week.

Please note: This class does not include Open Lab hours or additional clay.

Ages 16+ to register

Class meets weekly on FRIDAYS.

 All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in a reduction kiln.

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.

Glass fusing, also known as kiln-formed glass, involves heating multiple pieces of glass in a kiln to create a single, fused piece. It's a versatile art form with many practical and decorative applications.

Come learn and explore the basics of using glass as an artmaking medium in just a couple of hours in this introductory level class. We’ll provide a selection of colored glass sheets for you to use in your own design or choose from pre-made designs like a flower, rainbow, or heart. Then hang your suncatcher in your window at home and enjoy the way the light dances through your design!

This class has no prerequisites and is specifically set up for absolute beginners to this art form. Our Glass Studio does have some safety basics before anyone is allowed to join in the fun (failure to meet these requirements will result in not being granted access to the equipment): 

• Please come dressed in close-toe and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 
• No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings or scarves.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.

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New to printmaking and don't know where to start? Look no further than our 4-week introductory relief printmaking sampler!

This sampler will take you on a more directed 4-week tour of the world of relief printing (carving an image into or out of a block). Each week, the instructor will show you a different media to carve - be it Speedycut (rubber), linoleum, wood, or something experimental like an old tire or a piece of traffic cone. You'll learn all this as well as how to measure and tear paper, mixing and applying ink, and the basics of using the printing press.

This course provides a great way to get a real sense of the art of relief printmaking, and to identify which direction to go next. Once you start, your options are endless!

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.

Immerse yourself in the world of woodworking by joining our comprehensive sampler class! This workshop is perfect for beginners who are looking to familiarize themselves with a woodshop, and who aim to become comfortable with the basics of milling and hand tools. 

This sampler class is designed to build your confidence and comfort with woodworking, laying a solid foundation for any advanced classes you may choose to pursue in the future. You’ll also have the chance to connect with other passionate woodworking enthusiasts, sharing ideas and experiences in a supportive and welcoming environment. 

This Class Does NOT include Open Lab

Class Policies & Information:

Class Make-Up: Our studios are full with adult and youth classes 7 days a week, 48 weeks a year. Typically, every class is full, which means there is simply no space for students to make up classes. If we cancel an entire class due to weather or other emergencies, we can not guarantee we will be able to schedule a make-up class. Individuals who miss a class will not be able to make it up. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about missed classes.

Studio Clean Up: Clean-up is critical! Please help our hardworking staff and volunteers by beginning clean-up 30 minutes before the end of class, helping out with common areas, and leaving class on time.

What to wear to the wood studio?  

Safety First: Long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes with socks that protect up to the ankle.  Shirts and tops should be easy to tuck in, with sleeves that can be rolled up as needed.  Tie back long hair to ensure safety.  We offer safety goggles, dust masks and ear protection, and they must be worn in the wood studio.  Feel free to bring your own if you are more comfortable with them.  Jewelry, loose-fitting clothing, or any other items that could dangle will need to be secured while using machines.

Safety Information:

• Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes
• Long pants
• Shirts should be easily tucked and sleeves pulled up
• Hair tied back
• Eye and lung protection are provided and must be worn in the studio

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

This is a Pay What You Can class with a suggested price of

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.

For students that have never touched clay to those still learning the basics.

This class will cover the basic “how tos” of pottery. Students will learn the foundations of throwing, including how to confidently center, pull, and trim pots on the wheel. The class will also cover basic glazing techniques, attaching handles, and how to track your pieces through the studio.

Ages: 16 and above

Class meets weekly on FRIDAYS

Note: This class will meet at the Hill location at 1010 Aurora Avenue. You will only have open lab access at the same studio as your class.

Does NOT include Firing Fees. For details on our Firing Fees, please click here: https://www.groundworksartlab.org/firing-fees

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $250 (Pro-rated 7 wk class) Please note there is no class Sept. 12th. The studio is closed for our annual Chili Bowl Fundraiser.

All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in a reduction kiln.

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.

Glass fusing, also known as kiln-formed glass, involves heating multiple pieces of glass in a kiln to create a single, fused piece. It's a versatile art form with many practical and decorative applications.

Come learn and explore the basics of using glass as an artmaking medium in just a couple of hours in this introductory level class. We’ll provide all of the materials to make a small fused leaf ornament from cut colored glass.

This class has no prerequisites and is specifically set up for absolute beginners to this art form. Our Glass Studio does have some safety basics before anyone is allowed to join in the fun (failure to meet these requirements will result in not being granted access to the equipment): 

• Please come dressed in close-toe and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 
• No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings or scarves.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.