Ready to deck your halls? Groundworks has you covered! We're offering a brand new multi-studio crossover class that will help you get your holiday cheer on by hand-crafting some holiday objects to bring the joy of the season to your home.

Over the course of eight weeks, you will spend time in four of our studios: Clay, Wood, Glass, and Metal making a series of seasonal objects and learning a whole bunch of fun and approachable techniques in each of those art forms. In Clay, you'll spend two days learning hand-building and glazing; in Wood, you'll learn to make things on the bandsaw and lathe; followed by two days in Glass learning about fusing and flamework. We will finish up with two days in the Metal Studio where we will do some welding and a little bit of blacksmithing. Ho ho holy cow that's a lot of fun!

Class images are for inspiration, individual project designs may vary based on instructor guidance and your own personal creative flair!

This class does NOT come with open lab time. All work must be completed during class. 

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+

No class Nov. 23 - 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving. 

Available for registration Sept. 21st at 8am. 

This class is great for teenagers that are new to the wheel as well as those that are further developing their throwing skills.

Classes will include both hand-building and wheel-throwing, trimming of thrown pots, slip decorating, and glazing of bisqued pieces. These classes are a great chance for students to learn a variety of techniques, ask questions, and play with clay!

In addition to class time, students of this class will also have access 2 hours of open lab per week.

Ages: 16-19

Class meets weekly on THURSDAYS

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $275.

No classes Nov. 23 - Nov. 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving. 

Will be available to register on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

In this Level II class students will learn about the magic of soda firing. This is the process of creating a special kiln environment which involves introducing soda ash into the kiln to make an atmosphere that will add glaze to the pieces. Since larger forms tend to warp in the soda kiln, this class will focus on creating smaller to medium sized pieces that have a better chance for survival. No large plates or bowls will be allowed in the firing due to their higher fail rate and the need to prioritize kiln space for smaller pieces. Larger pieces can still be fired in the normal cone 6 reduction kilns. Special attention will be paid to the process of atmospheric firing and how to plan accordingly throughout the class.

The firings throughout this class will be ^10 soda firings.

Ages: 16+

Class meets weekly on THURSDAYS

Note: This class will meet at the MAIN location at 3750 Canfield St. You will only have open lab aaccess at the same studio as your class.

No class Nov. 23 - Nov. 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving.

Will be available to register Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

Bind your very own miniature sketchbook with leather covers. This little gem holds your mini colored pencils and fits in your pocket!

To begin, students will use a Japanese screw punch to make designs in suede leather to create a pattern that will expose the colored pencils. A cardstock spine will be adhered to the leather, then the suede will be folded and sewn to make channels for the mini pencils. The sewing pattern will be punched out of the leather and spine with the screw punch in preparation for sewing the text block.

Next we will fold signatures of sketchbook paper, punch them, and sew them into the suede spine. Ties to close the book can be fashioned out of waxed linen thread.

Note: We'll be taking a break for lunch, so please feel free to bring or pack your meal.

Materials/Equipment to be Provided by Students

• Bonefolder
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Cutting mat
• Awl
• Optional:
  • Japanese screw punch with multiple bits (https://daitool.com/products/nonaka-japanese-screw-punch-multipurpose-hole-puncher-ns-sp) Brenda will bring several punches that students can share if you don’t want to purchase one.

Materials/Equipment to be Provided by Instructor

• Suede leather
• Rainbow pencil set
• Needles
• Waxed linen thread
• Glue
• Glue brush
• Sketchbook paper for pages
• Cardstock for spine pieces
• Japanese screw punch
• Tools to share

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

Will be available to register on Monday, September 21 at 8:00am.

Always wanted to get involved in a pottery studio, but didn't know where to start? This class is a great intro to the studio in 5 short weeks!

This class is intended to get you familiar with the basics of wheel-throwing and hand-building. Students will have 2 weeks of throwing instruction, one week of trimming, one week of hand-building, and one week of glazing. This class is ideal for those who have limited experience and want to learn the basics of the pottery studio, 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 THURSDAYS.

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

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $200

No class Nov. 23 - Nov. 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving. 

Will be available to register on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

Spend the day with Aaron and Dennis making wooden shaping ribs for clay. Aaron will have patterns for tools used in his Japanese style porcelain class, and will speak to how the shapes can be utilized.  Dennis will guide us on proper use of shop tools and discuss properties of different wood species. You are welcome to bring your own patterns and ideas for shaping ribs. We will have enough time and material for you to make 3-4 tools to take home at the end of the day. 

This class has no prerequisites and is open to beginners and seasoned woodworkers alike, but our Wood Studio has 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-toed shoes, a shirt that can be tucked in and either short sleeves, or sleeves that can be rolled up past your elbows. 
• No loose or dangling jewelry.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles and/or full face shields, ear protection, and face masks to cover nose and mouth, but if you have your own PPE you would prefer to use, please do!

Please note that students only have open lab access corresponding to their specific class area (e.g., milling open lab is separate from turning open lab).

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

This delightful style, which dates back to 2nd century Egypt, opens perfectly flat. Creating your book involves sewing folded signatures with linking stitches to produce a braided looking exposed spine sewing structure. We will begin by getting acquainted with paper grain and its importance for the finished book. We will cover the boards of the book with decorative paper and once dry students will pierce the holes in the covers to prepare for sewing. Paper signatures will be folded and pierced and then we'll take a short break for lunch. After lunch we will learn to sew the coptic stitch to bind the book. By the end of the workshop, you will have completed your book, and have the skill to make more on your own. Class fee includes all materials we use to make a book: a sheet of decorative paper to cover boards, paper for your signatures, a pair of pre-cut cover boards, glue, and waxed-linen thread. Students can borrow tools from the BAL or you can bring your own bookbinder's toolkit. Students will need: bonefolder, medium-weight awl, Xacto knife, scissors, ruler, and a bookbinder's needle.

Note: We'll be taking a break for lunch, so please feel free to bring or pack your meal.

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

Will be available to register on Monday, September 21 at 8:00am.

Learn to turn! This class will be an introduction to using the lathe - a machine used for shaping all manner of cylindrical forms (think bowls, vases,  furniture legs, even pens!). 

Over the course of four weeks, you will learn about the tools directly associated with the lathe and their primary uses. From practicing spindle turning to learning how to make bowls, we will learn the two major turning techniques that can be explored to no end with further practice.  This class will be as hands on as any class can, wasting no time before getting students turning with tool in hand (don’t worry, we’ll go over safety basics too). Beyond the basics we will practice, practice, practice. You will not want to turn your machines off!

This class has no prerequisites and is open to beginners and seasoned woodworkers alike, but our Wood Studio has 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-toed shoes, a shirt that can be tucked in and either short sleeves, or sleeves that can be rolled up past your elbows. 
• No loose or dangling jewelry.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles and/or full face shields, ear protection, and face masks to cover nose and mouth, but if you have your own PPE you would prefer to use, please do!

Please note that students only have open lab access corresponding to their specific class area (e.g., milling open lab is separate from turning open lab).

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

These classes include open studio time.

No class Nov. 23 - Nov. 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving.

Will be available to register on Monday, September 21 at 8:00am.