• We hope you have enjoyed the first class of the Summer session. Thank you for joining us!
• Open Studio Reminders:
  • Open Studio is extra time we offer our students, if the Studio is available. You may attend one open studio time per week of class, starting the weekend AFTER the first week of classes and continuing through to the weekend after the last week of classes. However, availability of time slots is subject to change and are not guaranteed, depending on Studio availability.
  • If you are a new student and have not attended your first class yet, please wait to attend Open Studio until you have been to your first class.
  •  If you sign up for an open studio slot and cannot make it, please sign on to Sign Up Genius again to remove your name from the list, opening availability for other students on the waitlist. You can also cancel your reservation through your open studio sign up confirmation email.
  • Please only sign up for one day. You must receive permission from the office to sign up for two open studio spots. 
  • Handbuilders sign up for handbuilding slots and Wheel Throwers sign up for wheel spots.
• IMPORTANT OPEN STUDIO UPDATE: starting NEXT WEEK, Sunday July 19th we will be changing the regular Open Studio time to 5:30pm – 7:30pm. This will remain the time for Sunday Open Studio until further notice!
  • This week, July 12th the Sunday Open Studio time will stay 10am – 12pm.
  • All Saturdays will continue to run 10am – 12pm

Pottery Studio News

• the Understanding Mayco Glazes Workshop is this Sunday, July 12th! Those who participate will be given exclusive access to the Mayco glazes left for us after the workshop. Reminder: it suggested, but not required to have up to 3 bisque-ware pieces to test on! Sign up now!

• This was the last week of the Spring 2 session (Sunday and Monday students, you have one more class this Sunday and Monday!)
• FIRING FEES ARE DUE IN YOUR LAST CLASS! If you have had your last class and have not already paid your firing fees, please pay now!
  • Students are responsible for totaling up your own firing fees. If you did not attend your last class, please come in some time this week to total up your final amount, or email us and we can send a picture of your sheet. Thank you.

Open Studio

• There is regular open studio this weekend, for Spring 2 students.
  • Wheel throwers: if you are only glazing, please sign up for a handbuilding OS slot.
• Additionally: we have added TWO extra Open Studio sessions this coming Thursday, July 2nd 9:30am-11:30am or 6pm-8pm. This is to help accommodate any last-minute makeup sessions for students and to help with any end of session final touches, especially for those going away over the Summer.
  • Students may sign up for one open studio per class, as usual. You may sign up for any one time slot across any of the 6 offered OS times this week (Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues/Thursx2)
  • If you have a makeup you would like to use during this last week of OS, you must contact the office for approval before signing up for an extra open studio.

Summer

• Summer Classes start July 5th!
  • Classes run July 5th – August 28th
• If you are not returning for the Summer session, have a great Summer! We hope to see you again in the Fall. We will touch base sometime in August as we start Fall registration.
  • You should not have any greenware pieces after this week, if you are not returning next session. If you have any bisqueware or glaze going in the kilns after your last class/open studio, you may come by the studio during our open hours this summer to pick them up!

• Next Week is the last week of the Spring 2 session!
  • Except for Sunday and Monday classes: your last day of class will be June 28th or 29th respectively.
• There WILL be Open Studio next weekend (6/26-6/30)
• There will be no Open Studio 7/4-7/7
• FIRING FEES ARE DUE IN YOUR LAST CLASS! Please plan to bring your preferred method of payment to class. We ask that you total up your final amount due and pay DURING your final class.
  • We sent an email with details on how to pay your firing fees earlier this morning. Please refer to that email for all information regarding firing fees!
  • Students are responsible for totaling up your own firing fees. If you do not plan to attend your last class, please plan to come in to total up your final amount. Please email us with any questions.
  • There are signs with the QR codes to Railyard’s Venmo and Zelle in both the pottery & handbuilding room. If you are paying with cash or check, please put in the envelope on the desk with a note including your name, class/teacher & amount paid. No change, please round up or down.
  • If you prefer to pay with credit card, please let us know the amount to charge and we can charge your card on file, plus the processing fee!
• Looking to up your Glazing game this Summer? Join Mindy’s workshop, back by popular demand. Learn more and sign up here: https://railyardartsstudio.com/product/glazing-techniques-peacock-and-ombre-glazing-august/

There is regularly scheduled Open Studio this weekend.

Reminder: the automatic charge date to register for the Summer session is coming up soon! Please refer to the email you received for more info! If you want to take the Summer off, please notify us asap!

Pottery Studio News

• We switched the glaze Marshmallow Matte White from “store bought” to “made in house”. Glaze combos may differ.

There is no Open Studio this weekend and the Studio will be closed to students through Monday 5/25.
Classes will resume on Tuesday 5/26, but there will be no Open Studio.

Pottery Studio News

• Please do not bring home communal supplies, especially wareboards. These are for use at the studio only as they are for all to use! We are missing most of our wareboards at this time, so if you did bring one home, please return asap! Thank you.
• Railyard Arts is on the town septic system and if clay goes down the sinks, it can be very bad for the pipes and system overall. Please be mindful of how you clean your tools when using the sinks, and make sure to use the red bucket for excess wet clay after you clear the slop into the slop tray. You should have received an email regarding this matter, please refer to it for full instructions on safe cleaning procedures.
• You may also refer to our Instructional Pottery Videos on our website for more info: https://railyardartsstudio.com/pottery-instructional-videos/

Pottery Studio News

• We need everyone to be more mindful of how the clay recycling bins are being used. Please wedge all soft, usable clay together and place it in the large clay bin under the wedging table.
  • Only clay that is too hard to throw with should go into the small recycling bin next to it.
  • Please do not place small loose pieces into the large clay bin. Wedge smaller pieces together into usable-sized amounts so others can easily use the recycled clay.
  • Thank you for helping support our studio community by taking the time to properly wedge and recycle clay for others to use.
• If you have newspaper at home to recycle, we could use more newspaper here at the Studio. Feel free to bring in for Pottery room use. (No magazines or non-newspaper ads please!)

Upcoming Specialty Pottery Workshops: Save the date(s)!
We are excited to offer some special pottery opportunities here at the Studio this Summer. These will be open to our students & members/staff for priority acces, so be sure to keep an eye out for more information and to the link to register!
– Allison Palmer: Lidded box (spots very limited!)
Saturday & Sunday, August 15-16th, 10:00am-5:00pm both days
Alison Palmer will be coming to Railyard Arts Studio Saturday & Sunday August 15th-16th for a two-day handbuilding workshop. In this workshop, we will spend two days constructing and sculpting extraordinary boxes that will tell a personal story.
– Understanding Mayco Glazes
July 12th, Four 1.5hr sessions available (sign up for one!)
Join Todd Hickerson for hands-on projects using some of Mayco’s newest 2026 glazes! Level up your pieces with new Stoneware glazes, Fluxes, Stroke and Coats, and Fundamentals Underglazes, while learning best practices with Mayco products.  More information & sign up information coming soon!

• We hope you have enjoyed the first class of the Spring 2 session. Thank you for joining us!
• Open Studio Reminders:
  • If you are a new student and have not attended your first class yet, please wait to attend Open Studio until you have been to your first class.
  •  If you sign up for an open studio slot and cannot make it, please sign on to Sign Up Genius again to remove your name from the list, opening availability for other students on the waitlist. You can also cancel your reservation through your open studio sign up confirmation email.
  • Please only sign up for one day. You must receive permission from the office to sign up for two open studio spots. 
  • Handbuilders sign up for handbuilding slots and Wheel Throwers sign up for wheel spots.
• Note: there is NO Open Studio this Saturday, May 9th. Regular open studio times will continue Sunday-Tuesday.
  • Please only sign up for one spot!
• The Studio will be closed tonight, May 8th starting at 4pm – the end of Saturday, May 9th.
• Come visit our Petals & Pots event this Saturday for flowers & gifts for Mom (or anyone special in your life!)

Pottery Studio News

• Great news: we have a new, more stable pink glaze for our potters to use! Check out “Cherry Blossom” and enjoy!
• We have a new Studio tech intern: Alex. Please feel free to say hi if you see him around the studio this month!

• This was the last week of the Spring 1 session (Sunday students, you have one more class this Sunday!)
• FIRING FEES ARE DUE IN YOUR LAST CLASS! If you have had your last class and have not already paid your firing fees, please pay now!
  • Students are responsible for totaling up your own firing fees. If you did not attend your last class, please come in sometime this week to total up your final amount, or email us and we can send a picture of your sheet. Thank you.
  • If you do not pay by the end of today- we will charge your card on file the amount calculated on your sheet.
• There is regular open studio this weekend, for Spring 1 students.
  • Wheel throwers: if you are only glazing, please sign up for a handbuilding OS slot.
• Spring 2 Classes start this Monday, May 4th!
  • Classes run May 4th – June 29th, no classes May 24-25
  • There is NO Open Studio Saturday May 9th. The Studio will be closed for our Petals & Pots event. We hope to see you there!
• For those of you joining us for the Spring 2 session, we have a couple of add-on pottery classes with space available!
  • Making the table Part 2: Beyond the Basics (May 5th-26th): Create the pieces that bring a table to life with Railyard Arts Owner & Founder Jill Leary; one thoughtfully made form at a time.  https://railyardartsstudio.com/product/making-the-table/
  • Spare Wheel, a supplemental wheel class ages 16+: Thursdays 4pm – 6pm for Spring 2 students only! Please email us for more info.
  • Wednesday Handbuilding, 1pm – 4pm: learn even more about clay and how to use sculpture and handbuliding techniques to expand your clay work! Taught by Althea Llewellyn. https://railyardartsstudio.com/product/wednesday-afternoon-handbuilding-sculpture-spring-2/
• There has been some question about what to pay for test tiles. Test tiles should be recorded as follows: anything measured around 2x2x2: 50 cents. Any test tiles measured larger (ie pinch pots): please measure & record as usual.

• Next Week is the last week of the Spring 1 session
• FIRING FEES ARE DUE IN YOUR LAST CLASS! Please plan to bring your preferred method of payment to class. We ask that you total up your final amount due and pay DURING your final class.
  • We sent an email with details on how to pay your firing fees earlier this morning. Please refer to that email for all information regarding firing fees!
  • Students are responsible for totaling up your own firing fees. If you do not plan to attend your last class, please plan to come in to total up your final amount. Please email us with any questions.
  • There are signs with the QR codes to Railyard’s Venmo and Zelle in both the pottery & handbuilding room. If you are paying with cash or check, please put in the envelope on the desk with a note including your name, class/teacher & amount paid. No change, please round up or down.
  • If you prefer to pay with credit card, please let us know the amount to charge and we can charge your card on file, plus the processing fee!
• There is no break between sessions! If you are joining us for the Spring 2 session, classes begin on Monday, May 4th!

Studio Note: we are missing a number of ware boards. If you brought any home, please return as soon as possible! These are communal boards for usage by all students and members and we ask that they do not go home with you.
Please avoid taking other communal supplies home, such as: microfiber towels, scissors, tools etc.

All Spring 2 Classes now open for general registration online!
Spring 2 dates: May 4th – June 29th (no class May 24th & 25th)

We are offering a supplemental wheel class on Thursdays 4pm – 6pm as an add-on for those adult students currently enrolled in another pottery class. This is combined with the Teen Wheel class (ages 16+), taught by Amy Menasche and is offered for current students in either wheel or handbuilding to learn on the wheel, or continue building on what you are learning in your regular class. If this class interests you, please email us to learn more and sign up! Spots are limited.

THIS WEEKEND!
Special Event in the Art Gallery this April: Animal Matters New Watercolor Paintings by RA Member and former teacher Maria Kaprielian.
Opening Saturday, April 18th 1pm – 4pm
(Other viewing times: April 19th 1-4pm, and 25th and 26th 3-6pm