HomeBecome a Member

Interested in Joining the Pottery Club

We welcome new members and are always happy to answer questions and/or offer advice and encouragement. We pride ourselves on having a friendly, creative environment. The more time you spend in the studio, the more you can find inspiration and learn from others.

Membership Policy

Membership is open to all residents of Saddlebrooke HOA1 and HOA2. However, because of facility constraints we are limited to the number of new members we can add per calendar quarter. Individuals are considered for membership on a first-come, first-served basis. If the number of new members exceeds facility constraints, interested candidates may choose to have their application deferred to the next quarter.

Before Exploring Membership

We strongly encourage you to take the time to review the Frequently Asked Questions section. Select FAQ from the menu line at the top of this page.

If you are new to ‘working with clay’, please read Getting Started with Clay in the adjacent column.

How to Join the Pottery Club

Email your request to the Membership Director at Membershipdir@SBPottery.org. (If this link will not open, copy and paste to your browsers address bar.)
Include your name, phone number and email address. Please include a brief description of any prior experience working with clay.
The Membership Director will contact you to schedule a brief introductory meeting to provide you with an overview of the club and answer any questions you may have.
If, at the conclusion of the introductory meeting you would like to join the club, you will be given a Membership Application and scheduled for a Studio Orientation that includes a tour and comprehensive review of club operations.
During the Studio Orientation, your completed application with a check to cover your dues and application fee are collected and you will be receive a studio key and clay storage bin.

Getting Started with Clay

Although the Club does not offer ‘getting started’ classes for new members with no prior experience, there are a number of avenues available for learning. Some prospective potters start out using instructional books and online videos, experimentation, and then practice, practice, practice. Others choose to take beginner classes at outside venues, and then use the Saddlebrooke club studio to work on their skills and try new things. In studio, pay attention and learn from observing other members and asking question when you’re stumped.

Whatever the approach, pottery takes time—usually more than newcomers realize. Clay has its own schedule; multiple steps are involved in creating and finishing a project. Most potters find that a typical working session lasts 3-4 hours in the studio, to set up, gather tools, prepare clay (wedging, slab rolling), work on a project, and leave adequate time for clean-up.

It’s best to start out doing simple projects, before taking on more complex ones. This way you’ll build your skills, become accustomed to the idiosyncrasies of the clay, and enjoy early success.