Wheel Throwing Boot Camp
With Nick DeVries
June 6 - 11, 2027
Ready to seriously strengthen your skills at the wheel? Join Nick DeVries for an intensive week of throwing, repetition, experimentation, and skill-building designed to help you become a stronger and more confident potter.
Wheel Throwing Boot Camp takes a different approach from a traditional ceramics workshop: the goal isn’t to make finished pots—it’s to become better at making them.
Throughout the week, participants will throw a high volume of work while focusing on the fundamental movements and techniques that lead to greater consistency, efficiency, and control at the wheel. Nick will lead demonstrations, exercises, and individual instruction designed to help participants identify habits, troubleshoot challenges, and push beyond their current abilities.
Central to the workshop is a “make it and break it” mindset. Rather than becoming attached to individual pots, participants will cut work apart, recycle clay, and throw again. Examining thrown forms in cross-section provides an opportunity to see wall thickness, compression, weight distribution, and other details that can be difficult to understand from the outside of a finished pot.
No work made during this workshop will be kept or fired. Instead, clay will continually be reclaimed and returned to the studio for more throwing. Removing the pressure to produce finished work gives participants the freedom to take risks, make mistakes, repeat forms, and concentrate entirely on developing their skills.
Expect a physically active week with lots of throwing, lots of clay, lots of demonstrations, and lots of repetition. Participants should arrive ready to challenge themselves and leave with techniques and habits they can continue practicing long after the workshop ends.
Materials To Bring
- Favorite personal throwing tools, if desired
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Schedule:
Sunday
- 4:00–5:00 PM: Check-In at Adamah Retreat Center
- 5:00–6:00 PM: Welcome Dinner
- 6:00 PM–Evening — Introductions, Workshop Overview & Get Settled
Monday
- 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00–5:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner
- 6:00 PM–Evening: Open Studio Time/Hiking/Explore
Tuesday
- 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00–5:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner
- 6:00 PM–Evening: Open Studio Time/Hiking/Explore
Wednesday
- 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00–5:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- Evening: Chef’s Night Off — explore the area and enjoy dinner on your own!
- After Dinner: Open Studio Time/Hiking/Explore
Thursday
- 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00–5:00 PM: Demos & Studio Time
- 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner
- 6:00 PM–Evening: Open Studio Time/Hiking/Explore
Friday
- 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00–10:30 AM: Final Making & Refining
- 10:30 AM–12:00 PM: Group Critique, Discussion & Workshop Wrap-Up
- 12:00 PM: Workshop Ends
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View frequently asked questions here!
Instructor
Nick DeVries has been working in ceramics for the past 19 years. He studied at St John’s University where, in 2001, he finished a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, with a concentration in painting and ceramics. Since his college years Nick has worked as a production potter for a Minneapolis bases pottery, taught courses at the Edina Art Center and Northern Clay Center, and has pursued his own studio ceramic work. He exhibits his work in galleries nationally. Currently he lives in Brainerd MN where he works full time as a ceramic artist. DeVries is represented by ceramics galleries nationally and…
Learn more about Nick DeVries