Earth
Your Guide To All Things Earth
Learn To Work With Materials From The Earth
Everything we make starts with the earth—but in these specific areas of study, artisans work more directly with materials taken directly from nature.
In these guides, we collect the expertise of our 150+ faculty and master craftspeople to share with anyone interested in learning how to make their own objects by hand. Explore our Ceramics, Fire & Performance, Leatherworking, Stoneworking, Textiles, and Woodworking Departments. You will learn everything from how to make a wooden bench to how to dance with fire.
Guide to Ceramic Wheel Throwing
Learn exactly what tools and supplies you need to start wheel throwing pottery. Get the inside scoop from our Ceramics Department....
How To Make Pottery At Home: Materials, Equipment, & Steps
There are many different types of pottery and ways to learn ceramics. Here, we outline different types of clay and how to learn ceramics....
Woodworking Finishing Techniques
In this guide, we cover the essential woodworking finishing techniques that you need to finish your woodworking projects....
Woodworking Techniques & Tips for Beginners
This guide will show you exactly how to start woodworking—from the fundamentals to exactly what tools you need to become a woodworker....
Beginners Guide to Indigo Dyeing
Start indigo dyeing with this essential guide that covers the different types of indigo vats, fabric to dye, and how to mix a vat....
Woodworking 101: A Beginners Guide to Getting Started
This guide will show you exactly how to start woodworking—from the fundamentals to exactly what tools you need to become a woodworker....
Leatherworking 101: A how-to guide to learning leather crafting
Learn how to start leatherworking in this essential guide that covers the different types of leather, basic skills, project ideas, and more....
How To Glaze Pottery: Guide To Ceramics Glazing | The Crucible
This step-by-step guide covers how to glaze ceramics in a traditional and DIY kiln, along with different types of glazes and their uses....
Guide to Ceramics: Types, Materials, & How-To Learn
There are many different types of pottery and ways to learn ceramics. Here, we outline different types of clay and how to learn ceramics....
Guide to Handbuilding Pottery
Learn exactly what tools and supplies you need to start handbuilding pottery. Get the inside scoop from our Ceramics Department....
Explore Other Mediums
The Crucible is the largest industrial arts nonprofit in the country, where we offer classes and studio time in 19+ areas. In these guides, we break down our studio areas and focus on sharing the knowledge of our instructors with you. You can explore our guides, defined by our four main areas: Earth, Glass, Metal, and Machine.
Want to Learn Something You Don’t See Here?
The Crucible’s Guides are a work in progress. We are constantly working to provide the most up-to-date, informative guides to the industrial arts. Let us know what guides you would like to see by filling out the form below.
Ready to get started?
The Crucible has new classes offered weekly.
Youth Mexican Tin Art
Learn how to create tin art inspired by repujado and hojalata done in Mexico. After a brief history of the tradtional cultural practice and demonstration of techniques, emboss your...
Stone Carving II
In this focused class, students will recreate a leaf in limestone using mallet and chisels. They will start by making a basic model of a leaf in wet clay to show depth and movement...
Throwing in Sections
In this intermediate to advanced class we will explore throwing large forms in parts on the wheel using measurements and heat to assemble a large pot! Students will then return the...
Pate-de-Verre Ornaments
One of the earliest techniques of glass manipulation, pâte-de-verre or “paste of glass” is a versatile kiln casting technique that uses glass paste. In this ornament focused...
Ceramic Ornaments
Glaze your own ornaments to give to your loved ones! You will select three pre-fired ornaments to paint and glaze, learning about glazing techniques and color application. After...
3-Hour Taster: Framed Milagros
Design and fabricate framed Milagros inspired by traditional Mexican artwork and iconography. Create metal imagery like hearts, hands, and nature honoring the special moments in...
Kiln Cast Glass Sculpture
Create one of a kind glass sculpture using wet clay. We will use ceramic sculpting techniques to create a solid shape that will be transformed into glass. Learn the basic skills...
Sand Blasting Imagery on Glass
Come learn some of the many ways we can use the sandblaster to etch images onto glass. In this three week intensive you will learn design principles for transferring images onto...
Youth Chibi: Miniature Figurines Weekend
Learn the basics of preparing, shaping, sculpting, cane making, and baking polymer clay. Use brightly colored clay to make small sculptures known as chibis, incorporating them into...
Youth Sandblasting
In this fun class you will use the Crucible cold shop to etch onto your own glass dishes and drink ware. You will learn to express your ideas in graphic images, how to hand and...
Exploration in Sand Casting
Learn the art of creating sand molds for casting hot glass into solid glass sculptures. Students explore various ways to work with ladle-cast glass, including using graphite blocks...
Pate-de-Verre Glass Bowls
One of the earliest techniques of glass manipulation, Pate-de-verre or “paste of glass,” is a versatile kiln casting technique that uses glass particles, mixed with a binder, and...
Lost Wax Kiln Cast Glass Sculpture
Make sculptural glass forms using the versatile lost wax technique. We will create a wax sculpture and cover it with refractory material to make our mold. The mold will be de-waxed...
20 Shades of Grey: Medieval Enameling Techniques
Often associated with medieval French enameling, grisaille (grey) is the application of white enamel to a black enamel background, creating halftones and shading. Light areas of...
Youth Glass Beads, Bugs, and Monsters!
Students will be taken on a journey to explore colorful glass beads, bugs, and monsters with crazy eyes and wacky facial expressions, using an oxy-propane torch. We will cover bead...
