Firebox Instructor
David LaPierre
David has worked in clay for 50 years and taught wheel throwing for more than three decades. His practice centers on porcelain, classical open and closed forms, mid-century design, surface texture, altered forms, and alternative firing techniques.
About The Artist
Five Decades In Clay
David fell in love with clay in 1976 while working with Al Blanchard of East Hampton High School. He holds a BFA in ceramics from UConn. He served as studio manager at Wesleyan Pottery Association and took workshops with Ruth Duckworth, Don Reitz, Toshiko Takaezu, Betty Woodman, and Cynthia Bringle. In the late seventies, he apprenticed in England with Jim Creswell, a student of Lucie Rie.
For over 30 years, David has taught wheel classes at Mudflat Pottery School. For the last 10 years, he has also taught intermediate and advanced wheel at Community Kiln and previously taught at the Danforth Museum School. His work has been exhibited at Somerville Open Studios, Studio 314 in Boston, the State of Clay 6th Biennial, and across the Boston area. Funded by various grants, he has offered Raku workshops at Brandeis University, the Corwin-Russell School at Broccoli Hall, the Waldorf School in Waltham, and through Raku Maynard.
From The Studio
Form, Surface & Sculpture
In The Classroom
Teaching Approach
Both working with clay and teaching are my passion. With 30 years of teaching experience, I love working individually with each one of my students, meeting them where they are in terms of their skill level and helping them to elevate their mastery of technique, form and design in clay. My teaching weaves together discussions of aesthetics and the history of clay.
Through my teaching I hope to inspire each student to become the best potter they can be and to bring their own individuality and spirit to their clay work. My goal is to impart a meaningful skill set so that each student may confidently move forward creating the work they design.
Learn With David
Fall 2026 Courses
Intermediate / Advanced Wheel — Wednesday
In this 10 week intermediate/advanced wheel throwing class, each student will work collaboratively with me to assess and define your level of throwing skills and techniques and create an individualized plan for how you wish to grow as a potter. Throughout these 10 weeks you will receive hands-on demonstrations of technique and individualized support to improve your skills. Across the semester students will be exposed to and learn throwing off the hump, throwing taller and bulbous forms, sectional construction of vessels, making covered jars and lids, surface decoration, glazing techniques, and trimming concepts.
Intermediate / Advanced Wheel — Thursday
In this 10 week intermediate/advanced wheel throwing class, each student will work collaboratively with me to assess and define your level of throwing skills and techniques and create an individualized plan for how you wish to grow as a potter. Throughout these 10 weeks you will receive hands-on demonstrations of technique and individualized support to improve your skills. Across the semester students will be exposed to and learn throwing off the hump, throwing taller and bulbous forms, sectional construction of vessels, making covered jars and lids, surface decoration, glazing techniques, and trimming concepts.
Japanese-American Raku
In this 7 session intensive course for advanced beginner, intermediate and/or advanced wheel students, we will explore the principles, aesthetics, and forms of Japanese and American Raku. We will create vessels such as tea bowls, water jars, cylinder and trumpet vases, and/or abstract or sculptural forms. We will also learn about Raku glaze techniques and attend and participate in an outdoor Japanese-American Raku firing process. Students can expect to create at least 3-8 pieces for this intensive.