Entry No. 37 — the Anchorage file — filed under: hands-on
Midnight Potter Studios
A small, community-minded wheel-throwing studio run by potter Jenny Ditto, who has about 40 years at the wheel and teaches technique and personal creativity rather than a canned paint-by-numbers project. Adult wheel-throwing is the focus, often by appointment or private lesson, and you'll touch the full arc from throwing to trimming to glazing. They fire low- and mid-range cone 5/6 in electric kilns and keep the vibe welcoming rather than precious. Email ahead to confirm class availability.
The story
Lifelong Alaskan Jenny Ditto first saw a potter's wheel in third grade and spent the next four decades mastering the craft, eventually launching Midnight Potter Studios in Midtown Anchorage. If you flip over a piece of local functional ceramicware in town, there is a good chance you will see 'Ditto' carved right into the clay at the bottom. But her studio at 5861 Arctic Boulevard is not a slick retail gallery or an off-the-shelf paint-by-numbers assembly line—it is a working artist's den built around unpretentious, hands-on instruction.
Instead of handing you pre-made molds or canned craft templates, Ditto focuses on full-process wheel throwing for adults. You start with raw clay, get your hands wet, and learn how to actually center a mass, pull walls, trim bases, and apply glazes. Everything goes through electric kilns fired to low- and mid-range cone 5/6. Because lessons run largely by direct appointment and private sessions, you get direct coaching without having to contend with a crowded room.
What it's like
Look for the blue door on the mountain side of the building complex at 5861 Arctic Boulevard (the same building housing ice cream and rock shops). Inside, the setup is compact and working-focused, filled with wheels, glazes, and raw materials rather than polished showroom decor. Because clay demands drying time between throwing, trimming, and firing, expect your creations to stay behind for electric kiln firings before you return to pick them up. Drop-ins are not available for classes, so email or call ahead to lock in a slot directly.
The move: Spend an evening at adjacent wheels learning to throw and trim bowls under a 35-year potter's eye.
📍 Before you go Class slots are limited and scheduled directly with the studio; pieces are glazed and fired on a later visit.
- 📍 Midtown Anchorage
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5861 Arctic Blvd Unit F, Anchorage, AK 99518
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Nature's Jewels Rock Shop & Lapidary — Shares the very same building complex on Arctic Boulevard, making it seamless to step from working wet clay straight into browsing raw minerals, fossils, and lapidary cuts.
- Get Scent Studio — Located just half a mile down Arctic Boulevard, perfect for pairing a pottery session with custom soy candle blending.
- The Stranded Starfish — Under two miles south, offering a complementary hands-on workshop where you cut, grind, and solder custom stained glass panels.
- Alaska Fur Exchange — A short drive over to Old Seward Highway to transition from clay throwing to exploring stacks of antlers, hides, and mastodon bone fossils.
Good to know
Do I need prior wheel-throwing experience to take a lesson?
No, beginner instruction covers foundational wheel techniques step-by-step, starting with centering raw clay.
Can I take my pottery home on the day of my class?
No, pieces require time to dry completely before going through initial bisque and final cone 5/6 glaze firings, requiring a follow-up visit.
How do I book a class or private lesson?
Sessions are scheduled directly with the studio by appointment, so you must email or call ahead to confirm availability.
Where is the studio entrance located?
The studio is located at 5861 Arctic Boulevard; enter through the blue door on the east (mountain-facing) side of the building.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: midnightpotter.weebly.com · clayartspace.com
last checked: 2026-06-23