The best pottery classes in Los Angeles

Dive into the wonderful world of pottery with the fun and beginner-friendly Wheel Throwing 101 at Clay CA. You don’t need to have any prior experience – just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to create. You’ll learn all the essentials of wheel throwing, from centering to pulling the walls, and you’ll enjoy expert guidance every step of the way. All materials and equipment are provided, so you can focus on unleashing your creativity. After class, your masterpiece will dry for a few days, then go through a series of firings and glazing in the kiln before it’s ready for you to take home. All glazes and clay bodies are food-safe, so your functional pieces are beautiful and practical.

Enjoy a relaxing evening of clay play under the open sky as you learn hand building and wheel throwing techniques and craft personalized functional or sculptural pieces. No experience? No problem. Ceramics Workshop: Clay Date at Blue Barn City Farm focuses on basic techniques. You’ll leave with one to three unique creations, and maybe even a functional mug (or three). All necessary supplies are provided, just show up ready to relax, socialize, and create something truly special.

Whether you are a beginner or advanced potter, you can find a class to fit your needs at the Claytivity Pottery Studio in Los Angeles. They offer courses, for complete beginners and seasoned pros, in wheel throwing, handbuilding, slip casting and more, with locations in Burbank, Frogtown and Sunset. All of the classes are hands-on experiences that will see you working on your own personal project with the guidance of experienced artists and instructors and you can also have your work glazed and fired at any of the studios. Kids classes are also available for anyone looking to introduce their child to a new, plastic art.

Situated in the vibrant neighborhood of Frogtown, Los Angeles, Sooki Studio stands as a beacon for artistic exploration and community cohesion. Their diverse array of workshops, carefully crafted to accommodate varying skill levels and age demographics, provide an avenue for individuals to delve into the enriching world of ceramics. Whether partaking in beginner-friendly sessions or refining techniques in intermediate workshops guided by seasoned artists, participants are invited to discover the joy of crafting in a supportive and inclusive environment. Join them in celebrating the transformative power of creativity and camaraderie, and embark on a journey of personal growth and mental well-being through the art of ceramics.

Located in downtown Los Angeles, Still Life is a ceramics studio focused on developing the skills of amateur potters, professional artists and entrepreneurs working in the field of ceramics. Their classes are taught by skilled potters and cover the basics of everything from hand clay modeling to wheel throwing. In addition to regular classes, they are also a full-service ceramics business, perfect for helping you get the supplies (and finished products you need) and they have developed a gallery space to put on exhibitions from local artists. They aim to help develop the community of artists and potters in LA and their classes are perfect for students of all skill levels.

Once you are more comfortable with the art of pottery and you want to work on more elaborate wheel throwing techniques, consider enrolling in this intermediate intensive course. You don’t need any experience to participate in this four-week immersive pottery class and by the time you are done, you’ll have your own collection of finished projects to decorate your home or put to practical use in your kitchen or living room. You’ll handle everything from the initial steps of shaping the clay to the glazing process (though the school will handle the firing) and you’ll leave the class ready to tackle any pottery project.

Skip the pottery wheel and learn how to hand build ceramics in this accessible beginner-friendly course aimed at teaching students how to mold and work with hand clay. In this class, you’ll get expert instruction and focused feedback as you work to create a pitcher, jar or platter, giving you a sample of the kinds of practical projects you can work on in a pottery course. No experience is necessary and since this course focuses on using air drying hand clay, there is no need for expensive and time consuming workshop time to fire it in a kiln.

Learn the art of ceramic slump molding with this three-week introductory course. You’ll learn to replicate forms like bowls to vases with precision and consistency using plaster mixtures. This hands-on class provides expert instruction and all the materials needed for ample practice and creative exploration. Slump molds can be made in various shapes and sizes to capture your design ideas and artistic expression. You’ll be able to create functional or decorative pieces with specific and consistent results. With 24-hour access to the studio for practice, this course provides the perfect opportunity to hone your skills and unleash your creativity.

Join a hands-on adventure in artistic expression in this introductory sculpting course. With expert instructors,  you'll master fundamental techniques like slipping, scoring, coil building, and slab building. No experience is needed – this beginner-friendly class is perfect for unleashing your creativity in a supportive environment. In just two hours, your instructor will walk you through each step so you’ll have a seamless and fulfilling experience. All materials and glazes are provided -- just bring yourself and get ready to sculpt your way to fun and creativity.

Take a creative journey with renowned artist Jotham Hung and explore the world of ceramics. From sculptural forms to traditional tea bowls, you’ll elevate your skills in wheel-throwing and unleash your creativity. In this immersive experience, clay meets storytelling. You’ll challenge yourself to approach the potter’s wheel in new ways, exploring techniques like throwing off-the-hump to create larger and more sculptural pieces. Get ready to craft your own series of chawan and yunomi using this unique process. Throw and shape your way through four weeks of creative exploration and artistic growth.

Uncover the ancient secrets of coil building in this four-week immersive workshop. In this class, you’ll dive into the timeless techniques used since the dawn of pottery as a practical artform to build medium to large-scale vessels. This method is perfect if you have a passion for sculptural expression. Here, you’ll work on the necessary skills required to create stunning clay pots using this ancient technique. The course is Ideal for those aspiring to craft larger, more abstract forms, and those looking to combine practical functionality with their artistic exploration and expression.

If you are looking to use clay to create large vessels in the vein of decorative pots and replicate Grecian vases, this method is the best and most efficient way to learn these skills. This method is among the oldest practical crafting artforms in human history (we needed large pots in order to stay in one place and farm) and it is still in use today. No matter if your goal is crafting grand sculptures or intricate miniatures, this class will give you the opportunity to explore your creative potential.

In Ceramics: Clay Sculpting at Los Angeles City College, you’ll dive into the imaginative world of sculpting with clay. You’re sure to have a blast as you explore the versatility of clay and learn how to sculpt intricate three-dimensional forms. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this class is perfect for anyone eager to get their hands dirty and create stunning ceramic pieces. You'll explore the techniques of hand-building and clay decorating and turn your ideas into tangible works of art. Clay and glazes will be provided, so you can focus on crafting to your heart's content.

Claytivity is a studio focused on helping anyone from beginners to pottery professionals find a place to express themselves and join in on the love of pottery and ceramics. They host a multitude of classes and workshops from wheel throwing to slip casting, and are one of the few studios which regularly hosts kids classes as well. With multiple locations in LA and a studio in Burbank, they’re a convenient place to join a warm and welcoming arts community. https://timeout.coursehorse.com/los-angeles/classes?school=claytivity