I never knew I would be hooked up with pottery for this long when I first went there for a one time class through Groupon. My first class was in December and I took a month-long-workshop twice then became member since March. Once I started the workshop, I could go to the studio to practice during their business hours without any additional charge and ask anything to the manager or owner about pottery. They are always willing to answer to any stupid little questions from a newbie like me and it helped me a lot! Membership or month-long-workshop is very affordable and members and staff are really nice too. I love this place! read more

I had never really thought about pottery throwing until a friend suggested she wanted to try ceramics. So armed with a livingsocial deal (they pop up quite frequently), we went on a recent Sunday to try our hand at the Intro to Throwing class. The class had 8 students in it, so it was a good size. We started off learning about the clay, how to get the bubbles out, and to pound it to get a nice size amount to work with on the wheel. Once we had created 4-5 clay balls, we went to the wheel where there were several shaping tools, water, towels and the wheel itself. She taught us how to throw the clay onto the wheel, how to add just the right amount of water. and how to use the pedal to control the speed of the wheel. I had more errors than mistakes, and was eternally grateful for the resident artist who saw me struggling and helped me out! I ended creating 3 pieces, one of which I chose to get fired. My clothes certainly got dirty and my arms were tired. It's a physical hobby, for sure! We had the option to get additional pieces fired and trimmed, for $5 each. There were a variety of glazes to choose from. The pieces were expected to be available 5 weeks after the class, but it's close to 2 months now and I haven't heard if it is ready yet. For $30 you get a fun class and a piece of your own creation! Great for dates and for friends! read more

This place is awesome! I came here recently (thanks to Living Social that introduced me to this place) with my mom who majored in ceramics about 30some years ago & my sister who was trying for the first time! I also have taken ceramic classes back in the day about 10years ago, so it was a special outing for the ladies in my family. The classes were too full from way in advance but they extended my deal with reserving the class 3-months prior. Overall, everyone here was super friendly, especially out instructor Sara! During our two-hour beginner's class, they taught us how to take the air out of clay, how to spin the wheel, how to make few things from bowls to vases and let us just have fun doing our own thing! I liked that the class was pretty intimate and you were able to ask questions on your own & ask for help if needed! I just wish that they had a parking lot available or some type of validation because I drove around many times. I suggest that you park in the lot across from Clay because the structure nearby is too pricey & street parking is only up to 2hours which might not be enough. I can't wait to return here because their classes are so affordable even if you were to purchase them directly from Clay! It's also only $5 additional if you want to keep the piece you make -- trimming & firing and all included! I highly recommend Clay to anyone who wants to spin the wheel like the scene from Ghost or anyone who wants to make a special piece all by themselves which they can keep for a long time! read more

My girlfriend bought me the one month membership as a present and I didn't know much about the store or pottery. Since then, I signed up for a second month and I've become completely hooked on making pottery.it's not easy so I think it's important to take advantage of their classes, but I've made some works now that I'm really happy with. Clay, the owner is really knowledgeable about pottery and the science behind it. He's a great teacher and I hope to learn a lot more. Also, I read the one star review and I think it's really unfair. Glazes can be tough to work with based on the clay your using (there's a lot to choose from) so I think you have to experiment and not go by just one piece. read more

I found a groupon deal for a one day class and decided to take it. I am new to Long Beach and wanted to get out there and have some fun. And boy, am I glad I did! Parking is a bit difficult so I would leave about 15-20 minutes earlier just for that! When I walked it, the place was pretty small but had a lot of different kinds of pottery and ceramics. They all had beautiful imperfections and coloring and all were just unique. If I had more money, I would have definitely purchased some! I met Savannah and she is an incredible woman! She was very friendly and talkative so there was never an awkward silence. She gave out a lot of information and was happy to answer all of the students' questions. We were able to make four pieces. I had to get used to shaping and manipulating the clay with the first two but after that I had so much fun playing with shapes. Savannah is a great teacher--she would walk around and help you out with anything that may not be working out so well. She also did demonstrations of what we wanted to see. She showed how to make a bowl, a globe (my suggestion! :D), etc. **Just remember to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty--from head to toe! Oh! And clip your nails beforehand!** I decided to keep one of my pieces--it was only $5.00 for a finish and color! I would really love to go back for the other classes! read more

Had a great 1st lesson! I wish I didn't press my hand so hard onto the wheel because I scraped after the 1st pot. Will be picking up a couple of the pots my boyfriend and I made later on. Definitely recommend coming here to try out a lesson if you haven't before. read more

Clay - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

We took a Groupon class first week in Oct. Was told it would take 6-8 weeks to be ready. After many attempts of calls w/ vm being full and emails with no answer in late Nov we were told they "needed to be located and than fired". Here we are in Jan.....got all but two! One is broken and one has not even been fired. After all is said and done we were only refunded for the 2 firing charges. We not recommend. Seems they were not able to handle the Groupon response :( read more

Clay - These were all our pieces. We gave them a lot of business. - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

My fiance and I just took their open session class yesterday using our livingsocial deal we had purchased. They have maximum capacity of 7 people per class. We went in for the 2nd class on Sunday and we got super lucky. We only had 3 people in the class, so we got lots of attention from our instructor Lisa. She first taught us how to knead the clay to make the molecules moving inside the clay. Then unto the spinning wheel we went. She showed us demonstrations of how to do each step to make your clay looking like a piece of pottery. The class was 2 hours and my fiance and I had a wonderful time. We decided to take home our creations but additional fee was included in the livingsocial deal. Since I wanted to take home 2 of mine, I just paid additional $5 for the second piece. They are going to fire and color them for us. We just have to go pick them up in a month or so when they are ready. Can't wait to see how they turned out!! Few things to note: - Before you start, remove your rings on your fingers - You will get clay on your clothes (sometimes shoes too) during the session so be sure to wear something you don't mind getting clay on read more

Came here with the discount and learned a lot about this place, it's soooo cool, the concept of it all. My gf and I had fun learning about how to make clay our friend. The instructions were very clear and our teacher, Clay, was awesome. The casual environment was fun and educational. It took a while for our pieces to be ready, but well worth the wait and such a great price at $5 each piece. I loved how mine turned out and have a sense of pride that I did that on the wheel all on my own! read more

I've been a member at Clay for 2 years and it's a fantastic place for experienced artists and first-timers. The staff is always fun and friendly, and the instructors make sure that even if you come in for 1 time class, that you are able to create something memorable. For people looking for membership, you have 24-7 access and it's a great place to be around creative people. Advice for people interested in 1-time open session class: Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty (clay washes off) No long fingernails or jewelry. Don't expect your pieces to be ready right away. Because of the trimming, firing and glazing process, it will take 5-6 weeks until your piece will be ready. It's up to you if you want to keep your pots (they charge a reasonable $5 per a pot for finishing and firing) but if you do, it'll be a while until they are ready for pick-up. read more

Teresa was superb! Loved this class, perfect date with my boyfriend... and learned so much... Teresa made every move feel like I mastered it even when I made rigid edges and fumbled along... constantly laughing and smiling, keep her because She's awesome & made us so Feel so comfortable can't wait to get my bowls. Also, totally affordable! read more

Throwing clay is way harder than it looks, but the instructor was very nice and helpful. It was a fun outing with friends. Definitely wear old clothes, tie your hair back and cut your fingernails before. read more

I was looking for the things to do in the local deal section on Groupon and came upon this. I figured this was pretty interesting and bought one for myself. As soon as I bought it, I got a space for a Sun on the same week. (Spaces are limited to people per class). There were plenty of metered parking near Clay. Since I came on Sun, all the spots were free. Once the class started, Sarah, the instructor, gave each person 4 clay to and instructed us on how to massage the clay to get those moisture out. Once the massaging was done, the real fun began as we moved on to the spinning wheel and creating art. Sarah walked us through step by step on what needed to be done. Being a first timer, molding the clay into the shape you want is super difficult. You have get the wheel to the right speed, keep adding water, and be very patient the whole time. No matter how hard I try to make a vase, it always turn into a bowl. When 30 minutes before the class ends, everyone will have to start cleaning up. By that time, everywhere will be a mess, including all my clothes. If there is one clay that you make to your liking, you can pay 5 dollar to have it glazed. All 3 bowls of mine turned out to be very uneven and ugly so I decided to skip it. Overall, 2 hours class time went by so fast. I guess it's always like this when you are having fun. This is also a great date activity so guys should take definitely take note and bring your gf here. In my class, everyone went as a couple except me so sadly I was the fifth wheel. read more

This is a super cute place and my instructor Jackie was extremely informative. They even gave me extra clay when I messed up to try again very patient. I did the two hour class from Groupon would come back again. read more

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This place is truly AMAZING!!! My friends and I took the beginner class and the instructor Angela, couldn't have been any better! She was absolutely helpful through the whole process, informative, patient, and funny!! She made the class soo memorable and fun! Having the ability to mold something with your hands and create your own work of art was a great experience. Disclaimer: Art is in the eye of the beholder and mine was a masterpiece although some might differ in opinion: ) The class is small and intimate and the teacher helped each student. The materials that were used were great and easy to work with as well. This was way better than just painting an already finished piece of clay. Make sure you schedule your class early as they fill up fast because they are sooo awesome! This is a place you need to try!! Thank you Angela and Clay!!!! read more

Took one of the adult workshop classes (Intro to Wheel Thrown Ceramics) with a friend. It was absolutely fantastic. The classes are affordable and a lot of fun. Clay, the owner, is an amazing teacher and walks you through the steps of how to make a bowl/cylinder. I resent how easy he makes it look, but as you make your novice mistakes, he guides you through the process and will also let you know what you're doing wrong. It takes a lot of concentration and patience, but it's cathartic. I really enjoyed it and I'm looking to go back to take more lessons once my schedule opens up. read more

I loved it!! Zach was the instructor & helped me throughout the class. I had a living social voucher & they went out of their way to accommodate me. I really enjoyed the class. It was fun & sort of stress relieving. I wish I lived closer to long beach to take more classes. I would highly recommend this place. There is a parking lot across the street for $2 for two hours. A lot of places to eat & drink around the store which will keep your belly happy. I plan to go back in 3 months. read more

I purchased the class thru groupon. The class instructor was very good and she had a lot of patience. This class is good but I doubt I will ever do it again. You have to have a lot of patience and I recommend DO NOT HAVE LONG NAILS! Nails make it very hard to control. Also make sure to wear clothing that you don't mind getting messy in. However, if you ever want to try pottery this is the place to go. P.s. You do have to pay to have your items stained and to take them home which I thought was pretty messed up. read more

Had a private session with 4 friends and we had a blast! The instructor was really patient and great at showing and explaining to us the process and how to get the shapes we wanted. We each made 4 pieces - can't wait to see them after they're fired and glazed! read more

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What a great spot! It's really hard to find a place to do pottery once you're out of school and this place gives people the ability to come in and work with provided facilities for a very reasonable price. Instead of taking community college classes to get access to a wheel or glazes you can come here. The shop is owned by a super friendly potter that seems genuinely motivated to provide a nice place for people to work. The shop is casual and cozy but has everything necessary to complete projects. There are also classes for adults and children. The classes are casual and small, perfect for diving right in and learning new skills or rekindling old passions. Whether you take a class, get a full on membership, or just stop in to buy some local art, it's a nice facet to downtown Long Beach. read more

My friends and I decided to try out the throwing class for Valentines Day. We reserved two spots for two couples. The instructors were engaging, down to earth, and really hilarious. They were also extremely helpful. It was relaxing and fun! We had a great time and would definitely recommend others to do their Valentines Day special. The only thing is that parking can be horrible - but you'll forget about that once you start on the wheel. read more

Thanks Theresa! Your class was thorough and easy to follow. It was my first clay class and I was able to follow your instructions from start to almost finish. Looking forward to see the finish product! read more

Clay - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

I seriously love this place! Thanks to Livingsocial for having the deal... me a and friend finally went here and got dirty! Zack was teaching out class of 4... so it pretty much felt like the whole studio belonged to us! He was super nice and chilled. Me and a friend had so much fun. I was the only one with clay all over me.. from my boots to my hair! lol Reminder ladies... tie up your hair!!! I made 4 "creation"... one of the collapse right when it got on the table to dry... ahaha oh wells... I paid an extra $5 per "creation" to get it fired and glazed... lol i can't wait to see them! read more

Clay - Clay time fun! - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

Had so much fun! My gf surprised me with a pottery class. Loved it! The instructor was very patient with our clay disasters read more

Clay - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

I LOVE this place! Affordable prices for membership, a fun and welcoming atmosphere and awesome pottery parties! Perfect for beginners, kids and seasoned pottery folk alike. Doesn't get much better than this! read more

My friends and I have a good time here. We purchased a private class on Groupon. The instructor is patient. We made a cup and a blow. read more

Clay - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

Love this place ! Instructor was helpful and knowleadgable, loved everything I made! Very relaxing atmosphere. We did private class for 4 . Got it in on Groupon. Something i would do again. Great for a girls day out. read more

This place is pretty cool! I came with my family (a group of 10) and they were able to accommodate to us. Ariel was our instructor and she's fantastic! I would definitely be coming back!! read more

Clay - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

Such a wonderful gem to find! Who would have know there was a pottery studio in Long Beach? I happned to stumble upon this place a few weeks ago and walked in to check it out. To my suprise it was a fully equipped pottery studio! They offer classes for all ages, wheel throwing, workshops, paint your own pottery and handbuilding! The guy in the front was so friendly and informative. I went back a few days later for my first wheel throwing lesson. The instructor was very patient and I ended up with a piece I am very proud of. I am taking weekly classes now. I am also considering becoming a member. I also had mentioned it to my friend who has children and she took them for classes. They did handbuilding and wheel throwing. They loved it so much that they signed up for summer classes. The pricing is so great also, I have been looking into other studios that are twice as much! I totally love this place! Thank you for a wonderful time! read more

Nice little studio. The instructor was very patient and really teach you how to control the wheel. Fun and relaxed atmosphere. I went with a bunch friends through a Livingsocial deal. I think we all enjoyed the class! Only complain is takes too long to glaze our works. We were first told 4 weeks, and we actually got it after 10 weeks. I had to call three times to check, then I booked a date for pick up. They called me before I reach there saying someone picked up already. It's not, so I happily got the bowls. And 2 weeks after (12weeks after the class) they called me saying my works are ready for me to pick up... Is it too hard for artists to manage the "stock" :) read more

Husband surprised me with introductory class at this place yesterday. We had a blast! There were plenty of street metered parking, free after 6pm and on Sunday. The studio was small and intimate. Everyone there were very nice and friendly. We had Ariel as our instructor. She's young but very experience and patience. It was definitely harder than it looked. Ariel came around each student to make sure they were comfortable using the techniques she showed. She let us be creative but gently guide us to make sure the pieces came out. We had such a great time there. If you want to keep your pieces, it's $5 each so they can trim the base of the piece, kilm it, glazed it and kilm it again. They specified the cost on Groupon and when you booked your lessons. We will definitely be back even though it's 1hr 30 drive for us! read more

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This was a fun experience!!! The instructors were patient and helpful. When I booked the class only one seat was available so I called to ask if I could book one more seat for my friend and they were accommodating and very friendly. Parking is a bit of a hazel since its in downtown long beach but the whole experience is worth it!!! read more

Clay - My work of art - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

plain and simple,babysitting for kids, my grandson clay project was never seen back home, too expensive, read more

I enjoyed working with clay back in high school. Found another hobby . Worked with Sara who did an amazing job and tooked here time with working with us. She was amazing.. place is great location. Close to food restaurants to dine at after the 2hr class. Worth every penny spent. read more

Clay - CLAY TIME:) - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

Got a Living Social coupon for a two hour class for Xmas and just went today. Lots of fun and laughs, especially after breaking two pieces, consecutively. Ariel was so patient and helpful and I can't wait for my successful pieces to be ready! Thank you! read more

Clay - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Long Beach, California

Fun place. Took advantage of the Groupon deal, our instructor was super nice and friendly, and a great teacher. See, I took ceramics back in high school and ended up with a B+ in the class. Now, over 10 years later, I'm much more patient and the clay doesn't spin crazily on the wheel. I made 3 "bowls" and they'll glaze and fire them for you for $5 to pick up at a later time. Time well spent, I had lots of fun! read more

I just love Long Beach, mainly because there are so many different creative and fun things to do here. Got a Groupon and went, sort of pricey but fair. Had a blast, however I wish I was warned before hand to bring an apron or old clothes to wear because it was going to be a mess! I got clay everywhere, on my shoes, in my hair, on my shirt, and my legs. The clean up took longer than the whole process. The staff is chill and our instructor was nice, however a few more pointers would have helped! I guess it just takes a few times to get better at it, but I have spaghetti arms with no muscle so this isn't really the place for me but I'm happy I tried it! I wouldn't mind going again just not regularly. We bought two pieces, they were $5 a piece and they still had them even after I had left them there for months! read more

First time ever "throwing" clay (: Usually I'm not very creative but Samara created a comfortable environment! She was very specific with her instructions and also let us play around. It is a great activity to do with family! We will definitely come back soon! read more

This place is awesome! :) Me and my sister took an intro class here and loved it! It has a very friendly and creative vibe. And I'll definitely come back for more! read more

Bought a groupon deal and finally made the time to come out here. Can't register online the day of, but if you call ahead of time and space permits, they will take your name down. I thought that was really nice. Teresa was our instructor and she was so friendly and sweet! Massaging the clay to get the air bubbles out hurt my wrists at first but I got used to it fairly quickly. We were suppose to make 4 different shapes in 2 hours and I wish I had kept better track of time and hurried on to the next shape when I was done ... I thought we had to all stay on the same pace. As a result, I only made 2 pieces :( it would have been 3 but my first piece decided to just give up on me. Teresa was VERY patient, helpful, and fun. She helps each individual out if they are struggling with their piece. I already bought another deal and I will be coming back soon! I'm determined to be better at it this time :) I wish they had a place in my area, I would totally sign up for the classes. Parking is pretty difficult ... because the class starts at 0530pm, we parked at on the street and it was metered parking until 6pm so that was okay. Be prepared to get super messy though !! I accidently spinned the pottery wheel too fast and it sprayed onto my hair, face, arms, and legs. Lol, whoops! read more