I recently completed the 4-week introductory pottery course and had a fantastic experience. The instructors are incredibly patient and skilled at breaking down complex movements--like centering and pulling walls--into manageable steps that were easy for my brain to follow. The studio has a really wonderful, creative energy that I looked forward to every week. It served as a great 'sensory reset' and a way to focus purely on the tactile experience of the clay. Particularly seeing other members body of work. My only minor wish for the future would be a bit more shelf space for student projects! As I got more into the flow of creating, I found myself wishing there was more room to store work-in-progress pieces between sessions. Each purchase of a course provides access to membership hours where you can come in practice before the classes. They provide the base tools in a black case and if you need more clay it's $25. That being said, the quality of instruction and the community more than make up for it. I'm so happy with the projects I made and I'd definitely recommend this course to anyone looking for a new creative outlet! As a note there's a waiting list to become a member after completing the course. So don't hesitate! read more

Clay Play & Arts - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

Had a great time with some friends. Highly recommend as a group activity. Great instructor and ended up with a beautiful new piece. read more

Clay Play & Arts - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

Took an intro class and the instructor was very helpful, studio is filled with so much art was so fun to try for the first time. Definitely would look into the lessons! read more

I just joined the beginners class 6 weeks ago & I just love it. First, Hanna, the owner is wonderful & warm. She explains everything slow & if you need any more info, she goes over & actually shows you how. Her assistants & friends that help out are very helpful & courteous as well. I didn't know anything about hand building & was always intimidated by other people's projects but now I feel much more confident & having a good time. The people that come to the studio are very nice as well, always willing to help & show me what to do if I need. And I can't say enough about Hanna's mom. She's always bringing delicious Korean food for all of us to taste. Yummy!! I can't even believe that 6 weeks flew by so fast. I'm really enjoying my time & learning so much. Can't wait till the next set of classes! read more

I had always been interested in learning the wheel. I took the intro class (twice), joined as a member, and will take the 4 week intermediate class in April. I can't get to the studio as often as I'd like to, but I go when I can. Ram is the best instructor. If you listen to & follow what he is telling you, you will have success. That said, I am still practicing & learning lol. It is wonderful therapy. read more

I just finished a 6 week hand building class. So much fun!!!!! I learned tons and made some great friends too. Totally recommend for anyone interested in pottery and ceramics. You won't regret it!!! read more

Clay Play & Arts - One of our hand building projects - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

Horrible experience. The owner Hannah needs to learn the meaning of customer service and not ignore those who pay for classes. And the staff needs to follow through on the commitments they make. I took a four-week intro wheel throwing class (+ a private lesson). I talked to the instructor in advance about a permanent left arm injury I have that impacts my mobility. I tried different approaches to make it work but it just wasn't feasible. After two classes + a private session I had two pieces, which was fine. I called the teacher (Ram) to tell him I would miss the third class and he said he would prep both pieces for me so I could glaze them in the final class. The first piece was quite small, but I liked the second, larger piece (a bowl). I glazed both of them and gave them to Derek for final firing, though a piece of the bowl I liked broke off. He then said the second piece had not gone through the necessary initial firing (I did not realize this since I am a beginner), which is why a piece broke off. He said Ram did not tell him he would prep the piece. Derek said he would wipe the piece down, try to fix the broken part, do the initial firing and call me so I could properly glaze it for final firing. I called a couple of weeks later and he said that even though he wiped it down, some of the glaze stayed on and bubbled when the piece went through the initial firing. I asked if it needed to be tossed and he said yes. By this point I had emailed Hannah w/a nice note offering some suggestions for the class (like provide handouts and a list of websites for students to review). She never replied just to thank me for my input. Then after the issue w/the ruined piece, I emailed her again asking for a partial refund since the failure of her staff to follow through on their promises caused me to lose the one piece I wanted. As I write this review, it's been a week since I sent the second email and I still haven't heard from her. I asked Derek when she comes into the studio, and he said she doesn't, so I should communicate w/her by email. I asked him to also pass a message onto her that I want to speak w/her. I have no idea if she did. So I paid $400 and ended up w/one little piece and lost the piece I really wanted. And the owner won't even give me the courtesy of an email reply and offer to somehow address this. The staff seems nice but not very responsible. And I think they need to improve their teaching techniques. You can be a good artist but not a good art teacher. I run my own business and would never ignore a client/customer w/a complaint. Based on what happened, it's clear that since she got my money, she doesn't care. read more

What a wonderful way to spend a birthday. This was the best gift ever. Friendly instruction, easy to follow steps. They have two people walking around, ready to help. What I like about the introductory class was that you could follow step by step (what I did), but they also didn't stop you from taking any creative liberties. Perfect for a friend's day out, a family activity, or even a solo adventure. I'm excited to go back. It's fun, easy to follow along, and kind of liberating to get so messy. Highly recommend. read more

Took the beginner's course and it was so much fun. The instructor was very personable, patient and helpful. I was a bit intimidated with the wheel but the instructor helped and I ended up making a little vase. It can get quite messy so I highly recommend wearing comfy clothes, hair tied back, no rings on fingers or any jewelry on the wrists and closed toe shoes. The instructor takes photos of you during the class so don't worry about trying to take photos. read more

Clay Play & Arts - Final product - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

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This was the intro class course for $75 a person. The booking process was easy - there is plenty of parking. It's an outlet basically and the place is easy to find. The instructor Jessica took her time with the step by step. She showed us first how to do it, and l we all watched her. After that it was our turn, and we went through the step by steps. She answers the questions, so where they make sense and shows you how to get the hang of it. You do not have to press to hard because of clays, very light, and be prepared to get messy! But it is a fun, satisfying kind of messy. I definitely enjoyed it and went with my siblings. We all enjoyed it equally! We have to pick it up in 6 weeks as it has to go through its next processing but I'm sure it'll be worth it! The class lasted an hour. It's sometimes can go up to 90 minutes. read more

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If you're looking to get into pottery definitely come here! My boyfriend planned a date night here where we created our own bowl out of clay. Our instructor was friendly and informative, went step by step and helped out if we messed anything up. It was really fun creating something with our own hands. We got to pick out a color for each bowl and then waited about 2 weeks for the final result. I loved how our bowls turned out! I would definitely come here again. read more

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Class was super easy to set up and the instructor Ram was extremely patient and clear thoroughly enjoyed my time.

What a great pottery community. Great teachers, great staffs, and great members that you meet new friends!

This place was awesome! We took the intro class which was very fun. We made two pretty cool bowls and it only took less than a month to get them back (this was faster than we expected). The pace of the class was super nice for beginners and we felt we definitely got our moneys worth. This is a great date night idea! read more

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I love this place because it's not just a studio, it's a community. The staff and members are talented and love helping each other. I'm often inspired from seeing other's pieces and they are so open to sharing their techniques and even supplies. There's monthly parties that are a ton of fun too. I've tried the intro class, workshops, 4 week course, private lesson, and membership here. I'll include info about each of these. The intro class got me hooked. I like how the instructor arranged the attendees so that we get to sit with our party and get pictures of us throughout the process. The instructor demonstrated how to throw pottery and helped us as we followed along. There was definitely hands on help for everyone. After our bowls were formed, we clean up. In a few weeks I got notified the bowl was ready. I called and picked up my bowl. I was happy with how they smoothed all my rough edges and the color is beautiful. Tip: don't wear rings, bracelets, or watches because you'll take them off to do pottery. I took the 4 week course next. This is where I learned the whole process from throwing to trimming and glazing. I like the hands on approach from the instructors. Since it was a full class, we got help from 2 to 3 instructors in each class. The items made during the course are prioritized by the studio. They prioritize firing the pieces so they are ready for the next step in each class. Tip: when you sign up for the course, you get members hours included. It's best you schedule time to attend the members hours because we get assigned to do things and they can't all be done during class alone. Plus it's best to practice! During this course I realized the members hours was different on the website to the paper I was given to the emailed hours and to the actual observed hours. However, this has improved greatly and there's now alignment. I appreciate that when things aren't perfect, they continue to be improved. Tip: if during the course you feel you are interested in joining as a member, sign up right away! Because there is a waitlist for the memberships. After being on the waitlist, I got to join as a member! I come into the studio to work at my own pace. I like that I still get guidance from the staff. I can ask them questions and a lot of times, if they see me struggling with something, they'll give me advice. We don't get priority for firing as a member and there isn't a guarantee on when we'd get pieces fired. I've been a member for almost a year, typically my pieces get fired within a few days to a few months from when I turn them in. In general, pieces that are 3 to 4 inches tall get fired more quickly than the tall pieces and the 2 inch pieces. Tip: label all your supplies. A lot of people use the same tools, so labeling helps prevent mix ups. I try not to leave my tools behind, but I did one time and someone returned it to me bc my name is on it. I also left my purse before and I'm very grateful that the staff kept it safe for me until I got it back. I took a few workshops as well. These are one time classes that are for a specific focus. I took a workshop to make donuts and to make pipes. These are fun to learn specific things as well as specific techniques. This is how I got my husband hooked on pottery. They have different workshops throughout the year and they are so festive, like Valentines ghost, mothers day purses, and fall pumpkin making. I took a private lesson, which is hourly one on one time with an instructor. This was extremely beneficial when my skills were on a plateau. It helped me get hands on coaching to overcome my challenges. Tip: come earlier than the scheduled lesson prepare supplies before the lesson starts. I'll come in earlier to wedge clay and set up my station. Then my whole lesson is dedicated to helping me throw. Overall I love this studio. When I'm here, I forget my problems. read more

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Such a fun experience! I took an intro class & the instructor was extremely knowledgeable and helpful, I can't wait to see how my bowl turns out! read more

Clay Play & Arts - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

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This was a great intro to Clay/pottery! Price was fair and came with a great instructor. Grace was very kind, helpful and great at giving directions! Def would recommend for a gift, date night, or just something to do! read more

First time doing wheel pottery it's so fun. Took my friend here for 30th birthday and family too. Seeing your friends and family having fun feels good. Intro class is $70 not so bad. Class can take 60-90mins long it depends how big your party. It takes about to 4-6weeks to get the finished clay pot because they have to let it dry and color it. The instructors are very helpful and friendly. They also take pictures for you without additional cost. When you're done with the wheel you'll have to clean the wheel and everything. There's one instructor that got me annoyed because instead of helping me she start shaping and doing everything for me. Also, she got me dirty and didn't say sorry, she just pretended nothing happened. Overall, it's so much and good place to celebrate birthday, mothers, or couples date. read more

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I booked a private event here for my son's 4th birthday party and we had a BLAST. The staff hosted an engaging class with age appropriate guidance and made sure everyone was taken care of during the process. They also took some awesome photos for us throughout the whole event! If you're looking for somewhere fun to host a kids birthday party that's fun for both parents and kids, this place is the way to go! read more

Clay Play & Arts - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

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I started with a 6 week intro class here almost 2 years ago and when that finished, I became a member and have occasionally continued with intermediate classes on the wheel and hand building as well The classes are fabulous and the community of potters is so lovely to be a part of. So much support and encouragement and creativity and just a great studio to be a part of. The studio has a great selection of clays and glazes and the wheels and slab roller are always available. Ceramics is a blast and this is a great place to learn and create. read more

After years of talking about trying pottery I finally pulled the trigger and bought the beginner class at Clay Play and I was so happy with my experience! I did a class with only 3 other people in it so the instructor had plenty of time to help each of us through each step and he also took photos of us throughout the class to have memories which I loved. He was very patient and kind and I just love how my little bowl turned out!!! I will definitely be back for more classes read more

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My wife thought this may be a fun family activity on a Saturday so she signed us up. We don't do this type of thing but we were all up for it. Turns out, all four of us (husband, wife, 9 y.o. daughter and 6 y.o. son) had so much fun. This is a small business located near a Starbucks in a center with a supermarket, gym and men's suit store. (I'm from Northridge and remember there used to be a Ralph's, movie theater and Farrell's here decades ago.) We began by choosing the color for our bowl. I chose royal blue, which I later learned would be a winner. All the staff were super friendly, hospitable and helpful. It was a great atmosphere. Prices were not cheap, but we felt we definitely got our money's worth. One of the best offerings is they take photos of you while you do the class and share them before you leave! I've never heard of this and I'm always the family photographer. But since you have wet clay all over your hands, and possibly also all over yourself, you can't really take quality cell phone photos without ruining your phone, so that's an amazing offer. Brilliant that they thought of this and offer it as part of the class. The class was about two hours and included a quick tutorial of what we were about to do and then step-by-step instructions as all eight of us did it together. It was a lot harder than it looked forming the clay and turning it into a bowl. (My wife and I joked about and had been reminded by the Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore scene from the movie "Ghost," which may date us. There was no Unchained Melody music.) Our kids and another child in the class did surprisingly well. One person had his bowl break near the end, and that was me. I pouted jokingly under my Covid mask but the staff were super friendly and helped get me back up to that stage right away. Since it was my error, I was ready to accept walking away empty-handed so really appreciated their help. The class alone was well worth the experience. Having a homemade item was all the more value. Before we left that day, we bought a gift certificate for a family member so they can also enjoy a class. When we picked up our bowls weeks later, we were delighted. The bowls are beautiful and sturdy. The pottery is microwave and dishwasher safe. We use the bowls frequently knowing they're not only functional but also remind us of all the fun we had doing the class that day. We all really want to return to this business and take another class. Highest recommendation for a fun outing as a family or couple and later receiving beautiful custom handmade pottery ... that you made! read more

I took an intro pottery class a few weeks ago at Clay & Play Arts around Valentine's Day just for fun. The instructor gave step-by-step directions along the way so it was easy to follow along. It was challenging but so much fun. The best part was that they were kind enough to take pictures of everyone while we worked so we had keepsakes to take home with us! read more

Clay Play & Arts - Finished product a few weeks later- love the pink glaze! - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

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Very fun and friendly place, we did at a group to celebrate our friends BD and it was one of kind experience, they are very nice and helpful read more

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i love this studio! Hanna and her kind an caring coworkers have set up a very warm, inviting atmosphere where young and old come to learn, explore and create ceramics. All the instructors are well qualified, patient and helpful. Likewise the members are friendly and often offer yips to novice ceramicists. i highly recommend taking one of the many courses offered in wheel throwing or hand-building as an introduction to this amazing studio read more

Clay Play & Arts - Hand built mug - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

Sarah is amazing! We had so much fun making our bowls. She is so patient and encouraging. Now we have something we made with our own hands that we can use. A great place for a creative date night. Meditative and fun. We loved it! read more

Clay Play & Arts - Our first bowls we made under Sarah's guidance - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

This was an incredible experience! I brought my nephew here for his birthday and he has since asked to come back. I signed us up for an intro class on a weekend and there were about ten people total there taking the class. My nephew and I were a bit nervous because we had never tried something like this but the instructor was wonderful and helped guide us each step of the way. She would come around to each person after giving us an example of what to do and would help us correct any mistakes we made. Once we were done, we helped clean up and the instructor took photos of all of us to have memories. We waited about two weeks after that to receive our finished product and my nephew and I were thrilled with the results! Will definitely be coming back. read more

Clay Play & Arts - Taking Class! - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

My fiancé and recently checked out Clay Play & Arts for their introductory class as a date activity. We were surprised by how fun we both had. The class was not only fun but the instructors were very helpful, supportive and informative~ we can't wait to see our bowl in a few weeks and perhaps take some more classes soon~ read more

Clay Play & Arts - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

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Great experience, totally recommend. I came with my family and we all had a great time,we will definitely be coming back. The staff were all so nice and the atmosphere was so fun and exciting. Definitely recommend it is a must try place if you are visiting or in the area! read more

I'm new to pottery. When I say new, I mean I know absolutely nothing about pottery. I've always been curious about it but it never moved beyond curiosity. Well this year I decided to change that. I took my very first class yesterday at Clay Play & Arts! By mistake, I ended up in the children's intro class instead of the adults. Lol. Let me tell you, as an adult there is nothing more intimidating than being in a room full of children who has been doing pottery longer than you. First let me tell you about the studio. It's beautiful. It's airy, spacious, and clean. Everywhere you look, you will find many different beautiful finished pieces on display. Hannah and her staff were amazing and super patient. The session was taught by Hannah and it lasted an hour. Hannah taught us how to throw clay on the wheel and some basic techniques. Throughout the session, Hannah and Derick were both on hand to provide support and help when needed. I ended up making my first bowl and I'm pretty proud of myself. The whole experience was wonderful. I have already signed up for a membership and will be coming back to introduce my daughter to pottery. I totally recommend this studio! read more

Clay Play & Arts - My first bowl! - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

I'm taking the beginners wheel throwing class and it's awesome. The class comes with 6 weeks of membership, and I love being able to go in and practice. Everyone's been very welcoming. I highly recommend! read more

I recently attended a class here to make pipes. I brought my toilet to see if I could match it up, but alas it was a different kind of pipe. Don't worry, I left the toilet in the car. The class was amazing and fun. The world has become such a stressful place, it was fun to be here with good friends and be surrounded by good people. The owner (this small business is woman owned, who happens to be a poc, so it's important for our community to support these individuals, especially a place that teaches you to literally mold things from clay, limited only by your imagination. Instructions were presented in a clear manner. They told me that the kilns are in regular use, and that it would be five weeks (if memory serves me ), when we would get our creations back. Apparently they have to dry completely which also takes time, in addition to waiting for kiln time. I'm not in a rush, so that's okay. If you are planning on gifts or something for a specific time, I highly suggest you reach out to the staff to see what an appropriate timeline would be for you to receive your creation back. I think making a proper plan will help you have more realistic expectations. I absolutely plan on returning. They have pottery wheels that I'm dying to try ! "Oooooh my looove, my darling, " I better stop before they ban me. Can't stop me from using earbuds when I finally take a crack at that wheel! 100/10 I recommend this place. The staff is kind and attentive, and the owner answered all my questions in a simple way that even I, a man child, could understand. Thank you clay play arts! I look forward to seeing you all there! read more

I love this place! I have purchased the intro class twice and each time, I had so much fun! The instructor's are great and hands on. The classes are for all ages. It takes about 5 weeks to get your piece back and is worth the wait. I will be back again! read more

Clay Play & Arts - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

We had such a good time here! This was a birthday present from a friend and we had a blast. The instructor was clear and helpful, and it was a really relaxing atmosphere. They have a variety of classes where you can make a lot of different things. The class next to us was also given snacks and drinks, which were very kindly offered to us as well. Can't wait to go back :) read more

Clay Play & Arts - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Northridge, California

Absolutely love this studio and the community in it. Hannah and her staff are incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and all-around good people. I couldn't stay away after taking a Thursday intro course, so I signed up for a six-week course that was extremely worthwhile. Decided that I wanted this place to be in my life for the time being so I signed up for a membership and haven't regretted it! read more

So much fun! We had gone for date night so we chose the later time slot which was perfect. There was only one other couple there, and they also seemed to have a great time! It's a fun, unique date night activity in the valley. read more

Hanna and her staff are great! They're all so kind. They really know how to welcome their clients. In general, the atmosphere is very positive and relaxing. Their intro classes have also been helpful and informative. The instructors are sweet and they take their time to help you and guide what to improve on during class. Overall the community in this studio is extremely friendly read more

I had so much fun! Great experience for friends/family/couples. I went here for a fun date idea and we both enjoyed The staff even takes photos for you read more

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Had an amazing class. Instructor was thorough in his demonstration and answered questions. Ram made us feel at ease even though it's our first time. Pottery making is surprisingly calming. We would definitely come back. read more

I came to this establishment with a few adult children to celebrate a 30th birthday ..... I mean 20th birthday. Age is just a number anyways. But at first I was very hesitant of this place as I was afraid that Whoopi Goldberg would be a staff member there bringing back some unfriendly ghosts but this was not the case. Instead, I ended up getting Hanna and Luna. These two lovely ladies provided an amazing experience only Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze could provide. They were attentive, patient, and provided and experience that I will never forget. I even got Hanna to compliment my first time skills and regretted that I was better than her .... (I am not better than her... she is obviously the professional, I think). Regardless if I'm better than her or not. Luna and Hanna provided individual attention to all members of our private party ensuring we all left with beautiful pieces (beauty is all in the eye of the beholder though). All my friends and staff were able to laugh and make the experience memorable for me and all my wonderful beautiful friends (again beauty is all in the eye of the beholder). In all seriousness, I highly recommend this place for any private event, classes, memberships, and date and you will not be disappointed. Environment- 4.8/5 The environment is great and welcoming as they decorate the whole studio with artwork Hanna, Luna, other staff members, and patron have made in the past. It has amazing lighting to pictures come out amazing. Service/Staff- 5/5 The service was absolutely amazing. Hanna and Luna did provide the individual attention that everyone needed as they were first time potters and couldn't "keep it together." But Hanna and Luna's patience was second to none and did not rush anyone. We went at the end of the night and stayed a little past closing however did not rush us out of the studio. Price- 4.7/5 Considering what was provided for us, the pricing was excellent and well worth every penny Overall rating- 4.9/5 Since this was a private party, we were allowed to bring our own hors d'oeuvres and alcoholic beverages. Even though, alcohol makes all things better, I didn't need any alcohol to enjoy this place (I don't drink FYI). Hanna and Luna were accommodating and if you don't come and have an experience here you are missing out on life. read more

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