breaks my heart to write this review because I really did think that this pottery class was for me and I was really looking forward to it. I also want to emphasize the owner was very kind, and so were the other people taking the class.
However, based on the website and what I thought I was signing up for- this was very different. After many times being on the waitlist, I finally got a spot. I signed up for the 4 week class on my first day.
Week 1:
I was then introduced to my instructor. My instructor gave me a tour of the place and helped me get started. She must have been having a bad day or going through something because she was in and out taking phone calls and she also told me "today we are going to clean up early" at 8:35 for the class that ended at 9:30. I know everyone has off days, but I am spending a lot of money to be here- and I wish I got the full time. She also laughed at my wedging and how fast I pressed the pedal. Once again, this is basically totally new to me, so I obviously was still getting used to it. Honestly, the other people in the class were helping me more than the instructors.
Then, she told me that she would be away the next two weeks and that I would have a different instructor. Everyone deserves a vacation, but having inconsistent instructors made it very confusing to learn new techniques and ask for help. This would have been useful information to know before starting the class.
Week 2 and Week 3:
For the next two weeks, I did two more classes with John. Before starting, the owner had me throw out the first two pieces I made in the first week because they were not good enough for the techniques I was going to learn. (Once again- not sure why the first instructor did not tell me that these would not be good enough and had me end early instead of trying again.)
John tried his best to help for the next two weeks, but I was very confused why he was making his own piece while helping me with mine. I felt very out of place asking him questions- because he had to stop his project to help me with mine. I felt like my questions were not welcomed or that I was bothering him. Once again, this confused me because the class fee I paid included instruction.
One of my pieces broke because I did not do the technique correctly. I know this happens, but I wish John was watching me with this new technique to at least try and prevent errors like this. I did not realize that the instruction was going to be so on and off from the instructors.
Week 4:
I mentioned to the owner during week 3 that I would like to glaze my bowl on the final week 4 class. He said that would absolutely be fine. However, no one told me that I had to place the piece in a separate place so it could be fired. So, when I returned for my fourth and final class and I went to grab my piece to glaze, I was told it was not ready. I explained that I never was given instruction to leave it in a different place, and that because this is my final class it does not make sense to go on the wheel again. (Funny because John stopped me on the way out last class to wipe a table that I hardly used, but he couldn't tell me where to put my piece).
One of the other customers helped with a solution for this final class. She said that it would make the most sense to come back another time when the piece is fired. Jocasta agreed with this solution. However, I was disappointed because I drove over an hour for this class. I asked Jocasta if she could assure me that the piece would be ready in time for next week. She said she is not sure, and they cannot call me to let me know. Not sure what I could do from here, because I am not looking to come back again if my piece is not ready.
This class is more of an open studio. It is not a class to learn if you are a complete beginner unless you are willing to spend a lot of time and money, make mistakes, and figure out the techniques yourself by trial and error rather than an instructor. read more
