I was signed up for the bowl ceramic class by Renaissance. I didn't even really think about it that it was Valentine's day, so in the end I was the only person who was by myself, while everyone else was with a partner on a date there LOL. Parking was easy, there is a street around the corner near the crosswalk with plenty of street parking spots that are free. The building is very large and spacious with plenty of room for many people to come and do pottery/ceramics projects. I was there around 6pm and it was not crowded at all, there were plenty of spots open and available for people to use. Upon arrival, there were no signs and nobody greeted me, or the people who filtered in after me. We all kinda stood around wondering, but we couldn't tell who was an employee and who was just a regular person there. People would look up and smile at us or stare at us but nobody said anything until precisely the start time of the class, then suddenly the instructor came to get us. It would have been nice to maybe have a sign such as "please wait for instructor here" or something like that. Once class started though, super fun! The instructor was down to earth, friendly, and patient with us going from station to station to assist everyone as we performed each step. I loved getting my hands dirty and I loved the ease of following the step by step instructions. Watching my bowl take shape was so fun. Learning how to control the pedal speed and how much pressure to apply to the clay to get the shape you want was pretty cool. My favorite part was creating the inside of the bowl and watching the sides of the bowl thin upwards. At the end, you get to choose between several colors of glaze and they will email us to come back to pick up our bowls once they are glazed and dried. I chose Midnight Black to match my kitchen colors. I cannot wait to pick it up when it's ready! read more

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I'm a bit annoyed at the overall disorganization and blasé approach that this studio has. I took a one-hour bowl making class in February and was pretty disappointed. The instructor seemed inconvenienced at helping novice learners, offering those who messed up to give them a "demo bowl" to push them out rather than just assisting them in making a new bowl. Everything was rushed and it seems like they took the class/shift with disdain. People in the class would look around confused, as they thought it was an hour-long class, but we were being pushed out at the 45 minute mark. I got a notification that our bowls were ready for pickup. The pickup pile is a shelf with 50 different pieces, all with different dates. Some have names, some don't. Never got my bowl because it wasn't there. Tried to message and they are out of office for 5 days. After I left this review they told me I can come into the studio to find my bowls. Came back, still not there! Asked for them to be shipped, absolute silence. read more

Took a one hour bowl class and came by another day when a lot of the artists were selling items they made. Notables: - Easy street parking in front and surrounding neighborhoods - Friendly staff - Community environment (everyone seemed to know each other a bit and open to offering advice etc. - Beautiful natural light inside thanks to many skylights - My instructor was very helpful and pretty chill - You will learn how to make and bowl (or how not to) - mine definitely collapsed a few times but I still had time to start over luckily Drawbacks: - You'll want to register for another class... and then another. - You may start thinking you can make anything - All of your time will be consumed making pottery and every gift your friends and family receive for the next few years will be something you made for them. All joking aside - it's a nice and clean studio, with helpful friendly staff, events, classes, and generally easy parking. A solid class choice for a beginner or the experienced clay thrower read more

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It was my best friend's daughter's bday and I wanted to take her out to do anything she wanted. Surprisingly, I was told that she wanted to take a pottery class and so luckily, I was able to find a kids pottery class at this studio last minute. Alex was the instructor and he did such great job with the kids. He honestly has the perfect temperament to teach kids or anyone else for that matter. His instruction was easy to follow and the kids left with an excitement to learn more. read more

Still Life Studios - Art Classes Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I took the 1 month hand building class, which consists of 4 sessions in 4 weeks. The classes are two hours each, where our instructor taught a new technique for three weeks and on the 4th week we were taught how to finish and glaze. In between sessions we could come into the studio as often as we wanted to practice techniques or go wild and explore new ideas. There was an allocation of clay for our class, which seemed to be more than enough for everyone in our class to create multiple items. Overall, it was a great experience. There are many options and even people with some experience could benefit from taking a beginners class, as you can do your own thing in class, our sessions started with pinch pot technique, then coils, then slabs, then glazing. read more

Took an intro class with my bf, trying something new! It was a cute experience- you get to mold your clay, make a little bowl, then choose a glaze so they can fire it up and get it finished within the next few weeks. My instructor, I think his name was Daniel, was patient, funny and helpful. Thank you for not letting my bowl fall apart lol. A bit expensive, around $60/pp, but it was a whole thing so I think it was worth it. The only thing I didn't like was that shipping is a little expensive. read more

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We signed up for the one hour ceramics bowl class and for $60 I would not recommend it. Our instructor was pretty condescending I would say and was not really helpful whenever we messed up (which is expected to happen when you've never taken a ceramics class before). I left feeling like I did not learn anything and my excitement to learn ceramics was pretty much gone. Also I wish we were involved with the glazing process - that would have been cool to see or do. For the tiny ass bowl we ended up getting, I don't think this class is worth it. read more

Still Life Studios - Art Classes Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The staff here are a joke! Very young, socially awkward, & inexperienced. The communication here is a major problem. They ruin any sense of community you were hoping to be a part of. They def play favorites, which is obnoxious. The space is great, but it's so over crowded you can hardly get a spot. The biggest issue is the inexperienced people firing the kiln. They ruin peoples work constantly and things go missing with zero accountability. If you are new to pottery you may not know the difference but to anyone with experience it's unacceptable. The management does not in fact listen to feedback. See cleopatra's review below. Don't say we didn't warn you. read more

They offer excellent classes for all skill levels. Their instructors are friendly and students get great perks.

I am a "socially awkward " member of this Studio. I own that. But to call anyone out for that - ANYWHERE is just mean and hateful. Is that what you want to put out into the universe? You may have valid criticisms about the studio, but to criticize people for being unique is not nice. Why would I take anything you say after that to heart when you have self-exposed your judgmental self. I have, like anyone who is part of a community, had my "things." But as a mature adult I share them openly with Management and fellow Members. I don't hide, I don't whine, I share. Because constructive feedback is how everyone improves. And I can say definitively that for me they have always responded, and always respected my opinions (I cannot speak for you). I have made some of the most incredible friends at SLS SM (some of whom are Staff). Do I love everyone/everything? Of course not - that's what community life is about - something I learned years ago as part of my Zen Buddhist Practice (which I recommend to you to manage your negativity). Our Studio is a focused microcosm of life- I embrace it as a learning experience every day. I am flawed, others are flawed, the world is flawed, but it's all good - we are all endeavoring to present ourselves to the world better each day. Most of the SLS team does the same - I know how hard these humans try. Let's end with why I chose 4 not 5 stars. I am one of those critics that genuinely believes everything can be improved. So the missing star is for what's next, not for what's bad. I am excited for what's to come. Why wouldn't I be? read more

Took a three day class with yoo sung and Miki. I learned so much. I can't even tell you. It changed how I create. If you have a chance, take a class there they are wonderful. And a big shout out to Mel what a lovely lady and such a helpful person. read more

I began pottery in April this year at this studio, and I can't think of a better place for my entree into this exciting art form. Each of my teachers (four so far) have been exceptional. This studio constantly demonstrates its commitment to improving the member and student experience, although to be honest, I don't often see much to improve as I am so happy with my experience. I get soooooo much from my membership: a wide range of glazes, firings, workshops, classes, not to mention a warm, helpful, eclectic community. read more

Just passed the 2 year anniversary of my pottery journey! It began with a "Bowl in One" class that my daughter gifted me for Mother's Day at Still Life Studios, just down the street from my home. Initially, I asked my daughter if she could get a refund - I've got more hobbies than any person should be allowed to have - but I relented and allowed her to drag me to the class. Before the one hour class ended, I was hooked! Still Life has changed my life in so many unexpected ways. I love the community, location, staff, classes, workshops and the twice-a-year member sales. Thank you, Still Life, for helping to open up this new world of pottery for me! read more

I've been a member of Still Life Clay Company for a year and a half, and I can confidently say they are the reason I fell in love with ceramics. The staff here is not only highly knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about their craft, making the environment both inspiring and supportive. The glaze options are truly endless, ranging from cone 5 to cone 10, and having access to a spray booth is a fantastic bonus. The classes offered are amazing--I'm particularly excited for Jorge's glaze chemistry class. He has a unique way of making complex concepts easy and fun to learn. Beyond the facilities and classes, Still Life Clay Company fosters a wonderful community of artists. I've met so many incredible people here who share my passion for ceramics. I can't recommend this place enough. 10/10! read more

My girlfriends and I did a private wheel class with Brennan recently. Brennan was INCREDIBLE! We absolutely loved our session with them; they were kind, patient, and explained things super well. It was truly such a fun class and we will certainly be doing it and requesting Brennan for it again soon! All in all, an amazing experience - the only reason I am giving a 4/5 is because there was an event happening at the studio during our session and it was really hard to hear poor Brennan, who was trying really hard to speak up over the high volumes. I did notify the class manager and she was super apologetic and said she'd relay to management so hopefully that won't happen for anyone's future classes! But WE LOVE BRENNAN!!! Will certainly be back :) read more

Took a pottery class here. Beautiful, inspiring studio with a great energy. My instructor, Dara, was extremely helpful and easy to follow. I'll definitely be back for more classes! read more

Still Life Studios - Beginner's class - Art Classes Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I started taking classes at this studio in late 2023 and quickly became hooked on all things pottery. In the last year, I've taken classes from multiple instructors, all of them experts at their craft who were friendly and generous with their information, and have been a member now for the last six months. At any point, I can ask a question, and both staff and other members are enthusiastic in helping solve problems big and small. Whenever I have approached staff with a complaint or issue, they handled it in a timely manner and made me feel heard. At Still Life, I always feel that I am being encouraged to learn, explore, and grow in my ceramics practice. I quickly felt welcomed by the community here, and I couldn't be more grateful to have such an amazing place nearby! read more

We had so much fun! Thank you Gayle. You were so kind, patient and helpful. Would definitely recommend as a fun hands on date read more

Still Life Studios - Art Classes Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I was a member of SLS from 9/2023 thru 6/2024. When I left, I was surprised that none of the staff/management asked why I was leaving, so now they can get my feedback via this review. My hope is that they will take this feedback seriously, and improve life for my good friends who are still members. Many people at this studio are unhappy. Many people have left (or were kicked out, after voicing concerns or attempting to give feedback). SLS doesn't seem to care; they have a waiting list for memberships, and turnover is "expected". (Many people have been members for years - some are happy, but many others are not, but are afraid to complain. The location, as well as the "community", are their reasons for putting up with the downsides of using this studio.) The studio offers lots of classes and workshops, and has different levels of membership. They have a member sale twice a year, supported by the staff. They offer a variety of firing temps. They have a lot of glazes and tools that are not often supplied at other studios - a grinding wheel, a spray booth, wax resist and brushes, recycled clay for free/cheap, a photo booth, etc. However, there are significant issues: - Cleanliness. The studio is very dirty, in spite of the dangers of silicosis: e.g. messy floors with trimmings that get trampled into dust, which then becomes airborne when people walk on them. People sand *inside* - e.g. using a sanding bat to smooth the bottoms of pieces, or while standing inside by the bisque racks. ALL sanding work should be outside. - Lack of process. The firings are really chaotic. There's no concept of "First In, First Out" (FIFO); your pieces might wait days or weeks to be fired. When the pieces come out of bisque, they are piled on top of each other onto racks that are not marked with the date. Both glaze and bisque firings get so backed up, it will often be the case that there's no room on the shelf to leave your pieces. - Zero studio accountability. It's true that in pottery, there's a certain amount of "sh*t happens" to the craft, which is even more true when working in a community studio. I have a lot of experience from prior studios, so I expect this. However, after multiple over-fired kilns ruined my work, with zero acknowledgement by the staff that there was a problem, I stopped tolerating the 50% failure rate and switched studios (to one that operates very smoothly). - Overcrowding. They have a lot of members, plus workshops and classes, which frequently take up communal space. On at least one occasion, I came to the studio when there was both a workshop going on *and* a class - there were very few wheels left for members to use. The glazing area gets packed when there's a class. Members come last, at this studio, even though they pay monthly to be there. - Value. I was paying $350/month for a large shelf. I never got anywhere near the "quota" allotted to my blue-level membership, primarily because I couldn't get pieces through the process. You don't get any benefit or special firing privileges from having a more expensive membership, so there's really not much value in paying more. Just get the cheapest, smallest shelf! - Stinginess. The studio has a lot of offerings, but they also go surprisingly cheap when it comes to equipment. The bucket system in the sinks for preventing clay from going into the drains doesn't work, and is unsanitary - I developed a rash twice from having my hands in this foul water (they expect you to wash your tools in it)! - "Community". I thought I would love to be part of this studio because it has the appearance of fostering a warm, friendly community. I loved the fact that they strongly support their LGBTQ community. As a neurospicy person myself, I thought I would fit in, but it turned out that some people in the "clique" of long-term members immediately disliked me and made me feel not welcome. Undeterred, I tried to contribute to the community; I made about three dozen cookies before being informed that they aren't needed for the type of high-firings I was doing. I created three large underglaze boards for the studio, which sat on my shelf for months as I begged the studio to find somewhere to hang them. When they finally did, there was zero acknowledgement of my contribution, not on social media or even in the members' weekly newsletter. That really shocked and disappointed me. I think their "community" is pretty fake, as I've talked to other former members who had been there for years - as soon as the management decided they didn't want you there for whatever reason, you were kicked out and cut off from this so-called "community". These were not for egregious errors, IMO. But don't say I didn't warn you! I hope this review helps members, future members, and maybe even the staff; this business has a lot of potential, but also a lot of unacknowledged problems that it really should attempt to address. Good luck! read more

As a birthday gift, I was taken to this studio for a class. The lady teaching the class was very nice and informative. The issue was it took time away from the 50/55 minute class and felt rushed. After making the bowl, we were asked to choose a color for the glaze from what was provided. We were not asked to return to finish our bowls, someone at the studio finished it for us! This was very disappointing because it took away from (us) the students the whole process from start to finish. I will not be returning nor will I recommend this studio for someone who wants to learn how to make bowls. read more

Still Life Studios - Do you see the bottom of this bowl? Those clumps should not be a part of the bottom. - Art Classes Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Finding Still Life Studios, where classes are taught by master potters with several years of experience and who bring varied expertise to their classes has been an exceptional discovery. The staff is energetic and always helpful. Were it not for their enthusiasm, Still Life would not be such an inviting and welcoming place to learn pottery. The atmosphere is friendly and always encouraging. You can sit and make pottery to find calming relief from the stresses of life. At least, that's what it does for me! My mental health is better for being at Still LIfe. Positive reinforcement helps improve pottery skills and I believe there is no shortage of staff and members who encourage and praise your efforts. The more experienced people offer suggestions and I always find it helpful to get the opinion of others on how to solve a problem. I feel so fortunate that I walked through the front door of Still LIfe Studios a year and a half ago. It's a place where you can work with your hands, make a mess, be creative, interact with other like-minded people and feel encouraged to develop your pottery style and do what makes you happy. I am grateful for this incredible studio. read more

Really creative. timely, organized class. Loved it! All of the pieces ended up looking different, but we're really interesting. Kelly was fantastic! read more

I love this studio. Everyone is helpful and nice. The classes are great too. Daniel is a great teacher as is all the teachers here.