Throw Clay LA is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The studio is closed on New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, and closes early on the day before Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

Can I bring my dog or pet to the studio?

Because studio work is fragile and moved frequently, pets are not allowed in the studio. Exceptions may be made for trained service animals with prior approval.

Where can I find pottery classes for beginners in Los Angeles?

Throw Clay LA offers pottery classes for beginners in a welcoming downtown Los Angeles studio. Our one-time and six-week courses introduce the basics of wheel throwing and handbuilding with step-by-step instruction from experienced teachers. Students learn how to center clay, create simple forms, and glaze their finished pieces using our cone 5/6 clay bodies. Classes are small, hands-on, and perfect for anyone curious to explore clay for the first time.

What makes Throw Clay LA the best pottery date night in Los Angeles?

Throw Clay LA offers one of Los Angeles’s most creative and relaxed date nights. Couples share creativity in a fun, informal studio setting while learning the basics of pottery together. Each person has their own wheel and creates their own piece, guided by friendly instructors. It’s a memorable, hands-on experience that blends laughter, art, and connection.

Do you offer one-time pottery classes for beginners?

Yes. Our one-time pottery classes are designed for beginners and anyone curious to try working with clay. In a single 1 hour and 45 minute session, you’ll learn the basics of throwing on the wheel, choose your glaze colors, and we’ll finish and fire your pieces for you. It’s a fun, no-pressure introduction to pottery in a welcoming studio environment.

Do you offer kids' classes?

Our classes and courses are designed for adults 18 and older. Teens ages 13–17 may join a One-Time class if accompanied by an adult booked in the same class.

What is the difference between throwing on the wheel and handbuilding?

Wheel throwing uses gravity and centrifugal force to shape clay on the potter's wheel, typically resulting in symmetrical forms like bowls. Handbuilding uses pinch, slab, and coil techniques to build pieces by hand, offering more flexibility and sculptural freedom.

When will my pottery pieces be ready for pickup after a class?

It takes 3–5 weeks to complete pieces made in class. Once they are ready, Throw Clay LA notifies you by email. Please pick them up promptly after notification to allow space for new work.

How long is a class or course?

One-Time Potter’s Wheel classes are 1 hour and 45 minutes. Six-week courses and One-Time Wheel & Handbuilding classes are two hours. Six-week courses are limited to 8 students for personalized instruction.

What should I wear to class?

Wear comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting clay on. Most clay washes out easily. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Long hair should be tied back, and jewelry removed for safety.

What is your cancellation policy?

One-Time Classes may be canceled or changed with at least 3 days’ notice. Six-Week Courses can be canceled up to 5 days before the start of the session for a refund (less transaction fees). Private Events require 10 days’ notice for a full refund or reschedule. Cancellations made closer to the event may be partially refunded or ineligible depending on timing.

Are my pottery pieces food, microwave, and dishwasher safe?

Yes. All pieces made and fired at Throw Clay LA are food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe.

How much do members pay for firing?

For one-time classes and six-week courses, firing and glaze fees are included. For members, glaze firings are $1 per pound for pieces up to 14 inches, and $2 per pound for larger pieces. Bisque firing is free.

Can I bring my dog or pet to the studio?

Because studio work is fragile and moved frequently, pets are not allowed in the studio. Exceptions may be made for trained service animals with prior approval.

Beginner Pottery Mistakes: What Experienced Potters Focus on First

Throw Clay LA

Feb 21

4 min read

Updated: Sep 17

Beginner pottery mistakes often come from overlooking basic techniques rather than attempting anything particularly difficult. Wedging, centering, wall thickness, compression, drying and repetition may seem like small details, but they have a significant effect on the finished piece.

These are seven fundamentals experienced potters learn to pay attention to early.

Common Beginner Pottery Mistakes to Avoid

1. Skipping Thorough Wedging

One of the most common beginner pottery mistakes is rushing through wedging.

Proper wedging:

Create a more uniform clay consistency
Even out differences in moisture
Prepare the clay for more predictable throwing

Poorly prepared clay can make centering and throwing more difficult and may contribute to inconsistencies in the finished form.

Taking the extra minute to wedge properly prevents larger problems later. In our Potter’s Wheel Basics course, wedging and clay preparation are practiced consistently so students develop reliable habits from the start.

2. Forcing the Clay During Centering

Many beginner wheel throwing mistakes happen during centering.

New potters often rely on arm strength rather than body positioning. Experienced potters learn that centering is about:

Anchored elbows
Steady, controlled pressure
Using body weight instead of muscle

Good centering creates a stable starting point for opening and pulling the walls. Using body position and controlled pressure is generally more effective than trying to overpower the clay with arm strength. Centering is a core focus in Potter’s Wheel Basics, where students learn how body positioning and pressure control create stability and repeatability on the wheel.

3. Ignoring Wall Thickness

Differing wall thicknesses on a pot being thrown.

Height is exciting. Even walls are not — but they matter far more.

A common pottery mistake beginners make is focusing on how tall a piece becomes instead of how evenly it is thrown.

Experienced potters pay attention to:

Even compression from base to rim
Consistent wall thickness
Avoiding heavy bottoms and thin shoulders

Uneven walls can make trimming more difficult and may contribute to uneven drying or weaknesses in the finished form. In our Refine & Explore wheel courses, students continue developing wall thickness, compression and trimming to create stronger, more consistent forms.

4. Not Compressing the Base

Compressing the bottom of a pot on the wheel.

Failing to compress the base is one of the simplest beginner pottery mistakes — and one of the most preventable.

After opening a wheel-thrown form, potters often compress and refine the floor before beginning to pull the walls. This helps establish an even, well-finished base and gives the potter an opportunity to check its thickness before continuing.

These fundamentals are introduced in Potter’s Wheel Basics and become increasingly important as students begin working with larger or more complex forms.

5. Rushing Surface Preparation

Surface refinement is frequently overlooked in early learning.

Before glaze ever touches a piece, experienced potters are refining:

Slip lines at leatherhard
Edges and transitions
Rough areas at bone dry
Dust removal before glazing

Small irregularities can become much more noticeable after glazing and firing. Taking time to refine edges, transitions and surfaces before bisque firing gives the potter greater control over the finished piece.

6. Drying Too Quickly

Clay shrinks as it dries, and different parts of a piece can dry at different rates. When one area shrinks significantly faster than another, stress can develop in the clay and contribute to cracking or warping.

Beginners can reduce uneven drying by paying attention to thickness, allowing attachments and thicker areas adequate time to dry, and loosely covering work when slower, more controlled drying is needed.

7. Choosing Novelty Over Repetition

Practice makes perfect - thrown drinking vessels drying.

Many beginners want to make something different every time they sit at the wheel.

But experienced potters often say the biggest improvement came from repetition:

Throwing ten cylinders instead of one ambitious vase
Practicing trimming similar forms
Repeating glaze tests intentionally

Repetition helps potters recognize what changes from one attempt to the next. Throwing several cylinders, trimming similar forms or repeating glaze tests makes it easier to identify which adjustments actually improve the result. Our structured 6-week courses are designed around repetition and incremental skill building, giving students time to practice the same forms with intention rather than jumping ahead too quickly.

How to Improve at Pottery

Improvement in pottery usually comes from paying closer attention to fundamentals rather than rushing toward more complicated forms. Consistent clay preparation, controlled centering, even walls, thoughtful drying and repeated practice give potters a stronger foundation for developing more advanced skills.

At Throw Clay LA, these fundamentals are introduced in our Build Skills courses and reinforced as students continue into Refine & Explore courses and independent practice.

A one-time pottery class in the studio class room.

About Throw Clay LA

Whether you’re curious to try pottery for the first time or ready to develop your skills, Throw Clay LA offers one-time pottery experiences, six-week Build Skills courses, and six-week Refine & Explore courses in wheel throwing and handbuilding at our studio in Downtown Los Angeles.

We also offer pottery workshops and private pottery events for groups, while studio memberships provide experienced potters with dedicated space and time to pursue their own work, along with access to studio equipment, glazes, firing services and free weekly Member Clinics.

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