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.

From Mud to Mug: The Transformation of a Pottery Piece

Throw Clay LA
Sep 8
3 min read

Updated: Nov 4

One of the most rewarding aspects of pottery is watching a simple lump of clay transform into something both beautiful and functional. At Throw Clay LA, we see this journey unfold every day as students turn raw clay into bowls, mugs, and sculptural works of art. Whether you’re brand new to ceramics or curious about the process, here’s a look at the transformation a pottery piece goes through before it’s ready to hold your morning coffee, hold a plant or be displayed on your mantle.

1. Preparing the Clay

Spiral wedged clay ready for throwing. — Spiral wedged clay.

Every piece begins with preparation. Potters “wedge” the clay, kneading it to remove air bubbles and align its particles. This step ensures the clay is strong and consistent, setting the stage for success at the wheel or worktable.

Every mug begins as a lump of clay—what matters is the journey it takes in your hands.

2. Forming the Shape

The real fun begins when the clay takes form. On the potter’s wheel, students learn to center the clay, pull the walls upward, and shape it into mugs, bowls, or vases. Off the wheel, handbuilding techniques like coiling, pinching, or slab work open up sculptural possibilities. At this point, the clay is still soft and workable, inviting experimentation.

3. Refining and Trimming

As the piece firms up to a leather-hard stage, potters refine their forms. Trimming excess clay from the base to create a foot, smoothing surfaces, or attaching handles and decorative elements all happen here. It’s a chance to add personality and precision.

From wedging to glazing, each step in pottery leaves its own mark on the final piece.

4. The First Firing: Bisque

Pots that have been bisqued ready to unload from the kiln. — Bisqued pots ready to unload from the kiln.

Once dry, the piece goes into the kiln for its first firing, known as the bisque fire. This stage hardens the clay while keeping it porous enough to accept glaze. Pieces emerge transformed but fragile. The clay form is now permanent and ready for the next layer of artistry.

In pottery, transformation isn’t just for the clay—it’s for the maker too.

5. Adding Color and Glaze

Glazing brings the transformation of a pottery piece to life. Students dip, brush, or pour liquid glazes onto their bisque-fired pieces, experimenting with combinations that will melt and fuse in the kiln. This is where creativity takes center stage, as no two glaze results are ever quite the same.

The kiln holds mysteries no glaze chart can predict, and that’s part of the wonder.

6. The Final Firing

Glazed pieces are returned to the kiln for their final firing. Intense heat fuses the glaze to the surface, sealing it into a smooth, glassy finish. When the kiln cools, the transformation is complete: the piece is durable, functional, and ready to use or display.

7. Holding the Finished Piece

Few moments are more rewarding than holding a finished mug that you shaped with your own hands. Each stage leaves its mark, from the fingerprints in the clay to the unpredictable swirl of the glaze. The finished piece is a story of process, patience, and creativity created in moments of calm.

Finished - Your transformation of a pottery piece is complete.

At Throw Clay LA, every student experiences a part of this transformation. In our one-time wheel classes, you’ll learn to throw a piece on the wheel and choose your glaze, while our team handles the finishing and firing for you. In our six-week courses, students go deeper by trimming, bisque firing, glazing, and completing each stage of the process turning raw clay into a finished piece. The transformation from mud to mug never gets old. Once you’ve experienced it yourself, you’ll understand why potters keep coming back to the clay.

Ready to get your hands in clay?

Whether you’re curious to try the wheel for the first time or ready to dive deeper,

Throw Clay LA offers one-time pottery classes, 6-week courses introductory courses, 6-week continuing courses, and studio memberships.

As a member, explore our full range of cone 5/6 clay bodies, enjoy practice time in the studio, and connect with our creative community through free member clinics throughout the year.