Clay Arts Vegas

"Starting to play with clay. The Greystone (WC-423) was recommended for beginners although I really wanted to start with a different one. I may just go back and pick up something closer to the color and texture I wanted and let the clay tell me what I can do. So, Im excited about that. Every few days I try to make a couple things. Will return to get it fired and glazed. Still learning the lingo!"

"I'm new in town, so I had to check out the local Clay Arts place! I needed a few supplies for making my own pottery at home, and the owner/staff was super friendly! They also had an amazing gallery with clay arts on display. I look forward to returning for workshops in the future! Or maybe even a class! Loved this place!"

"I took wheel throwing classes from October till April. Every other class I would leave thinking "man that guy really doesn't like me". I kept inviting friends to go with me and telling people about it constantly. The friends that did come with me all got run off and had a bad time. After having not seen one friend in a year due to covid, I was so excited for him to join me, and the teacher made us move so that we didn't sit next to each other. It just got progressively harder and harder to brush off as a misunderstanding after months and months of really pointedly picking on students. Tom just has countless of hidden rules that are never mentioned until he randomly decides to chastise you with it one day, and he gets irritated at questions, but also if you try to independently do things he gets irritated at that too. And more frustrating yet, he gives you assignments to make something, and then you have to let it dry and trim it at a later date, but you can't trim it on a different date because it's not the assignment for the day and staying on assignment is mandatory. But that means you can never trim it and your works stack up, then he is irritated at you because you're personal shelf is too full. So you finish the assignment and trim your previous work after and just get glared at the whole time. It just seems like you can't win, which is a unfortunate take away from a hobby you are paying to do. This it's not a graded class, and there are no credits to be earned. Peter and thelma are both wonderful and honestly if I could just take classes with thelma I would continue. But Tom who is the wheel throwing instructor is just.... Crabby and rude. Edit: The business has responded and honestly their reply is upsetting. They accused me of talking through the class with my friend and causing a disturbance, but they made us move seats apart from each other before the class even started. How could we have disturbed the class from opposite sides of the room? Then, I waited till AFTER the demo was over, but before I started on my work, and I asked the instructor to the side if I could move to be next to my friend and he told me no, so I didn't. I also did not typically show up late, which is a hurtful thing to say when I would show up early and try to chat, before Peter or Thom would take Marcus for the before-class walk. They also said all of the rules are clear in their handbook and available on their website. I had no idea they had a handbook at all, so I went to their website to see...only to find they have a completely new website. As you need to use the website every single week to book your class, I would have seen if there was any kind of handbook available, but there was not, and now they have a new website that included one and are retroactively chastising me for not following something that didn't exist....which is exactly in character for this studio."

"I first walked into Clay Arts Vegas having had limited exposure to clay. The only thing I knew about throwing clay on the wheel was what I’d seen in the movie Ghost. I was nervous and really out of my comfort zone. The instructors were patient and encouraging, and I was able to successfully throw a small vessel by the end of my first class. After that, I was hooked. The atmosphere in the classes is relaxed but structured to allow all levels to follow along. The ages and experience level of class members vary as well which I enjoy. Class members are helpful with tips and tricks as well. The projects are thoughtful and unique. The workshops are amazing too! I have been taking classes off and on for over five years now, and I have learned so many skills and made awesome clay pieces as well as friends. It doesn’t matter whether you’re brand new to the studio or a veteran- everyone is welcomed with kindness. I highly recommend Clay Arts Vegas to those curious about clay or looking for a new hobby!"

"I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this place. My husband purchased a package for both of us to go 4 times and try wheel throwing. We had never done pottery before, so we went in completely clueless. It is a nice studio. The place is airy, and the people nice. We were given clay, tools and lessons each time we went in. There were group lessons each time, but Tom and the other staff gave us tons of individual instruction. I always felt he was willing to help and he would jump in to try to remedy any disasters that were about to happen. We feel like there is a lot of value in the classes they offer. Wheel throwing is a lot harder than it looks, but by the end of the 4th class, I felt like I got at least the basics. I would need a lot more classes to become proficient, and we will return for regular classes. They give you a place to store your work from week to week, and offer sculpting classes as well as items to purchase. I highly recommend you try them!"