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!

Never got around to write my review.Signed up for classes and attended 2 classes, I got the same vibe as previously stated in other reviews. Not sure if he’s the owner but he almost seems bothered by your presence.My last time being there I walked passed the dog he brings and he actually bit me walking by. Owner didn’t say anything he just told him to lay down.***Attended about a year ago, searched for a pottery class and this came up and reminded me of why I never went back.I did end up finding a very very good pottery class that I truly enjoy and I’m so glad I didn’t let this place discourage me from trying it again else where.

I took wheel throwing classes from October till April. Every other class I would leave thinking man that guy really doesnt 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 didnt 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 cant trim it on a different date because its 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 youre 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 cant win, which is a unfortunate take away from a hobby you are paying to do. This its 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 didnt. 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 didnt exist....which is exactly in character for this studio.

Peter and Tom are first class people. Its only natural that they have a first class business such as this. Clean, organized, fully stocked with lots of classes, guest teachers, a gallery, and a place for students to sell their top pieces. I buy all my supplies from them. Currently I am so happy to be able to attend their Zoom class.

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!

Thom is a great teacher and I have learned so much over the 8 week course. I just renewed to continue learning and growing my skills. Pottery is a beautiful and time consuming process, but I was blown away by the finished result. Their studio dog, Marcus, is also an angel. I highly recommend Clay Arts to anyone curious about pottery.

The worst ever. They act all nice with you but when you leave they dont tell you about hidden fees, not only do they not tell you about hidden fees they do half a job. I went with my family of 6 had a good time until the waiting process starts. They make you pay for shipping which they dont tell you, they only completed 3 of 6 cups the other 3 has no color and looks very boring we cant drink out of them because they are rough. When we ask about them they said they never said they was gonna do all of them which was very unprofessional. Me and my family are very upset with the outcome and feel it was a waste of money please do not waste your time here its not worth the money or the time of the waiting process.

After reading these reviews Im not even going to waste my time

The class was good, he said that he’d ship the mugs to us I just received them today and only 3 was done with color and was smoooth. The other 3 was undone and very hard and rocky and just a muddy color clay not the mug I was expecting. He said he did the inside not the outside which just came across as lazy I wanted to drink out of it and show off my mug but it’s a discolored clay mess. I waited a month to receive this just for it to be half worked on definitely not worth the money I paid.

Private party

Love this place! One of the most welcoming places. Taking classes is a great stress reliever. Everyone at the studio is amazing. The owners and resident artists work hard to build a community that everyone can be a part of. It’s a very relaxed vibe whee creativity can flow. Each week there is a project and it is scaled to all levels.Marcus the studio dog is another plus! He may look scruffy(as another poster suggested) but he’s the cutest most well loved dog. I’m always happy to be greeted by him at the door.I took pottery classes where I used to live back east and I never made anything as amazing as I have here.I can not recommend this place enough. If you have ever wanted to try pottery you should come try it here!

Big art studio for clay works. Tons of fun. Friendly owners and staff. Talented bunch of people. This place would be great for date night. Big groups or alone.

The vibe was off as soon as I walked in. They have a very annoying dog that looks depressed and has not been washed in years and barks at everyone aggresively. I went here on a first date and we paid great money for a three hour pottery class, not a tutorial and a babysitting session- or so we thought..the women were very unhelpful and snooty. If you slap your clay down as a black woman you might be told that you have a lot of anger. Even though it is important for your clay to stick to the board. We did not even get to put faces on our art because they never gave us a time table. Just wanted us to spend our time at the wheel. Waste of money. Waste of time. Did not learn much. Also, do not go here on a first date. They will pressure you and your partner to recreate a very awkward sex scene in front of the whole studio. I am a virgin and did not appreciate it especially after watching the scene on YouTube. They make you give the pottery a hand job. Im not kidding. Distasteful much? I know its Vegas but yo..locals come to? The vibe was racist and ageist. 👎🏽👎🏽

I enjoyed the atmosphere and classes when I was able to attend.

Absolutely GREAT customer service and knowledge. My wife gets her supplies here and Peter always gives her informative advice and insight. Highly recommend

Absolutely wonderful experience. I’ve always wanted to get into pottery, and the instructors at Clay Arts are just amazing. Very patient and informative but not afraid to tell you, you messed up. I’m looking forward to the classes in the coming weeks.

Love this place! Helpful and friendly staff. Emily, the resident artist/teacher is really good. Ive learned a lot from her. The membership is cheap and gives you full access to wheels and tables for hand building. Lots of hours so you can go whenever you want.I like the customers too. An eclectic group of nice Artsy people.Im very happy there.

When my husband and I began taking the pottery classes, we expected more support from the staff. These people act like teachers but they really arent. They think of projects for you to work on even though you might not be ready for it. You would think they would have more patience if they were real teachers. We were told by Tom to take three beginner classes. My husband wanted to quit after the first night because of the severe lack of support he received. I talked him into going back, but as the weeks dragged on I began to feel uncomfortable as well. Other people in the class obviously had more experience and went their merry way. When we came in the third time to a beginner class, Chuck told us to go to the other end of the studio because there were other new people attending that night. Before this we never had any experience with pottery at all. On another occasion when we went there, I asked Tom a question about what number I needed to put on my piece that was ready to be fired. He told me that he wasnt available. I had a simple question and he was sitting there. He told me that Carrie was teaching the lesson. The last time we went there was to glaze our pieces. We again had no prior experiences with this as well. I asked Tom for help and was told that he was teaching a hand throwing class. I understood that he was working and I asked him when he would be available. He couldnt tell me. I asked Carrie who was working on glazing cups and couldnt take five minutes to answer any questions or even explain it as she was doing it. I even tried to find out specifically about a time that we could come back and complete our pieces.I was never given an answer. Tom did explain a little about the glazing process. How not to put to much glaze on your piece and that you need to glue it on a cookie. And no its not the kind you eat. That is as far as it went. We didnt know what to do, where to get anything to complete the process. When you start the classes you get tools to use but they arent really explained how to use them very well. My husband and I arent stupid. All we needed was more assistance. They need to remember that it takes a village to raise a Potter. They need to help everyone they are willing to take on. We felt that this place is more for people who already know what they are doing.

Wonderful place to learn clay arts, purchase supplies, or just admire and purchase some beautiful ceramics!The resident puppy dog is also awesome.

Absolutely awesome, took the class, learned so much and had a blast. Lots and lots of great priced supplies. Instructors were super. I would recommend this place to anyone with a urge to be a potter!

Organized a group of about 20 to have some fun on a Friday night and it far exceeded our expectations. The teachers were patient AND funny - their personalities really made it a blast! Will go back as an individual for sure and certainly will organize more group events with them!

After reading the negative review above, I almost didnt visit this place. But after being there, its clear that this place has to deal with a large number of first timers who lose interest rather quickly and then simply dont show up again. The tools and clay that were thrown out were probably worth all of 20 bucks. Its a shame the lady lost her work, but I sympathize with the people who run this excellent shop. It seemed like a pretty cool place as far as Im concerned. The guy who waited on me seemed knowledgeable and cordial, and patient considering that I am a neophyte at the game .

I love coming here. The people are so kind and generous with their time

All in one shop, gallery and studio :) If youre looking for some local made pottery here the place. Much mahalos to peter for answering all my questions.

Great place to work and learned, i love it.

I love this place!