Good Dirt LA

Had an amazing experience at the pottery studio. Came as a beginner and received a perfect explanation and help as I was creating my pieces. Very caring and knowledgeable teachers! Can’t wait to pick up my bowls and use them at home! Will bring my kids to try it as well. Highly recommend!

I had Jesse as my instructor and he was the best EVER. He was not only such a fabulous teacher, but also a fabulous person. 10/10 class I will definitely be back.

I love supporting smaller business but this one in my experience isn’t it. As a returning ceramist, I took a class here 2021. They are not very flexible if you miss a class and some of the instructors are questionable. What I mean is they are knowledgeable but I had an experience with one here that was rude. Her name was Melody and long story short, she became very upset with me for being 10 min late. It was very clear it made the whole class uncomfortable and I should have just walked out immediately. I understand it’s a class and coming in late is a disruption but her disciplinary attitude towards me was uncalled for. Very Teach vs Student vibe. We are all adults and no one should be treated less. If you are a beginner or returning ceramist, I’d highly consider trying out POT LA or better yet Still life in Santa Monica. Better prices and better quality all around.

This was such an amazing time and a great introduction into pottery. Our teacher Sara was phenomenal at showing us how to start from ground zero. The smaller class size was definitely a plus, it felt very intimate. 10/10 highly recommend to everyone!

I brought my team for a hand building class after a very stressful week at work. It was a fantastic bonding experience. Everyone really enjoyed it and we all keep talking about it days after. Chandler was a great teacher! I highly recommend it!

WOW, I enjoyed myself so much! I took the 6-week course at Good Dirt LA and I had a wonderful experience. Not only did I meet other creative people, but also I learned new skills. Every session was interesting, whether it was while working on the wheel or with my hands when creating pinching pieces or playing with glaze colors and how they blend with different clays. It was also quite relaxing, mentally. I LOVED it all!!! :) I'll sign up for another 6-week round! Thanks GDLA!!

I highly recommend Good Dirt LA!! I’ve taken several sessions now, and I recently made some dipping olive oil dishes that I plan on giving away to my friends this holiday season!! I love the idea of gifting something that I’ve made with my own two hands and that I had so much fun making. They’ll love them even more!! The studio is also cool if you want to take classes and if you are interested in trying something new. I love coming into the studio!

Had the best time at Good dirt La!!! My friend and I were newbies to to the wheel but left the class craving more! Definitely going to sign up for the 6 week course with Lona!!!

Had an amazing experience at the pottery studio. Came as a beginner and received a perfect explanation and help as I was creating my pieces. Very caring and knowledgeable teachers! Can’t wait to pick up my bowls and use them at home! Will bring my kids to try it as well. Highly recommend!

I had Jesse as my instructor and he was the best EVER. He was not only such a fabulous teacher, but also a fabulous person. 10/10 class I will definitely be back.

I love supporting smaller business but this one in my experience isn’t it. As a returning ceramist, I took a class here 2021. They are not very flexible if you miss a class and some of the instructors are questionable. What I mean is they are knowledgeable but I had an experience with one here that was rude. Her name was Melody and long story short, she became very upset with me for being 10 min late. It was very clear it made the whole class uncomfortable and I should have just walked out immediately. I understand it’s a class and coming in late is a disruption but her disciplinary attitude towards me was uncalled for. Very Teach vs Student vibe. We are all adults and no one should be treated less. If you are a beginner or returning ceramist, I’d highly consider trying out POT LA or better yet Still life in Santa Monica. Better prices and better quality all around.

This was such an amazing time and a great introduction into pottery. Our teacher Sara was phenomenal at showing us how to start from ground zero. The smaller class size was definitely a plus, it felt very intimate. 10/10 highly recommend to everyone!

I brought my team for a hand building class after a very stressful week at work. It was a fantastic bonding experience. Everyone really enjoyed it and we all keep talking about it days after. Chandler was a great teacher! I highly recommend it!

WOW, I enjoyed myself so much! I took the 6-week course at Good Dirt LA and I had a wonderful experience. Not only did I meet other creative people, but also I learned new skills. Every session was interesting, whether it was while working on the wheel or with my hands when creating pinching pieces or playing with glaze colors and how they blend with different clays. It was also quite relaxing, mentally. I LOVED it all!!! :) I'll sign up for another 6-week round! Thanks GDLA!!

I highly recommend Good Dirt LA!! I’ve taken several sessions now, and I recently made some dipping olive oil dishes that I plan on giving away to my friends this holiday season!! I love the idea of gifting something that I’ve made with my own two hands and that I had so much fun making. They’ll love them even more!! The studio is also cool if you want to take classes and if you are interested in trying something new. I love coming into the studio!

Had the best time at Good dirt La!!! My friend and I were newbies to to the wheel but left the class craving more! Definitely going to sign up for the 6 week course with Lona!!!

Expectacular work from Good Dirt LA. We produced a commercial for USPS and were in need of a set of plates ith a unique design. Good Dirt LA work was above expectations the plates looks beautiful and client was impress about the final product. Thanks again for the amazing collaboration!!

A few friends and I took a Friday night pottery class here. The class was reasonably priced for 2 hours and 2 pieces we got to create and shape ourselves. It was perfect for beginners and the instructor was extremely nice, friendly and patient to help us get the pieces where we wanted it - even though it was the first time for many of us. I'd highly recommend and can't wait to pick up our pieces!

Good Dirt LA was one of my favorite finds during the pandemic. During this time they did offer outdoor classes which was lovely. I started with the 6 week bootcamp which I did twice just to really understand the process and get more practice. The positive of doing the bootcamp is that you get to experience it all from hand building, throwing, trimming, and glazing. After bootcamp I switched over to creative time to continue creating where you can use the wheel, the tools, and all the glaze and paint options. You can book online and the pricing varies based on which package or class structure you select. The teachers there that I've encountered (Oliver, Kelly, Aram, Milly) are friendly, supportive, knowledgeable, & patient. The owner Lina, is one of the kindest souls I've ever met, she has a passion for her business and truly cares about her customers. You'll see her popping into the studio or working and she's always happy to give pointers and advice as well. She cares about the community and has given scholarships to students as well as taking part in projects. If you want to support they do sell cute hats at the studio! Lina and the teachers also sell some of their beautiful creations so if you're on the lookout for a hand made beautiful gift this is a spot you can keep your eye on. After a long period away I did try an intro class for a refresher where you get to throw two pieces and learn about basics of wheel throwing. For someone who is curious about pottery and wants a little taste, the intro class is a great way to get a taste. The downside to the intro class is that you don't get to trim or glaze your pieces. They'll glaze the pieces for you. One color per item from a limited selection. I personally recommend doing the 6 week bootcamp to get the full scope of the pottery experience. Parking: They do have parking at the back of the studio which is really nice and convenient. They also have street parking in front of the studio which is another option.

I honestly had the best time at Good Dirt LA. I took the 1 time wheel throwing class, which was 2 hours and included making two objects (1lbs and 1.5lbs). The instructor was very helpful (my class was taught by Lana, I think was her name) and I am thinking about signing up for the 6-week course that they offer. Once our little projects dry, they'll dip paint it for us, which we had 4 colors to choose from, and it'll be fired up and ready to pick up in several weeks. I am so excited to see how they'll turn out. Highly recommend trying out the 1 time class if you are curious about ceramics and wheel throwing!

Took the class and had a ton of fun. Mariano was a dawg. Very knowledgeable and relaxed. Great atmosphere and good communication. Worth the cost.

They run a very efficient system to select your desired project and go from clay to cup, plate or whatever you choose. Very helpful staff Love you guys!

Overall I had a great intro pottery class. I do wish our instructor was better at explaining and she was a bit more patient with us. She was still good and again I still did learn.

I love this place!! My friend bought us a one time session as a birthday gift for me. I've been wanting to try pottery for awhile but was nervous to get started. Our instructor Lana was incredible! She was kind and funny and made it easy to ask questions along the way! She made us feel confident with our pieces even though we messed up along the way. Overall it was a really fun and engaging class and I hope to sign up for the 6 week course in the near future!

I have been enjoying the Creative Time bundles for several months now and it has been a game changer. If you're looking for a fun outlet or a way to brighten your day-to-day, I couldn't recommend it enough. The bundle price is a great value and I have considered it a necessity to work into my tight budget and have never once regretted it. The studio techs are invaluable wealths of knowledge and have always been so helpful and encouraging. The other creative timers are so friendly and fun to be around as well. I can't say enough good things about the studio; make the time in your busy schedule to come to this spot. It's a really special place.

I've gone to good dirt for years now and have always had a lovely experience!! Milly is predominately my instructor there and she is quite fabulous, patient and knowledgeable! Good dirt uses the best products, so my pieces (even when they kind of suck because I'm a beginner) always turn out so pretty because of the glazes they provide at the studio. There's ample parking in the back of the studio and around the area so it's pretty stress free to jump into class and get to throwing! Love this place

I've never tried wheel throwing before and was so excited for my intro class last Friday evening with a friend at Good Dirt LA. This was a 2 hour class for $85 and I read great reviews before booking. While the size of the class was great and intimate (only 5 students), and the facility itself is wonderful, the 3 star review is for the instructor we had. Our teacher was very sweet and seemed like a nice person, however she gave very quick and poor demonstrations, and was extremely hands off. With a small class of 5 students, you would expect the instructor to walk around and give tips, help students that were struggling, and provide a bit more guidance for an intro class. I consider myself to be an artistic person (I have a watercolor business) and I could not follow the instructions for wheel throwing and was clearly having a difficult time. I had to ask the teacher multiple times to come help me or give me pointers, when I would have hoped she would have noticed and offered guidance herself. When my first piece wasn't coming out as I'd hoped and was on the cusp of breaking, I asked the instructor what we could do to remedy it and instead of brainstorming ideas or showing me what she would do, she said "There's nothing you can do. At this point it's done." It sounds like we may have just had a newer instructor based on previous reviews. When our teacher asked if anyone has thrown on the wheel before and my friend raised her hand and said she took an 8 week course, the teacher remarked "wow that's more than I've done!"which we both thought was odd. I understand intro to wheel throwing will have a learning curve, and with a 2 hour class it could be fast paced, but we were a bit disappointed overall. I would love to try wheel throwing again, but would need someone a bit more hands on to guide me.

My boyfriend and I just attended the intro throwing class a few hours ago and are still talking about what a spectacular afternoon it was. Our teacher Grace was an absolute legend, and has made us fall in love with clay. I recommend :)

$75 per person for 2 hrs semi private class which included instructions on whee throw pottery, and 2 pieces (done in -3 weeks with color of ur choice) Our instructor Luke who was very informative, patient, and thorough! Studio is bright, clean, and plenty of resources/supplies. Would recommend this class to anyone! Cant wait to get membership. ***seems like they will be closed as precautionary action regarding COVID-19

I came here right before the pandemic, but haven't been able to make it back butI wanted to leave a review anyway. I had a great time here at Good Dirt!, I will be back when I can. I took the intro class as it had been a very long time since I had done pottery (high school). I felt welcomed and the environment was friendly. When I can, I will come back for their bootcamp package and then transition to their sister site MoLA. Spots fill up quickly!

An amazing, supportive place to learn or refine your creative side with clay. This is what I tell my friends, when I share with them, where I have been spending my evenings. I knew nothing about pottery or working with clay, when I stepped into my first class at Good Dirt LA. Nick, our first teacher, had such an easy going laid back approach to teaching, I picked it up pretty quickly. He was great about sharing the nuances of the different clays, and how each one was different for the medium we were studying. Class went so quickly when he was teaching. I felt so comfortable by my third or fourth class. They provide all of the tools and supplies needed to throw clay or hand build something. Glazing was AAAMMMAAZZZIIINNNGGG,!!! You coat your pottery in something that looks one color and after it is fired, WOW!!! It was like Christmas every time we went into the studio. I took a second course with Sachi. Her teaching style was so very encouraging..when I was tempted to give up or trash a project, she would say so confidently, "keep going! It looks great" or gave encouragement from her spot, and I grew. Quickly and confidently. I was throwing so many more pots than I thought I would. I can't wait to start my "creative time" this fall. I get to spend more time doing what relaxes me and boosts my self esteem. The whole place is such a safe, encouraging and uplifting creative space. Try it out. You won't regret it.

Long overdue post about how much I love Good Dirt. After walking by the studio many times walking my dog, I booked a six week pottery boot camp class with Sara and was immediately hooked. My next session was a mixed levels class with Amber. Both teachers were amazing and patient, both classes were full of laughs and good vibes - even through the productive struggle of learning all the steps to throw on the wheel. The classes are small, there's a ton of tools available to try out, and I've met lots of lovely creative people. I've had the most fun learning to create with clay - it's a very meditative creative outlet and every piece I've made, good and bad, has taught me so much. If you are looking to learn how to create with clay, Good Dirt is a great spot!

My friend and I booked a 2 hour intro class with Good Dirt LA and it was an amazing experience that I would recommend for everyone! It's a rare experience and Good Dirt LA has incredible, passionate instructors, such as Sara! She was patient with 5 students and very encouraging when things did not go as planned. She answered alot of random pottery questions I asked and was very knowledgable. Even talking about the glazing colors, you could see the excitement in her eyes and in her voice. The facility is very clean and cozy and it was easy to follow directions. Wheel throwing is so fun. With each move that you make, it's really fun to see how the clay gets manipulated into various shapes. Thank you for a great experience, Sara and Good Dirt LA! We can't wait to see our finished products and would love to come back some day.

I wanted to take a pottery class and found Good Dirt LA. I was so pleased with this place. I took the Intro to Wheel Throwing beginner class. I had never done pottery before this class and it was great for beginners. Our teacher was patient and explained everything so well. All the materials were provided and we made two different pieces. At the end you choose which color you want your pieces to be and can pick them up in 4-6 weeks. My pieces were ready in 2 weeks. I definitely plan to take another class there again. Overall great class and space! 10/10.

There are better studios in LA. I've taken a few classes and a bootcamp here - your experience really depends on your teacher. It's very clear that some instructors don't have the compassion or patience that is needed when teaching pottery, just hope you don't get one of those. I had one chastise me for "not listening correctly", as if I was a toddler. Would rather spend my money somewhere else.

I had the most wonderful time doing a short promo video at Good Dirt LA in the beautiful Del Rey neighborhood of Los Angeles. The space is incredibly inviting for all levels beginner to advanced! We had a private lesson with Luke and had the opportunity to learn the basics (it's definitely harder than it might look) and we're so happy it's in our neck of the woods. If you're looking for a great pottery studio look no further, you've found it, Good Dirt LA!! *Our hair was down ONLY for the photos. Good Dirt LA requires your hair to be pulled back for all classes! :) Kat Hatayama 424-298-0616 Realtor, Westside LA DRE#02043834

Went here with my girlfriend and it was awesome! Our instructor was super helpful and it's a great place for a date nigh

My kids have been enjoying pottery from home! Thank you Good Dirt LA for offering these On- Demand Classes! Kids are having too much on screen time but this experience is different. Yes, they are watching a video but they are also interacting and working with their hands and creating!  We will be making hearts soon as a family! Best $38 you can spend and such a great way to support your local pottery studio during these times.

Can't rave enough about this place! Small classes. I think it's 5-6 max per class. Teachers are patient, talented and super encouraging. Everyone had a great time in our group and two of them already booked another class! Loved the two items we created too!!!

Amazing studio! Our instructor (Kaitlyn) did a terrific job and was extremely patient! We loved the small class, it felt like it was almost private! Truly a great experience

Good Dirt LA is an amazing studio with absolutely INCREDIBLE teachers. I took three boot camps and my teachers, Nick, Carol, and Hannah were amazing. I loved going to class and looked forward to seeing everyone each week. This is a wonderful environment to create and make mistakes and get messy!

I took an introduction class and I loved it! Carol is such a wonderful instructor! I had the best time. It's a small and quaint studio. I highly recommend it.

If my best friend wants wheel throwing for her 30th Birthday, we will give her wheel throwing!!! Communications were smooth. Started planning two months in advance. I emailed to inquire about having a private party for November. Ariel took care of the scheduling and Lina took care of getting the invoice to me. Paid it and locked in our time. The week of the event, I emailed to confirm that everything was set. They informed me of an instructor change, which is fine because we didn't have anyone in particular we were set on. Only minor thing I'd say was it would be great to include in the email where best to park, since there are only two spots in the back for Good Dirt. We were lucky that there was a spot right in front of the store on the street. We arrived close to a half an hour early because as you can see in this review, I'm "diligent/anal" about things and want to ensure all things went smoothly for my best friends birthday gift. We signed ourselves into the binder, got our aprons, and were ready to soak up the skills to wheel throwing! Audrey was a wonderful instructor. She first showed all the steps to throwing, then had us do it together, then when we moved onto our next project she gave us the option to go over it again or to let us just go with it. I felt she was attentive and alerted us when we were getting to thin when pulling up or our base was too thick and had more to work with. I felt extremely comfortable around the wheel, even though I thought it would be super difficult to manage! The instructions were done well! We made a few options and were asked to choose two of our creations to have fired and glazed. Audrey then labeled them with our names, dates, and glaze color. We then cleaned up our stations! Designated a person to pick up our pieces and we were done! I'd highly recommend having a private party! It was fabulous having a small group with all the focus of our instructor on helping us! It was so much fun! I can't wait to get our works of art back! Thank you Audrey!

I LOVE Good Dirt LA. I took their 6 week pottery boot camp and learned SO much. I love the light and airy studio space, and the staff is so helpful and inspiring. If you are looking for a great creative outlet, look no further. You learn how to throw, trim, hand build and glaze. I will definitely be back, and I can't wait to pick up my pieces!

Such a great private class! Also took all the necessary precautions during the pandemic. I really appreciated how patient and helpful the instructor was.

I look forward to this class every week and if I had more time I would do it every day. The teachers I have had are fun and patient and genuinely seem to care about what you are doing. On top of that, the students are chill and interested. My only complaint would be about scheduling and rescheduling which I wish could be done entirely online. I highly recommend Good Dirt.

Great experience for a beginner! My husband and I contacted Good Dirt at the last minute to schedule a private lesson the next day; knowing it was probably a stretch to accommodate us. Lucky for us Ariel & Lina were able to find a teacher, and fit us in the following morning. The One time Intro to Pottery class is scheduled for 2.5 hrs (and I believe it is the same format as the community Intro class). First was a step by step demo by the teacher, then we got to work on the wheel while the teacher went through all the steps with us together, and lastly did a second piece going through the steps on our own (with assistance as needed). At the end we each had made 2 pieces of pottery to take home. We had to leave them there to dry, and finish the rest of the process. We will be able to pick up our pieces in 3 weeks. The cost of the class includes all materials, tools, and finished pieces. Our teacher, Svetlana was very knowledgeable and clearly communicated all of the steps, and how to use the wheel and the tools. She was very supportive and kind and assisted us as needed. The studio is very clean and nice to work in. Our lesson was at their sister studio MoLA in Culver City. Lina, the owner, clearly runs an efficient studio and we were very appreciative they were able to accommodate us at the the last minute. I am hoping to sign up for the 4-class pass soon. This is a great place for a beginner, and I highly recommend it for anyone thinking about trying it out.

Husband and I had a good Friday night here! Excited to pick up the pieces we made in our intro class. Convenient parking and a good west side location. Our instructor was informative. Overall would recommend.

Had a great time class size was small. Friendly staff. The only problem I encountered was staff having a hard time finding my pieces which was troublesome considering we were from out of town. They did find them at the end.

Finally took my first pottery class at Good Dirt LA, and it was such a TREAT!! My teachers were Nick and Luke, who were both very patient, kind and helpful. We split into two groups of 6. Half of us started out on the pottery wheel learning how to throw a bowl and the other half started out at the crafting table, building a mug with clay. Then, we switched places so that at the end of class we each had crafted a bowl and a mug, that we'll be able to pick up in a few weeks. We were given a choice of what color glaze we want. The class lasted about two hours, and I feel like I got so much out of it! I'm excited to see how my first pottery turns out! Also, the owner, Lina, is a gem of a human!! I'll definitely be back again and bringing my hubby with me to try it out.

I recently hosted a private party of 6 to celebrate my 25th birthday and everyone LOVED it! Our instructor Svetlana was so incredibly nice and informative! When we started out we were all nervous due to the information overload at the beginning, but once we were on the wheel it was so much fun! Svetlana came around helping everyone, and offered great tips and advice to better our pieces. It was genuinely relaxing and so much fun!! We booked the 2.5 hour class as well as an additional 30min in order to cut a cake and enjoy it, and we finished everything on time and we never once felt rushed. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be coming back for more classes! Thank you Svetlana for making our evening so entertaining and informative!

Highly recommend!! Completed two introduction classes and loved every minute! All instructors were great!

Took the wheel throwing class last night and it was so much fun! Our instructor William was great! He helped us out when we got stuck and explained everything really clearly. It was a very relaxing class and would definitely come again!

I was in a desperate search for a fun, yet meaningful team-building activity for P.S. ARTS' annual staff retreat. Since we are an arts education nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children through arts education, I really wanted the activity to be arts-related as well. I was hoping to avoid the usual (Painfully awkward ice-breakers, lame trust-exercises, uber competitive games). I searched online for Westside pottery studios and was hard pressed to find one that could accommodate 17 people, had a vibe that matched our staff's, loved our mission as much as we do, and understood our goal of building an office culture that embraces an attitude of life-long learning...all while fitting into a modest nonprofit budget. Enter Lina's studio, Good Dirt L.A., and her crew of merry teachers. Lina answered my email right away and while they normally don't take such large groups, she and one of her teachers (Mariana) worked with me to design the perfect 3-hour session for our staff. When we arrived, they were ready for us and what they came up with was even better than I hoped for. Each one of our staff members got to work on the wheel, hand build and play games as we rotated through 3 stations that they had set up. All of her teachers were patient with our varying levels of ability (SO patient!), enthusiastic, and genuinely kind people. I just picked up our finished pieces today (ready for pick up about 3 weeks after the event) and delivered them to our staff. We each made a bowl (or vaguely bowl-shaped item in my case) and a mug. While none of our pieces are museum-worthy, everyone is really pleased with the final result and we got to reminisce about how fun the whole the experience was. ("Remember when my bowl flew off the wheel and how Emily the teacher totally didn't laugh and me and convinced me that I had made the most amazing organically shaped gravy boat in the world?") Thank you, Lina and crew! It was a truly memorable experience and we can't wait to come back!

I've always wanted to learn pottery and finally began coming to good dirt after doing some studio research. It's been such a wonderful experience for me to learn and explore my creativity. I began with a private small group lesson, moved into the 6 week boot camp and am now attending class every Saturday. I've been able to work with a few different teachers and they are all so kind, patient and willing to assist with any project. I look forward to coming to class every single week and wish I could make more time in my schedule to attend more classes. The other students are really friendly, the atmosphere is fun, and it's added so much joy to my life.

I took 2 separate boot camp classes and I'm on my 3rd round of creative time. I love everything about Good Dirt! The staff and the members are all so helpful and friendly. The access to clay, wheels, tools, glazes and firing is super convenient and excellent quality.

Took a 8 week long boot camp class at Good Dirt LA during the pandemic. They had an outside studio to safely accommodate the pandemic during that time. It was the best experience as it catapulted my love for wheel throwing. Lina (owner) was very attentive and was quick to respond to any concerns or questions. Nick (instructor) made sure our group had a strong foundation on the wheel during the 8 weeks. I then transitioned over to Creative Time which allows freedom of the studio. Best decision I made during the pandemic. Their studio is very clean and everyone is respectful. There is a tech there to answer any questions or to ask for advice.

This is probably one of the best father - Daugther experiences I have ever had. I wish I could make the experience weekly or monthly. The bond created in just one class will last forever.

This place is simply amazing! I went there for a private lesson for date night and these are my thoughts. 1. Fantastic and talented instructors 2. Love the ambience, chill vibes 3. Easy parking 4. I could play my own music! 5. I was allowed to bring wine in! 5. The studio is pet friendly, and their studio manager, Malu the dog, is the cutest thing ever! 6. Easy access, off Centinela so it's right off the 90 fwy 7. Stays open late ( perfect for date night) I will most definitely come back!

My boyfriend surprised me with a private wheel throwing class for my birthday last weekend. It was only us 2 and Svetlana, our instructor, in the studio all night. It lasted 2.5 hours and we were able to make 3 different pieces! It was me and my boyfriend's first time using the wheel throwing method, so Svetlana was a great teacher and really guided us through everything. She was super helpful when we were struggling with our pieces. Svetlana is very friendly, knowledgeable, and she even gave us some free beer!! Parking was pretty easy and we found a spot on the street right in front of the place.. we went around 7:30pm on a Friday night. I'm not too sure about the pricing because my boyfriend bought it for me as a bday present, but it was such a great time! We have to wait 4 weeks before we can pick up our pieces and I can't wait to see how they turned out. Would definitely recommend this place! (:

This has been the absolute best way to start my week during my Monday AM class session. i've had two instructors (Josiah and Ariane) and both were incredibly attentive, knowledgeable and patient. Plus the other students have been so chill and fun to talk to but i guess ceramics isn't something that appeals to assholes? Will be continuing for the foreseeable future. Wish i had more stars to give! thank you so much!

Good Dirt LA is the perfect place for you if you're looking to get an introduction to pottery. My girlfriend booked an introductory pottery throwing class for me a month in advance... the wait was certainly worth it! The studio itself is pretty small and easy to miss- it's located on the intersection of Short and Centinela. If you miss it, don't worry since there is plenty of street parking , as long as you don't book an evening class. If you do book an evening class, it'll probably take place during peak rush hour so you'll most likely need to utilize the small parking lot behind the studio. They share this lot with the other small businesses in the vicinity, so there are only 2 spots available. The interior is much of what you would expect from a potter's studio. Most of the room is filled with pieces created by other students, which are nice to draw inspiration from. There are plenty of tools to use and as for the potter's wheels, it seems that there are only about 6 or 7 available at most. Due to the limited availability of the wheels, I advise to book a class as soon as you can as they do fill up fast. As for our class, our instructor Jesse was very helpful and hands-on throughout the whole class. He began our session by describing the tools, types of clay, and how the potter's wheel works. It was followed by a brief, but in-depth demonstration in which he showed us the technique and form required to shape a block of clay. As we started on our own pieces, I realized that shaping clay is much harder than it looks but fortunately Jesse was there to provide continual guidance. I absolutely destroyed my first two pieces, but there is plenty of clay to use. I really appreciated that although many of us made less-than-perfect pieces at the end, Jesse made an effort to make light of the situation and that it's OK to make happy mistakes. After an hour of shaping, I was finally able to pump out two ceramic pieces- a small sauce dish and a bowl! At the end of the class, we were instructed to clean our stations and choose two out of all of the ceramic pieces we created. There are plenty of glazes but for the introductory class, you can only pick a maximum of two glazes from a selection of five, one for each your pieces. Unfortunately the class doesn't cover glazing and firing (the instructor does this at another time), so expect to come back to the studio in three to four weeks to pick up your finished pieces. The only reason that I'm rating Good Dirt LA as four stars is because their online class reservation system is not at all that intuitive. When we attempted to schedule our class, we were told to email them after our purchase to "secure" our spots, even though there is a record of how many spots are reserved/open. This wasn't too obvious but by the time I realized it, someone else confirmed their spot before us and I had to reschedule our session a week later. Overall, I had a great experience and I'm yearning for more! There was a lot to take in for just one class, so I'm hoping to book a 4-week consecutive class package. Hopefully this time I won't have any issues with the reservation.

Went here with a small group to celebrate my husband's birthday. We signed up for a 2.5 hr session for $75/person. The class provided two clumps of clay, mixed white and red, and enough time to throw two things. Once thrown, we set the pieces aside and picked out a glaze (a choice of 5 colors- three blues, a red, and a black). And that was that. Pros: 1) Teacher was very nice and was able to help three of us who had a lot of previous throwing experience refresh our skills while also teacher one of our friends who was completely new to throwing. 2) oh wait, there aren't any more. Cons: 1) there was no choice in clay. While this means nothing to a newbie, it seemed ridiculous to experienced throwers. We were given a cool combo of red and white clay BUT we couldn't trim it (unless we wanted to pay for another $75 session) so there was literally NO POINT to have the mixed clay. 2) there was no follow up post throwing (unless you wanted to pay for another session). So we had a chance to get our hands dirty and throw a pot or two, BUT we didn't get to trim the clay, add a handle, or creatively glaze. To a veteran thrower, this is all part of the experience. I akin it to taking a cooking class for baking holiday cookies. If you pay for the class, you should get to measure and mix the ingredients, shape the cookies on a baking sheet, cook them, then decorate when they're done. We were allowed to mix the ingredients, and tell them what icing color we wanted, then we were left to come back in three weeks to pick up the finished product. It felt weird, and all of us felt quite shafted. 3) glaze choices were mediocre. As mentioned before there were only 5 choices and not one of them was in the white/off white family. In the store they have a TON of color choices (including the oatmeal that I wanted), but those are saved for people that pay for other types of memberships or class sessions. 4) when I finally got to pick up my glazed-by-someone-else bowls, one of them had a crack in the bottom. And so did my husband's. I was really disappointed to see this large crack down the middle of one bowl and the explanation for the teacher was, "there was probably too much water in the bottom or it wasn't compact enough." Okay, while I accept that as a proper scientific explanation, I was LIVID at the fact that it should be the teacher's job to help us avoid that from happening! I mention at all during the class and no apologies on behalf of the teacher for this unfortunate outcome. Also, my other bowl had a drip of glaze down the side, which demonstrated that someone was pretty careless when doing these for me. After walking away from the class, the three of us who had experience throwing were utterly disappointed and felt like it was a waste of money and a complete let down. On of us actually refuses to pick up his glazed stuff because the class did not deliver and he feels the products he made are useless. The one newbie with us had a nice time. I understand why she did, plus neither of her tiny bowls were cracked. If you've never taken ceramics before and you have very low expectations, then this is a fine place. If you have previous skills and want a complete experience, start saving for the 4 week class option or the really expensive monthly membership.

Do you enjoy judgmental people, terrible customer service, and oddly restrictive policies? Then this place is for you! I took classes here for months. My first class, I felt immediately like I wasn't welcome, but I chalked it up to being new. no one likes being the new kid. I signed up for an intro four pack and told the teacher that I had never been on a wheel before... I got very minimal instruction on what to do, but I kept trying. as my classes went along, I just started to figure it out for myself. I'm not here to throw my specific teacher under the bus, but beware, one of the women isn't very helpful. if you need help you better have a very specific question about what to do and not just "how should I make this shape or how should I make this..." I understand its not easy to guide someone who doesn't know EXACTLY what they're asking for, but as a new potter, it should be to expected. she was very helpful with glazing though! The issue with this place is the cancellation policy. if you get a 4 pack of classes, you have to book all four IMMEDIATELY. and they have to be 4 consecutive weeks. so I signed up and the 3rd week was my birthday, my parents were in town and I had plans with them so I signed up for week 1, week 2, skipped week 3 (my birthday), week 4, and the 5th week. I got an email from them asking if I meant to not be signed up for that day. I explained yes. she said well you have to let us know these things ahead of time so we can get you a voucher. this voucher is NOT for a class. it is for STUDIO TIME. which does not guarantee you a wheel, you are only supposed to use 1.5 pounds of clay at most. basically studio time is only good for you if you need to glaze stuff... and studio time is worth less than what you pay for a regular class, so you're losing money this just so isn't fair. I totally understand not canceling your reservation the day before, but seeing as this was 3 weeks before the class I was "cancelling" I don't see the issue. this is an adult class, not high school. I'm not sure why attendance in mandatory. I know it is not difficult for them to do this. they use "Mind body" which I have worked with before, it's no effort on their part to keep track of this. (my teacher tried to tell me they do this because it is too confusing to keep track of who has classes to make up etc.) the woman emailing me was beyond rude. didn't care to help me. told me that this is our policy and thats final. so I told her that I would find another studio. this wasn't a threat by any means, they clearly don't care if I leave, it was more of just, wow this is sad. that I'm going to have to leave. she responded with "we urge you to do what is best for you in finding a new studio. you won't find another studio with policies different than ours, but let us know if you do." to which I responded that I had :) on my last class I was talking to a classmate about the unfortunate situations and my teacher scolded me and told me not to me so negative. excuse me, are you my mother? and I'm not being negative, its just the truth. I had 3 students come up to me and talk to me about similar situations. one man told me he totally agreed with this insane cancellation policy, and he has been coming since they opened their doors. the studio has never been like this before and he's looking for somewhere new. a woman told me she had received nasty emails as well and was relieved to hear that its not just her. she was worried that for some reason they had an issue with her in particular. nope. they're just nasty. oh and theres no parking. they have 2 spots in the lot behind the studio but teachers or members use them. they say street parking is easy, but thats just not true they have a ton of test tiles for glaze they don't even have anymore, and their beyond unorganized this place sucks, all the way around. do not bother.

Last spring I decided to take an 8 week pottery bootcamp with Good Dirt LA. My only experience with pottery was my sophomore ceramics class 20 years ago. My instructor (Nick) was so knowledgeable, helpful, patient and kind. I loved the bootcamp and the pieces I made so much that I signed up for another 6 week class with the studio. Hannah was my instructor this time around and she is also a fantastic and patient teacher. I felt so comfortable on the wheel and hand building after these 2 sessions that I decided to sign up for Creative Time. Creative Time allows you to book blocks of time to work/create whatever you wish at the studio. There is usually a tech on hand to happily answer any questions you may have and the other Creative Timers are also so knowledgable and friendly. I loved my few months of Creative Time at Good Dirt. This past January I transitioned over to their sister studio Members Only LA (MOLA). At MOLA you are able to come and go as you please and create to your hearts desire. I was pretty intimidated my first few days at MOLA, but that quickly changed when all of the talented members of the studio befriending me and happily shared their tips and tricks and made me feel so comfortable and welcome. Lina and Debra (the owners) have created 2 fantastic studios with first class staff, materials and clients and I'm so happy to be a part of their community.