A dog-friendly studio nurturing a community of potters in Mar Vista, Los Angeles



ESTABLISHED 2021
Once the site of Peach Tree Pottery (founded in 1999 by the much loved Linda Mechanic), this space now continues as Hands in Clay L.A.
There are not enough stars for this magical place!!! This is far and away the best pottery studio in all of Los Angeles, probably anywhere. Prior to taking classes at Hands in Clay I tried countless studios in the LA area and was always left feeling deflated, frustrated and like I wasted hundreds of dollars. In contrast, every class I pay for at Hands in Clay feels like I'm getting SO MUCH MORE THAN I PAY FOR. The level of individual attention and instruction is incredible. It's like having personal pottery coaches/trainers that are in my corner and very invested in my success. I have truly never had better teachers for anything in my life. I think the difference is that Richard and Donna 1) actually CARE greatly about their student's success and 2) have great awareness so they know when to help you step-by-step and when to give you space to experiment and practice on your own.
Aside from the stellar teaching here, this is the CLEANEST pottery studio in existence. It helps your workflow, makes for a very comfortable experience, and sets a tone for everyone to be considerate of one another. This is definitely not the closest pottery studio to me, as I live in the West Adams area, but I will continue to come here forever more!!!! You're stuck with me, guys :)
Hands in Clay L.A. is exceptional. Donna and Richard have thought of everything and it really shows through in their instruction and their studio, as well as their class pass offerings. I love that they offer a flexi class pass.
Their instruction is very thorough and easy to follow. They also provided helpful tips and tricks that made all the difference. Their studio is impeccable. Everything is so organized and clean. They've made great use of the space and have all the tools you could possibly need.
I have taken pottery classes at other studios but Hands in clay L.A. is the stand out winner for me. After one class with them I feel accomplished and capable of producing pieces that I can be proud of.
I had never made something with my own hands that was artistic and practical, until I went to Hands in Clay. For those that are not confident in making something like this, this is the place to start. Richard and Donna live the lives of artists, dedicating themselves to their passions, and now they have a space to share them.
The process is meditative and Richard and Donna are pros and work with all experience levels. A single class can be transformative. This would be a great activity for a group to bond over as well.
Hands In Clay L.A. is hands down the best clay studio Iβve ever been a member of. Richard and Donna do an impeccable job of keeping the space clean and organized, which is quite the endeavor for a clay studio! They have an enormous selection of clay bodies, glazes, and tools to choose from while working. This variety provides students with a great opportunity to learn more about different clay bodies, glazes, etc. and how to work with different tools in both the hand-building room and on the wheel. The studioβs classes and membership option are small enough to receive plenty of specialized, 1-1 attention from teachers yet big enough to connect with and learn from other artists/class pass students/studio members.
Finally, Richard and Donna are truly passionate, dedicated, articulate clay educators. Their extensive experience with clay and unique gift for teaching is unparalleled. I cannot recommend this studio enough!
We visited Hands in Clay with some video crew and two other people included myself were given a private course at Hands in Clay LA. Donna was so amazing and so accommodating, especially with our video crew. The class itself was so fun and an amazing bonding experience for my friends and I. Highly recommend!
My second home π I spend more time here than at home. Im so grateful for Donna and Richard. I didnt know anything when I did my first class. They are always teaching me new things, challenging me and helping me turn my crazy ideas into things. I recommend it to everyone.
