Marjorie MillerI felt inspired by the creativity and colors from the festivals (festivals Jacksonville) I’ve attended with friends, so I ended up wanting to explore an exciting art medium.
Pottery caught my eye, since, admittedly, it was something I’ve always wanted to try—mostly because it reminded me of my childhood years when I would play with modeling clay all afternoon.
As such, I looked for pottery classes in Jacksonville where I could learn the basics of the craft. And since I know I’m not alone, I’m here to share with you the best spots, and who knows, we might even sit next to each other in your first class!
1. Jacksonville Pottery Studio
Media credit: insearchof.ceramics
Website: https://jaxpottery.com/
Address: 9640 Sunbeam Center Dr Ste #3
Contact Details: +19044965295
Operating Hours:
- Tues–Thurs: 9:00am – 9:00pm
- Fri–Sat: 9:00am – 8:00pm
- Sun–Mon: closed
Class Rates:
- Sip & Spin Try It Class: $99
- Wheel Throwing and Hand Building classes start at $350
- Holiday workshops start at $95
- Kids classes start at $65
- Open studio time: $40
As someone who hasn’t really explored pottery much, I expected it to be intimidating, but it turned out to be a welcoming community. My friends and I tried Jacksonville Pottery Studio, and I think we’ll be coming back for more sessions.
We signed up for their Sip & Spin one-day trial class, and I feel like it’s a great introductory class for beginners. They even allow adults 21 and above to sip on alcoholic drinks while creating, so it was a unique experience!
What’s great is that they have a wide variety of classes that cater to everyone from beginners to more advanced groups of creatives. If you’re thinking of introducing this hobby to your friends, they allow reservations for private events or pottery parties.
I bet you’d have so much fun that you’d want to commit to improving your skills, so you could consider their membership option. It includes unlimited kiln firing in the studio, access to the studio on Sundays, and even discounts on classes.
You’d also be happy to note that their prices are clearly listed online, so you can easily gauge if these classes are for you.
| Pro tip: If it’s your first time, try a Sip & Spin class first. Pottery costs can easily add up, so it’s best to do a trial class before investing more in the hobby. |
2. Doing Dishes Pottery Studio
Media credit: jaimeinpink
Website: https://www.doingdishes.com/
Address: 5619 San Jose Blvd
Contact Details: +19047303729
Operating Hours:
- Mon: closed
- Tues–Thurs: 10:00am – 7:00pm
- Fri–Sat: 10:00am – 8:00pm
- Sun: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Class Rates:
- Table reservations start at $10 for 2 hours
What I really liked about Doing Dishes Pottery Studio is their affordability, making it less intimidating to try for beginners. It’s also great that their community seems family-friendly, too, especially since they have a lot of activities catered to young ones.
They offer summer workshops for kids that are open to those who are starting first grade and above, so you could consider this for your child’s next school break.
While Doing Dishes focuses mostly on glazing pottery instead of making it, they have a package, such as one for homeschooled kids, where they can explore playing with clay apart from painting or glazing them.
For parents or families with babies, it’s a fun feature that they have handprint or footprint clay impressions for babies, so you get a memorable and meaningful keepsake of your child’s tender smallness.
They have a wide variety of projects that would exercise your creativity. You could do a walk-in visit, but they prefer that you make an appointment to ensure that they can immediately accommodate your activity.
If you and your child enjoy this hobby, you’re also welcome to hold celebrations here, like birthday parties, bridal showers, and baby showers! It’s a fun way to bond with friends and family.
| Pro tip: See if you can go on weekdays, since there might be less people joining you. This could be helpful if you’re shy about your initial projects, so having a less crowded studio might be better for asking for clarifications regarding the process. |
3. Art League of Jacksonville
Media credit: susan.elizabeth78
Website: https://www.artsjax.org/class/ceramics-wheel-throwing
Address: 3740 Burnett Park Rd
Contact Details: +17327429237
Class Rates:
- 5 sessions at $140 for members
- 5 sessions for $150 for non-members
I checked out Art League of Jacksonville after reading more about wheel throwing for ceramics, and I think their classes lean towards a more academic approach in terms of their structured style.
This is good if you want to start being serious about the craft, because the class will teach you the fundamentals of forming clay. I think that’s why the classes are for 18 years old and above only, as they’re meant to be focused on skill building.
The classes teach essential wheel throwing skills like centering clay, throwing, trimming, decorating, and glazing. These steps are basic and crucial to creating not just durable, but also aesthetically pleasing ceramic pieces.
If you’re unfamiliar with some of the design principles, this is also a good chance to learn about them. In creating ceramic pieces, they also teach you how to apply principles like proportion, repetition, line, and positive and negative space.
They introduce you to a gradual process of learning, which is good for beginners. Classes start with making cups and bowls before progressing to more complex shapes like bottles and jars.
The rates are inclusive of materials, so you wouldn’t have to worry about sourcing them separately, which I think is convenient for those starting out. Prepare yourself for lots of new lessons if you’re signing up for this one!
| Pro tip: You might want to bring a notebook during class, especially since the instructor could get a bit technical about the principles of design. You’d want to take note of the bits of information that could be useful when designing your own pottery. |
4. MOCA Jacksonville
Media credit: mocajax
Website: https://mocajacksonville.unf.edu/
Address: 333 N Laura St
Contact Details: +19043666911
Operating Hours:
- Tues–Sun: 11:00am – 5:00pm
- Mon: closed
Class Rates:
- Starts at $20
I’m not gonna lie: I struggled with the wheel throwing type of pottery. It was difficult having to center the clay and being patient with shaping it with my hands and the wheel, so it’s a good thing I found classes at MOCA Jacksonville.
They focus on hand building pottery, which is basically making pottery without the wheel, and you only use your hands and some tools to form shapes with the clay.
Though it still somehow needs some patience like letting the clay dry a bit before adding attachments, I found it more friendly for my personal disposition. The classes are also inclusive for all skill levels, so regardless of your status, you’d have fun with this.
For the hands-on work during class, they already provide materials and tools for you to work with but you’re free to bring your own supplies, too, if you have some already. This is a good option if you’ve already acquired tools from previous classes.
What’s also interesting about the MOCA classes is that it’s led by artist Reed Harper who is a practicing ceramic artist. With his knowledge, you get to learn valuable insights on technique and he’d be able to mentor your creative expression.
| Pro tip: Take advantage of the option to bring your own tools. You could make DIY tools at home using simple materials like paper clips and chopsticks. This could help you make unique shapes and textures during your session. |
5. Arts Ignited on Pottery
Media credit: Arts Ignited
Website: https://www.artsignited.com/
Address: 9715 Crosshill Blvd #101, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046386692
Operating Hours:
- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
- Sat: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Sun: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
- Tues: closed
Class Rates:
- Open in-studio painting starts at $8, depending on size and type of item
My friend Pat was able to try one of the Friday Night workshops for adults at Arts Ignited, and I can’t help but feel jealous. I look forward to their next schedule, but it’s great that they hold it every few months.
For their activities, walk-ins are welcome, but they also accept a 30-minute heads up call, so they can hold your seats for a few minutes.
Keep in mind that Arts Ignited focuses on painting pottery instead of forming it. They have a wide selection of colors, and you’d be overwhelmed with the variety of items that you could paint, too.
If you’re looking for a venue for field trips, birthday parties, or private events, this is a good call. It’s a fun and unique experience for kids and adults alike!
You’d want to take note that they also offer discounts for military personnel, and promos for birthday celebrants. They provide a free 4×4-inch tile to paint on if you purchase any item 7 days before or after your birthday.
| Pro tip: Use the option of calling in 30 minutes ahead of your arrival, so you’re sure to have seats for you and your group when you get to the studio. Wait times could affect your experience, especially if it’s your first time, so try to avoid friction as much as possible to get the best experience you can have! |
