HMVB Pottery Workshops

Our hands-on pottery classes in Los Angeles are designed to bring people together through creativity. Handmade in Venice Beach hosts beginner-friendly handbuilding workshops at some of our favorite venues across Venice Beach and LA. Perfect solo, with a friend or on a date β€” no experience needed!

Our approach to pottery is all about creativity without the pressure. We focus on handbuilding β€” giving you the tools, techniques and inspiration to create something that feels entirely your own. Our classes are social, approachable and designed for all experience levels, with plenty of room to experiment.

We also host private events & brand activations, which can be customized for your celebration, product, team or just because.

Pieces are taken back to our studio to dry, be glazed & fired and are usually ready for pickup in 3-4 weeks. For non-local groups we can ship for additional fee.

Upcoming pottery workshops

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Explore our pottery workshops

  • 🎨 Open Play

    Our original and most open-ended pottery workshop. After a demo of core handbuilding techniques, create any shape you’d like and make it entirely your own

  • β˜•οΈEspresso Cups

    Handbuild your own set of one-of-a-kind espresso cups, then personalize them with texture, shape and glaze

  • πŸ«’ Snack Plates

    Create playful, functional snack plates, experimenting with organic shapes, textures and your own design details

  • 🌸 Pressed Florals

    Roll real flowers and botanicals into clay to create delicate impressions, then turn your textured clay into a one-of-a-kind plate, tile, coaster or another unique shape

  • πŸŽ„ Holiday Ornaments

    Handbuild and decorate a collection of ceramic ornaments β€” a festive seasonal workshop perfect for creating keepsakes or handmade gifts

  • Custom Theme

    Let's design a perfect theme for your event!
Private Events

🏺 Pottery FAQ

Are we handbuilding or wheel throwing?Β 

Pottery workshops focus on hand-building pieces like plates or incense holders.

I see you have different themes for workshops - which should I take?Β 

For pottery workshops there are Open Play & themed ones. In Open Play workshops creativity is all yours - you decide what you are making using materials & techniques we share. In themed workshops we are all making the same thing, but it's not a step by step instruction. Everyone still makes their own unique creation.

Can I make more than one piece?

Time permitting, additional pieces may be made during class. There are extra firing fees for multiple pieces outlined in workshop description.

Can I take home what I make?Β 

Pottery items are fired and ready for pickup in 2-4 weeks. We'll email you when they’re ready.

Do pottery workshop pieces need to be fired?Β 

Without firing pieces are brittle which might work with some decorative art which does not get actively used. We like giving customers an option, as some like to come for the experience.

Firing makes your creations usable, microwave/dishwasher/oven safe.

What happens to my piece/s after pottery workshop?Β 

They are carefully transported to our studio in Venice Beach where they dry & then are individually brush glazed and kiln fired in 2200+ degrees F. After firing, they are packed in bags with your names and dropped off at the original workshop venue.

Can you guarantee that my piece will come out exactly how I planned it?

Due to the nature of ceramics and the high-temperature firing process, exact results can’t be guaranteed. Clay is a natural material and can change during drying and firingβ€”pieces may develop small imperfections, subtle color shifts, warping, or surface variations.

Occasionally, pieces don’t survive the firing process due to air bubbles, construction issues etc. In the rare event a piece does not survive the kiln, the firing fee will be refunded.

These variations are part of what makes each piece truly one of a kindβ€”but they also mean the final result can’t be guaranteed to look exactly as originally planned.