Local Classes

Community Colleges

Many colleges offer complete ceramics programs, including sculpture, hand-building, wheel, glazing, and pottery classes. Studio hours often allow access outside of class times.

De Anza College

Foothill College

San Jose City College

West Valley College

City Programs

Morgan Hill - Beginning and intermediate ceramics classes. Beginning classes for children.

Mountain View - Los Altos Adult Education - Beginning ceramics classes.

Palo Alto Art Center - Beginning and intermediate ceramics classes. Class fees include studio access.

Sunnyvale Community Center - Beginning and intermediate ceramics classes. Adult and children's classes available. Discount for Sunnyvale residents.

Sunnyvale Senior Center - Beginning and intermediate ceramics classes covering hand-building and low fire glazes.

Private Studios

Blossom Hill Crafts Pottery - Ceramics classes in hand thrown pottery are small, individualized, and offered in day and evening sessions Monday through Saturday. Tuition includes unlimited practice time - when classes are not in session. E-mail joanne@blossomhillcrafts.com or call (408) 356-9035

Black Leopard Clayware -- Pottery classes for all levels in throwing, hand-building, and more in a fully-equipped studio in San Jose. Learn what you want, when you want! Check our online calendar for dates/times that suit your schedule. Small class size ensures individual attention. Free Open Lab for students. Call (408) 448-4597 or visit the website to register.

Mother Earth Clay Art Center - Located in Sunnyvale. Offers classes for both kids and adults in a modern, 10,000 square foot facility. Classes include wheel-throwing and hand-building. Instructors tailor individual attention and assistance to the level of each student. Visit the website for class schedules and details, or call (408) 245-6262.

Peggy Ann Johnston Studio - Studio clay classes for adults (handbuilding, extruder, etc.), clay and other media for grades 1-3, studio clay classes for grades 3-12, pique assiette classes for adults, summer art classes in a variety of media including clay (tile-making, mask-making, mosaic, boxes, animals, studio). Electic kiln to cone 10. E-mail pajart@attbi.com

Sara Swink - Weekend workshops, ongoing studio classes and private instruction in a creative process approach to hand-built and sculptural ceramics for all levels of experience. E-mail sswink@sbcglobal.net or call (408) 249-8206

Swanica Ligtenberg (Swan Ceramics) - Clay courses for adults: "Creative expressions through clay." Private and small group lessons. Learn how to throw on a wheel, to hand build, to transform, to decorate and to glaze with low-fire red clay. E-mail swanica@ligtenberg.com or call (650) 947-8730

The Clayground is a ceramic art studio and school in Silicon Valley, California. Ceramics classes for both children and adults from 4 years old and up. Offers after school and evening classes, birthday party, school projects, and summer camp E-mail clayground@chineseclayart.com or call 408-343-3919

Choosing a Ceramics Class

  • If possible, talk to the instructor in advance about your background, interests and goals, to make sure the program is suitable for you.
  • Ask about additional fees for tools, supplies, and kiln firings.
  • Some programs allow use of the studio outside of class times, either as part of the course fee, or on an hourly basis. Be sure to ask about studio hours if you think you will take advantage of this extra work time.
  • Inspect the studio. Ceramic artists use potentially hazardous tools and chemicals, so studio spaces should be clean, organized, and well-ventilated to minimize problems.
  We are happy to add bay area college or city-run programs to our list. E-mail information to webmaster@ovcag.org. We provide private studio listings for our members only.