Still Life Ceramics Studio — Attraction in Los Angeles

I’ve been a member at Still Life for about a year now and am absolutely blown away. It’s definitely worth stopping in, even if just to take a look at the member-made ceramics available for purchase at the front!

First, the space gorgeous with high ceilings, tons of natural light, and lots of space for students and members - I’m still not over it. Also, FREE RECYCLED CLAY is a game changer for experimentation and exploration.

Second, the studio is incredibly well equipped. Members are expected to invest in their own tools and bats, but there are plenty of communal use tools for sporadic use or testing. There’s also 4 kilns (3 electric, 1 gas) and the studio staff run multiple bisque firings a week, cone 5, cone 6, cone 10 reduction (standard), cone 10 oxidation (less frequent), and lister firings, and a monthly raku workshop. The clay body selection for purchase is huge and the staff are also happy to special order clays, glazes, etc, that aren’t in the studio shop. The glaze selection is fantastic with a wide selection of dip glazed and multiple classes on glaze chemistry and application. Members also get a 25% discount on classes which also grant additional shelf space, and lots of directed and personalized feedback (based on my continuing wheel experiences)

Finally, above all else, the staff and community are incredible. Folks are friendly, eager to chat and form new friendships, and also understanding and respectful of the need for quiet art time. The staff and member volunteers are deeply knowledgeable and helpful, and encouraging of (informed and communication) experimentation in clay body, construction methods, decoration and glazing. But beyond that, they are so supportive of everyone in the community, actively checking in with others as people first, and regularly solicit and act on member feedback and ideas. Also, so fantastic social events organized by members and staff open to the public, like a monthly queer pottery social free...

I had (/am still having/will continue to have) the BEST experience taking class at Still Life! I've developed quite the addiction to making bowls and plates and cups and really any/all pottery things; hi, hello, this is my life, I'm a ceramics person now, it's great here. Mel and Ana are super cool peeps, which is nice because if/when you become obsessed with ceramics like myself, you will be spending quite a bit of time at the studio with them. Honestly, it just feels like a chill lil hang, except we're all playing with clay which is SUPER relaxing and we end up with a bunch of cool stuff that we friggin MADE. Speaking of, they really know their stuff and are great teachers; I honestly can't believe how much stuff I learned to make in such a short period of time. Granted I'm still a beginner FO SHO, I mean, I'm only four classes deep, but one might say I have a skill now, so that's cool. Oh! And it's right in The Row in Downtown Los Angeles, which is a pretty cool place as far...

I and my friend took a class which was great but they didin't send us notification email of picking up our bowls so we emailed, nobody got back to us. I sent a dm and they said email went to junk(it was not in our junk box though) and we could pick up anytime. We were very busy at that time so took us little longer to pick up. Finally we went there during business hours but store was closed. I sent a dm to make sure our bowls were still there but they said our bowls were thrown away already and it was not their fault since they sent final notice through email which both of us never recieved on the day that I first dm them. I complained I already told them that we didn't receive email and nobody answered our email so they should have told me through dm when I asked about. They just ignored my dm and even no...