Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where is the GOOD DIRT LA studio located?
A. We’re nestled in a small strip mall located between Culver City and Marina Del Rey. Type this address into your GPS: 4505 S. Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA (between Short Ave and Culver Blvd).

Q. What’s the parking situation?
A: There’s parking in back of our studio as well as plenty of free street parking. Just be sure to read the signs for 2-hour parking and street cleaning!

Q. I’ve never worked with clay before. Do you offer a class for newbies?
A. Yes! We offer several class options for absolute beginners and beginners, including our Introduction to the Potter’s Wheel and 6-Week Pottery Boot Camp. We intentionally limit the size of our classes so that our first-time students are able to receive focused instruction.

Q. How should I prep for class?
A. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty, trim your nails, tie your hair up if it’s long, and remove jewelry. All class fees include instruction, clay, glaze, firing, and use of studio tools, so you do not need to bring or purchase any other supplies.

Q. What is the average class size?
A. 5-6 students. All of our classes are small so we can give you focused instruction and feedback.

Q. What types of clay will we be working with?
A. We use B-mix from Laguna Clay. We believe it is the best clay body to throw and form when you are just starting out in this medium. We also offer Speckled Buff from Laguna Clay for students with more experience.

Q. What type of hand building techniques do you teach?
A. Coiling, pinching and slab building. You can learn to make something as simple as a bowl or as intricate as a teapot.

Q. Is the potter’s wheel difficult to learn?
A. Learning anything new takes practice! Getting used to the wheel may take some time and your first try may be challenging, but give it a few tries and you’ll start to understand how the clay works against the force of the wheel. We have amazing and experienced instructors to help guide you during class.

Q: How long does it take for my pieces to be fired?
A: For One-Time Intro classes and Off-Site Privates, turnaround time is 4–6 weeks. We will contact you as soon as your pieces are ready to be picked up.

For all of our multi-week courses and those working independently during Creative Time, please allow approximately 10–12 days from the time you place a piece onto the shelf to be bisque-fired or glaze-fired to when it is placed onto your student shelf by our studio staff. Due to the high volume of work that we handle and the limited capacity of our small team, we cannot track individual pieces or email you when your pieces are ready. Please note that not everything you make will be fired together, even if you placed them on the bisque and glaze shelves at the same time.

Q: Do you offer makeup sessions if I miss a class in my multi-week series?
A: One complimentary makeup class per session is included. Makeup classes must be scheduled within the session or during designated makeup times.Please email katelyn.gdla@gmail.com BEFORE your missed class to schedule a makeup. If you can't attend a makeup class during the provided makeup times, you can receive $50 credit for one early cancellation. Credits don’t expire and can be used for any classes at our studio.

Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: Cancellation policies vary for each type of class offering. Please carefully read the policy for the offering you are interested in on the corresponding page in What We Offer.

Q: What if I am not able to finish all of my pieces within the duration of my series?
A: Our staff will be happy to finish and glaze any remaining work for you.

Q. Do you offer classes for kids?
A: Yes! We offer classes for kiddos 7+. See our Kids Classes page for our current offerings!

Q. Is your space available for film, TV and commercial shoots?
A. Sure! If you would like to rent our studio for your shoot, please send an email to gooddirtla@gmail.com to discuss rates and availability.

Q. Do you fire work that has been outside of your studio?
A. We do not offer outside firings, but our sister studio Members Only LA (membersonlyla.com) does offer a Firing Membership.

Q. Do you sell pottery?
A. We do! We have a section in the front of our studio where you will find beautiful pieces all handmade on display and available to buy for yourself or as gifts.

Pottery Class Pointers

Read over these important tips before taking your first class!

Tip #1: Wear casual and comfortable clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Luckily the clay that we use comes out of fabric with a regular wash, but there are glazes and other materials that may not be as forgiving.

Tip#2: If you have long hair, bring an elastic or hair tie to wear it up.
This is crucial to avoid accidents on the wheel.

Tip#3: Trim your fingernails.
Long fingernails make throwing on the wheel and shaping clay much more difficult. We want you to be able to work with ease and get the most out of class!

Tip#4: Remove your jewelry.
Rings, watches and bracelets will only get in the way when working with clay, so it’s best to leave them at home.