Visarts regularly has Groupon vouchers, and we purchased one to give ourselves a chance at the…read morepotter's wheel. This is located in a building on the third floor in the Rockville Town Center, and there are garages abundant in the area with up to 2 hours of parking free. The class is 2 hours so you'll end up paying $3 for the overage. Class started on time, the session was "full house," and one lady snuck in a child even though class was meant to be 14+ years only. The instructor went over the process and demonstrated how to begin and form the shape of the piece you intend to make (or end up with!). The instructor was helpful, friendly, and upbeat. I think playing some music would have enhanced the experience! You get three shots at creating something out of clay, and whatever you create can be kilned and picked up in 2 weeks. You may want to arrive early if you are in a group and want to sit together. I recommend wearing an apron as you'll get your clothes dirty. The stools aren't comfortable. You are advised to remove rings, watches, and bracelets for optimal experience.

I visited Visarts for a stained glass class this past Saturday (2/22) and it was awesome more or…read moreless from start to finish! The teacher provided us instruction at the start of the class to get us going. We each picked a pattern and glass as we saw fit. From there, we followed the instructions and asked questions of the teacher as we went along. Since I was alone, I was able to work wearing headphones, listening to an audiobook as I cut and grinded glass. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this class and want to have stained glass as a hobby in the future! Definitely recommend the stained glass class at Visarts!

This is a great addition to the Kensington community near the neighboring Antique Village…read more It occupies the entire building next to the post office, and has a large parking lot in the rear (with a few spots reserved for the dental practice). It's a unique art school combined with artists' workshops on three levels. They offer an array of classes for artists and for novice looking for a fun hobby. The classes posted that I saw were for drawing,painting, and live model drawing. Some studio rooms were quite small, while other room were larger for classes/workshops. I came for the grand opening celebration. The founder's young son was greeting people at the door and giving a well rehearsed explanation of all they had to offer. I was impressed. It was quite fun going in all the rooms and meeting some of the artists. I hope to visit again soon... maybe partake in a class one day.

The teachers and facilities are second to none! I can't say enough good things about Compass…read more Large classrooms plenty of lighting the people and place is so inviting.

A few years ago, I took a series of classes at The Clay Coop and had an amazing experience. Last…read moreyear, I decided I wanted to return to the studio and really commit to growing as a ceramic artist, and coming back here was one of the best decisions I've made. Through Chris's guidance and support as both the owner and instructor, I have truly flourished. I've been a member and student at The Clay Coop for over a year now, and I continue to grow, learn, and challenge myself through clay. Beyond the technical skills, I've been welcomed into an incredibly supportive and inspiring community of artists that I'm so grateful to be part of. Chris has created a safe space that encourages creativity, learning, and genuine connection. This studio and community have played a huge role in my development as an artist, and I honestly wouldn't be where I am without them. I can't recommend The Clay Coop enough, whether you're a complete beginner or an established ceramic artist looking to grow.

I started taking classes at the Clay CoOp three years ago. (I was a total beginner and had never…read moretaken a pottery class before. ) Chris Landers, the director of the Clay CoOp, is an excellent and patient teacher for students at all skill levels, and very knowledgeable about the science (chemistry,geology) and economics of the pottery business. He is also a very kind and thoughtful person. The Clay CoOp studio is well organized, clean and brightly lit and I have found the other students of all different abilities and backgrounds to be very supportive and helpful.

Really cool spot! Came here for a birthday party and learned wheel throwing and it was a blast…read more The class was $80 and our group was taught by an instructor who went over all of the basics. While wheel throwing isn't necessarily easy, it was helpful to have someone go through all of the steps and show us how to make bowls/pots/etc. I was actually surprised when mine turned out to look somewhat like what it was supposed to! I have been trying to get into some of their weekly classes but they are booked up pretty far. Hoping I can get into a class in 2022!

Had my "One shot!" class today, which is for newbies that need training with the pottery wheel!…read more It was a $45 class but it lasted about 3 hours. I had no previous experience and it was a wonderful experience! The instructor was able to give specific instructions for those that are left/right handed. They offer different classes/workshops if you check out their website and their studio is open for use on sundays if you want to build on your skills. The studio is larger than expected with plenty of room to get dirty with some clay :)

I would love to try Hinckley Pottery, though after reaching out multiple times via their contact…read moreemails and phone and not receiving any replies after 8 days, I can't get hold of any staff here. Most of their classes are sold out online with no indication of when they might become available again, and rather than open their website day after day in hopes that something becomes available, Hinckley really needs to have a way to get in touch with them. If you are going to provide contact emails but either not monitor those inboxes or choose not to respond, that is simply bad good customer service.

Great space, serious craftspeople, excellent teachers, elegant work, a longstanding…read moreinstitution--the real thing. Beautiful.

I had my first outing alone with my toddler, attempting to do some pottery painting. I was super…read morenervous not having my husband or anyone with me. We had such a fun time and everyone was so nice and gracious of my busy toddler. The woman working was so beyond amazing. She saw I had my hands full and offered to help us with the stencils and hand painting! She was so amazing with my little guy and so patient with us- I know we were chaotic and crazy. She was just so wonderful and kind to us even helping us while handling & answering the front desk phone. Things like this really mean a lot to us. Definately recommend & will be going back!

My husband and I had a wonderful experience here on Valentine's Day! We signed up for the nighttime…read morecandlelight pottery experience and were blown away with how special they made the evening. Our pottery was ready to pickup 14 days later and pickup took less than a minute (they also send you a picture of your completed pottery when they say it's ready for pick up!). Parking is super easy and cheap (lot nearby using the Park Mobile app) and they had lots of pottery options to choose from to paint. Definitely will be going back!

I can't say enough good things about this place, one of my creative homes here in DC! Dan has…read morecreated such a beautiful, light-filled space that's equipped with pretty much any tool or equipment you might need to bring any idea to life. The classes themselves are fantastic - you'll learn by doing, but also by watching an expert demonstrate for you, and getting as much help as you may need throughout. It's a good balance: you'll build your skill set and learn the practicalities of metalsmithing, but also learn to understand your own creative vision, which you can work on during open studio hours. The vibe is really chill (Dan plays great music!), all the teachers are kind and helpful and supportive, your fellow students are all interesting and fun, and overall this is the kind of space where you feel like you're able to make mistakes and still learn and grow from them. If you've ever wanted to learn the true craft of metalsmithing to make fine jewelry, this is the place to do it.

How do I give 6 stars? 7 stars? 100? Dan and JewelryClassDC deserve them, and more…read more I worked with Dan to make my engagement ring and it was an unforgettable experience. It can feel like a real leap of faith to do something so personal and important in such an unconventional way, and to put your trust in a stranger and in your own ability to learn something you have never even considered before--but I am so glad I took it. I have an experience I will remember for the rest of my life, my fiancée (she said yes of course!) has a beautiful, truly one-of-a-kind heirloom she adores and values beyond measure, and we have a story we will tell over and over again. She is already getting questions about where I found her ring, and her friends are already gushing about how amazed they are I made it. Honestly, I am amazed too. I wasn't sure I could make a ring that looked better than a beginner's craft project!--but that was before I met Dan. I had a personal design idea that not only do they not sell in stores, they don't even really sell jade cut how I needed. As far as I can tell, no one had done this before. Well, now someone has, it turned out incredible, and it's all because Dan made it possible. He went above and so far beyond. As a craftsman he is not just skilled, but meticulous, and determined to make sure every product he works on meets his high standard of excellence. As a teacher he is patient, knowledgeable, and eager to share and show what he knows--which is a lot.  And to top it all off, he is a real man of his word--exactly the kind of person you want to put your trust in when dealing with precious metals, stones, and memories. In short, they don't 'em like Dan anymore--that goes for his character, and his jewelry. If you need jewelry made, if you need jewelry worked on, if you need a guiding hand to make something yourself--do yourself a favor and see Dan and his team at JewelryClassDC.

Terrific instructors and classes. Love the offerings, including first friday events and third…read moreThursday artist talks. A gem in the community!

Washington Studio School is best described as a community of dedicated career artists with a…read moregenuine enthusiasm for art and true interest in working with students to help them develop their skills and confidence as artists. I've now had the pleasure of working with two different teachers at WSS and came away impressed both times. This school is a great place to build your skills, knowledge and confidence as an artist (i.e., impressive array of class and workshop options, small class sizes, comfortable and supportive environment, strong sense of community). I highly recommend WSS for anyone truly interested in growing as an artist.