Groundworks Art Lab - Hill

After reading some of the other reviews I was hesitant, but I signed up for a 4 week wheel sampler, and have had nothing but a great experience! Greg is a great instructor, very patient and helpful, and I never felt embarrassed about my pottery skills. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and the class is pay-what-you-can, which makes it super accessible to lower income students!

I love everything about the Pottery Lab and can't recommend it enough. I started there this past Fall with the intro class and registered for a full class right after, and registered for another spring class so I don't miss any time there! GREAT staff. All incredibly helpful and easy to work with. Love the teachers and teaching assistants that I have had. The community of people using the lab daily is inclusive and non intimidating for newbies. I have had numerous people start up conversations about whatever I am working on and offer really helpful tips and insights from their own experience. It's a beautiful space to work in and I love going there to get away from the stress of everyday life/work and unwind. Take a class! You won't regret it!

I've been hesitating to write a review for quite some time, but think this might be helpful in the long run. First off, the Boulder Pottery Lab has CHARM. It's a delight. Beyond that, I've taken classes here in middle school, high school, and as an adult in their 20's and I have never felt welcomed by the instructors/people who work here. There is definitely an aura of "not belonging" if you aren't amazing at pottery or a community regular. I want to take more pottery classes/have open studio time, but I think moving forward I will look for a place that is more welcoming. In particular I had an instructor that was showing me a technique, and when another student asked if they could use it on one of their pieces, he told them it was a technique for "people who weren't very good" and that she wouldn't need it. Cool man, cool.

I wanted to share some honest feedback about Studio Arts Boulder after recently taking an 8-week pottery class. In general, the studio is nice and the instructors are helpful. I thought the class itself was thorough and interesting. My issue with SAB is the general organization and flow of the studio itself. There are hundreds of students of all ages circulating through the studio during any given session, meaning that there are pieces in all stages of the throwing process in every nook and cranny of the building. Unfortunately, many of my pieces were often moved and lost throughout the session, despite my best efforts to sign them & place them on the proper shelves. I ended up with several finished pieces, but a few things were never found. I've taken other classes at different studios, and I've never experienced this level of disorganization. I get that SAB wants to have a lot of students during each session, but I really think they need to fine tune the process for storing and moving pieces throughout the firing process.

Awesome staff. Great environment. Tons of fun. My wife and I did one of their Family Night events and had a blast. It was my second time working on a wheel and my wife's first time and there were people there who had years of experience. They were great at working with all skill levels to help you create great pieces.

I've been taking classes at the lab since I was a little kid, and this place rocks! Classes are super fun, grounding, not intimidating (folks of all levels and abilities abound), satisfying...The teachers are great, and the other students are eclectic and welcoming. This place is a treasure!

The instructors are terrific, offering detailed directions, friendliness and sense of humor, patience and a Saleh of experience. I enjoyed the 5 session into class with Greg...Thanks!

I did blacksmithing with James Makely. It was so much fun. Can’t wait to do it again!