Is this too expensive? How did you guys afford going to a studio before you bought a wheel, or did you buy a wheel from the beginning? (Context: I took a year of ceramics in high school and want to continue)
Posted May 17, 2022, 3:52 PM UTC
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i'm in a VHCOL area and that does seem higher than what I pay. I have found classes are actually the most economical way to get started (most include 6-8 weeks of instruction, some open studio time, some firing, and studio glazes). After that, if you can get a membership somewhere, that seems to be a decent way to go.
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Thank you so much! I’ve looked more into it and there’s another studio near me that offers a 6 week course with 25 pounds of clay and unlimited studio time for $250 which I think is much better.
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Yes— that’s a way better deal. You don’t want your studio time to be a cost calculation. You’ll be too worried about making mistakes/flops.
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I think one variable that needs to be taken into account is location. I live in the city so rents and wages for employees are perhaps higher. Some places it sounds like are subsidized by their city, so that would make it cheaper too.
The place I go charges $200 for six weeks of classes, which are cheaper than studio time, so we all just keep taking “classes”. This includes 4 hours a week of studio time, and glazing and firing of up to 15 pieces per session. Clay is $18 a bag if you buy theirs, but you can buy at the local Clay Art Center for slightly cheaper.
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completely agreed! my membership is about 200/mo (firing not included) but where i take classes are 250-290/session with firing included. The membership gives me 24/7 access though whereas the classes have limited studio hours (though still quite generous). I also live in an area where most people don't have houses with space for a wheel, so demand for studio space is higher.
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This makes me want to cry. Where I took lessons (high COL area) it was $950 for a 10 week term, 2hrs/ week of classes and a maximum of 2 additional 2hr slots. Only 3-4 of those where at the wheel. Clay was $45/25lbs and firing was additional ($200- 400 for students in my class).
Yes it was a total rip-off! But it’s also the only option in the local area and people didn’t know any better.
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oh my! I cry for you as well!!
OP, if cost is a concern, also try out hand building! I got into that during the pandemic and could do it at home and just take pieces in for firing.
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Hi! I know this is an old comment but do you mind sharing which studio in NJ this was? I'm exploring options for one myself
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What kind of studio is this? It sounds like one of those places where you pay $35-$80 to paint a piece of pottery and have it fired. Like they added a wheel and decided to charge an exorbitant amount to use it, because, hey, they have a kiln already.
I'm a novice, and I just signed up for a studio class at the community center. It costs $20 for unlimited clay, glaze, and firings and lasts 2 or 3 months, but it's only one day a week for 2 hours. I actually pay for 2 days, so I'm somewhere around $15/month for 4 hours per week.
If I wanted to get serious, this just wouldn't be enough time and I'd have to find a real studio or get a wheel. I've been thinking about a wheel, but a kiln is out of the question, right now and I'm terrified of transporting greenware.
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Yes, they do have pottery painting and other activities. Their website only shows a 6 week wheel throwing course which is why I emailed to see if they have open studio hours for non-students, but like others have said it seems overpriced. I’ve found another studio near me though that offers a 6 week course but unlimited studio time for students so I think I’ll be doing that. Thank you!!
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That’s quite expensive. Clay runs $20/bag, I pay $5/hour for open studio time, and glaze firing runs $.06/cubic inch - a mug is about $3. Glazes are included.
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2.5 pounds of clay would go fast! I typically pay $18 for a 20lb bag, and can easily use one bag a month.
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Wow thank you!
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Where do you buy your bags of clay?
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It’s Laguna clay and I get it from Stoneleaf in Denver, CO
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That strikes me as expensive. My local studio charges $15 per 4-hour session for unlimited use of their clay, tools, and glazes, firing included. Only issues are that sessions are held only twice a week, the tools aren’t in very good condition, and there’s about a month-long backlog of fired pieces.
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That's waaaaay too expensive!!
You'd be paying $23.33 an hour. While yes, that includes 2.5 lbs of clay, a typical bag at my studio (20 lbs) is $10 for reclaimed and $30 for completely new. I pay $525 for an annual membership, which makes my monthly cost $43.75. For a three hour session with only 5 lbs of clay, you'd already be paying one month of membership fees at my studio. Nevermind the fact that my community studio is open every day of the week except for Mondays for a minimum of 6 hours.
I bought a small throwing wheel (9 inches) off of amazon for approximately $150 bucks, but I did not want to spend the money on a kiln and eventually joined the membership program so that I could have my pieces fired.
I'd ask them what their rate is for firing pieces. I'd also ask them what clays they use (do they have specific cone requirements) to see if you could purchase it on your own and save some extra money.
Edit:
I was curious to see what the math would say. Idk if any of yall are strange like me. Not the best mathematician but...
43.75 per month / 4 weeks per month = $10.94 per week
10.94 weekly rate / (6 days a week x 6 hours a day) = .30 cents an hour
.30 cents x 1.5 hours = .45 cents
$30 (cause we're gonna pretend we're expensive) for a bag of clay / 20 lbs of clay = $1.50 per lb
$1.50 x 2.5 lbs of clay = $3.75
.45 cents for 1.5 hours of studio time + $3.75 for 2.5 lbs of clay = $4.20 (noice)
I'll take that over $35 + glazing fees any day.
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Thank you so much!!
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i’ve never been to a studio, but 2.5 pounds of clay is only enough to make a regular sized mug. what you’d pay to make that is too expensive, in my opinion.
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Two and a half pounds is one big-ass mug
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I bought my equipment. Got the wheel new and bought the kiln used.
I've gotten a lot of barely used equipment for my metals studio and pottery from people who just wanted it to be loved. Paid $700 for a Skutt 1227 KM which included a set of kiln furniture, some tools, and a bunch of "paint your own" ornaments. With an exception of a few dents and dings, it looked barely used.
In the past two weeks I've seen a post where someone paid $50 for a Brent wheel and someone else was given one.
Rare deals, of course, but when I want something I can't afford new, I am looking on craigslist, FB groups and market place every day, several times a day.
4
Check out your local community college
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That's very expensive. My studio is run by the town so maybe it's cheaper, but it's around $30 for a 3 month membership unlimited visits, $85 for a year membership unlimited visits. You need to purchase clay for 85 cents a pound, but everything else is included (glaze, firing)
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That’s insanely cheap. Are you in the US?
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Yes - in NC. I will say the turnover time to get pots back from firing is a bit long but I can't complain for the price
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Wow that’s actually amazing!
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This is definitely expensive. I’d find a class at a nearby community college if I were you.
Also 2.5 lbs is limiting and if you mess up then you waste the 1.5 hrs and money spent. I’d look elsewhere if I were you!
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Buy a VL lite and pay a potter to have it fired. You should not run into any issues in a major metro.
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Literally no one is asking where this person is. I spent WAY more than this and my studio is the cheapest in the area. It’s all relative. If you’re doing a 1.5hr class and getting some clay with it. Sounds like a nice way to spend a few hours.
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I’d look for other options in your area, this seems pretty expensive to me. Have you looked at local rec or arts centers ?
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If you're wanting a quick one time thing, it's fairly normally priced. This structure is typically for a fun date night/girls night where they're wanting one full run through (throwing, firing, glazing) then done. If you're wanting a consistent class style, like a high-school would've offered, it's insane. I've been to a few different studios and it's typically $150-$200 for an 8 week course, paying for your own clay, and a few studio fees to cover glaze and firing costs.
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I pay $15 for entire studio access, as long as I want, at my local studio. That’s it. I buy my own clay.
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I’m in an HCOL city and this seems really expensive. I pay $175/month for studio access (open Monday-Saturday for several hours each day). That includes two shelves and a locker and as much reclaimed clay as I want.
Firing is 6cents/cubic inch, which does add up.
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Wow. Its so interesting to see what you guys pay. My studio use to charge 150 and now its 165 plus you pay for firings (The size of the pot x .02 for low and .03 for high).
This doesn’t include clay and the access can be limited because the owner likes to host parties and events on friday nights and the weekends. Interesting 🧐
After a few months membership, I am now creating my own mini studio at home!
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That’s expensive. I pay $29/month for membership … or they charge $14/hr, but you provide your own clay.
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I paid $25 for roughly the same amount of time.
There was an instructor in the room though, so maybe that's why I was paying a premium.
Seemed reasonable to me.
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Seems kind of expensive. I pay like $100/month for a studio membership. That includes unlimited use of all equipment, firing and glazing, and a decent amount of reclaimed studio clay. I forget exactly how much because I usually buy my own bagged clay anyway.
That's a great price. Mine is $250 a month, but I have keys for 24/7 access. When I was still taking classes at other places, it was a little over $400 for a 6 week course, and I could only go for 3 hours a week. Open studio was $160 a month, but again, limited to 3 hours each Saturday morning.
Oh yeah 3 hours a week would be tough to justify paying that much. Mine isn’t 24/7 access but it’s open from 9am-8pm 5 days a week and then 10-5 on weekends. So there’s rarely a time when I’d want to go but not be able to.
Same price as my studio as well