Park West Ceramics

Right now I am giving 1 star because of all these reasons. I signed up for the groupon.
Day of class the instructor was late, and it was a rush to get everything set up for the class since no one prepared anything for the class. The class was alright once started.
Well we told them to glaze them since we live over an hour away. They said come back in 3 weeks.
Well came back in three weeks and no pottery. We thought maybe haven’t completely finished. No one there had any clue of what was going on. Little annoyed because drove over one and half hours to get nothing.
Well decided to show up again three weeks later. This is after I have text and emailed the owner what ours looks like. He said he would look before we came. He did not. We showed up and did not find ours. Also he was not there to be of any assistance.
So at this point I would not go to any classes again until better organized. Also I have been told I will either get a refund or he will Finally start looking for my pottery. So depending on the outcome there I may bump up a star or two.

Highly recommended! This class was fantastic, Dave was an excellent teacher, and I came out with some gorgeous pieces. I will definitely be taking a class again soon.

I bought a groupon for Park West Ceramics 2 hour class. I was a newbie. I never touched clay before but I made it through class. I had a few sticky moments where I ruined my bowl but my instructor was nice and took the time to help me. I would go again but I think I would want to attend a longer more structured class. P. S. if you do a groupon as a date, don’t dress up. This class is all about getting dirty.

Great, supportive environment for beginning to accomplished clay folks. Dave, the main instructor and owner, is a gifted adult educator and artist. As one of the many independent study students, I have all the support I need and all the privacy I want to pursue my interests and my style. Park West is a small, friendly and respectful community in a clean and sunlit space. I recommend the classes and the independent study with enthusiasm.

I took the beginning course for adults with no previous background in ceramics. It was a wonderful experience. I had to miss the first day because I signed up late, but Dave, the instructor, was kind enough to catch me up on the second day of class by showing me what I missed the first day. The classes themselves are rather laid back, which is nice when you are just starting out and you get frustrated when not everything turns out perfectly.
You might think the price is a bit steep as I initially did, but considering you get 3 hours of instruction a week, plus you can come back every Saturday (open studio) for as long as you want to get extra practice, it’s a great deal. Additionally, there is unlimited clay and supplies, which helps alleviate some of the pressure if you are a newb like me. I ruined a few bowls and vases at various stages of my learning, but I never felt that terrible about it afterwards because I knew I could just make another one with the unlimited clay.
I think the 3-​hour class is a perfect duration for class. Dave (or whoever the instructor is) will spend about 15 or 30 minutes of actual instruction/​demo, but then for the rest of class you get to try it out while he goes around to help you. Any shorter of a class, you might feel like you didn’t get to fully practice, and any longer of a class, your back will probably ache from sitting at the wheel too long.
Dave was our primary instructor, but Theresa also filled in a couple times for our class, and she was also an excellent teacher. I actually liked having 2 different teachers sometimes because I got to see two slightly different ways of achieving the same goal, e.g., dropping the hole and opening.
After the 8-​week course, I have 17 pieces to my name that I was able to take home with me. Again, that’s with no previous background in ceramics.

Had the google offer to try the intro class — so very glad I did! Dave was our instructor for the evening — his instructions were clear, he was very patient and was very helpful. I would definitely take a classroom session to learn more now. As soon as my schedule settles down and I can dedicate the ‘drive’ time to come out that way I will sign up. Looking forward to seeing their new studio too!
If you have the opportunity to try it — don’t hesitate — I found it fun, relaxing and something I would like to explore further.
Thanks Dave!

I ventured out and bought a coupon for a 2 hour workshop at Park West Ceramics and I am so glad I did. Dave is a very patient and dedicated instructor. His studio is suitable for 7 – 9 in a classroom and was very accommodating with his schedule for classroom time.
My girlfriend made a beautiful vase and I made a large rice bowl that I love and will be back after the ceramic is ready for glazing.

Been to many pottery studios in different cities and this is by far my favorite. Great hours for people who work and everyone is super friendly and helpful here. I’m an experienced potter, but I’ve been really impressed with how fast the beginner classes progress. Kudos to the instructors and the students!

I’ve been to other pottery studios and will be taking my classes at Park West Ceramics from now on. I took a hand building class. The instruction was excellent. The owner provided excellent customer service and was very accommodating including offering a flexible class schedule. The bowl I made is stunning and I can’t wait to see glazed when it comes out of the kiln. Having tried other studios I highly recommend Park West Ceramics. Not only will you have a great experience, you’ll have a beautiful piece of pottery to show for it!

This place is great! I can’t wait to take another class in the fall. The opportunity for being totally creative is endless. And you can make as many pieces as you’d like as the clay is unlimited for beginner and intermediate classes with plenty of studio time available.

Great place !! Love my Thursday classes and even better open studio on Saturdays … I highly recommend this place.

I love, Love, LOVE PWC. My boyfriend at the time paid for me to take an 8-​week class there (heh: because it was «the cheapest one» he could find), and I rediscovered the love for building with clay that I though I’d left in my high school art class. Since that one class, I have re-​enrolled a few times in the same beginner class, yet still managed to learn something new every time. Dave Norinsky, the owner and main instructor, is a great guy. He’s really talented and has acted as a sounding board which has encouraged my creativity. The only reason I haven’t been back for a while is because I’m currently in school. The second I graduate this summer, I’m signing back up! I miss it there like crazy.

A really nice and laid back place to work with handbuilding or wheels.
If you’re a true artiste, Dave will work with your vision (whatever that may be) and point out some cool stuff you can use. And if you’re not, he’ll guide you the best he can. Both instructors will let you go at it your own way. Yes, it’s a bit messy/​disorganized– but the vibe is like hanging out at a friend of a friend’s house.
I took a few ceramics classes in college and thought it was nice that I could just experiment and try different things here without someone hovering around. On the other hand, it can be frustrating if you have a particular question and the instructor is engrossed in a one-​on-​one with a student (unless of course, you are said student).
Anyway, I’ve done two sessions and I think it’s worth it. You just have to remember– you get what you put into it… if you go on your class day plus a Saturday (open studio), it should be well worth it.

Your experience here will completely depend upon your instructor. Both teachers foster a very supportive, non-​judgmental atmosphere, but could not have further opposite methods and opinions.
The classes are three hours (weeknights and Saturdays available), which gives sufficient time for clean up without rushing through your pieces, as well as open wheels on Saturdays if you’re not quite getting it. Clay is unlimited and you can walk away with as many pieces as you have time to make. Solid selection of glazes. They’re more expensive than Creative Claythings, but like I said– unlimited clay and way more glaze choices.
They lose a star for location, as parking is absolutely miserable. Take the bus.

I took the advanced/​intermediate classes here a couple of years ago to get my hands in clay again and it was fantastic. I was allowed to do whatever I wanted project-​wise but the instructor that ran the class made sure to show us at least one technique at each class. The people who run the place/​teach there are really laid back and cool. If I could afford it, I’d never stop going!
They do — however — offer you $ 25 if you re-​enroll for a 2^nd semester.
They also have a nice gallery in the front that’s full of reasonably priced work.