FRequently asked questions

Monterey Clay Studio is located at 785 Broadway Avenue in Seaside, CA. You can park on the street in front of the studio or in the back alley.

Monterey Clay Studio is a studio for adults ages 18+.

Yes. Open studio hours are available to Monterey Clay Studio students who are actively enrolled in a multi-week class or folks who sign up for a multi-week open studio membership. Hours are Fridays 9am-1pm and Saturdays/Sundays 10am-5:30pm. Price is $15/hour and is in addition to the multi-week class fee. Participants must sign up on our (hidden) online scheduler. Production potting is not allowed.

We do not offer private lessons. However, we can accommodate larger corporate workshops (10 person minimum) with one month of lead time. Please contact Lizzy here if you would like to discuss further. These private workshops are perfect for team building/bonding!

No. You must sign up for an eight-week session or open studio membership to have studio access on a regular basis. Weekend workshops offer opportunities for shorter clay experiences. Registration is required prior to attending any class.

No, makeup classes are not available. But you are welcome to sign up for open studio hours on the weekends to make up for missed class time. Price is $15 per hour and is in addition to your class fee.

If you miss a workshop, the fee is non refundable and non transferable.

There is no limit to how many pieces you produced during your session at this time. It should be noted that large shapes are harder to accommodate in our kiln so we ask that you are cognizant of this limitation (under 9”x9”x9” fits best) and production potting is not allowed.

All clay used in the studio must be purchased at our studio. You are welcome to make work at home with clay purchased elsewhere and get it fired through our firing service as long as it fits the requirements listed here.

All glaze must be rated for Cone 5/6 firings and be properly applied. We fire to Cone 5.

Yes! We have a firing service available to folks who have previous clay experience. The program description can be found here.

Most of our classes are open to any skill level to make class times available to more people. Intermediate to advanced students often come with project ideas and instructors help coach them through their process as needed.

Due to the small class size, instructors have time to demonstrate multiple different techniques in one class session, enabling them to teach to all levels.

Yes! We are a very beginner friendly studio. We give you all of the instructions you will need to be successful at making pottery no matter the experience you come in with.

All unfired projects must be finished and placed on the greenware shelf by the end of class in Week 7 (unless you are continuing in the next session).  If you are in a throwing class, that means that Week 6 is the last week to throw new work. If you are in a handbuilding class, Week 6 is the last week to do major attachments. Week 8 is glazing week. All of your pieces may not be ready to glaze by Week 8. You are welcome to come back to finish glazing during open studio hours free of charge during the next session.

Yes. For eight-week classes, workshops where a finished product is made, and work made in open studio hours, glaze and firings are included in the signup fee. Work formed at home that you wish to fire at the studio must be paid for through our firing service.

For eight-week classes, clay is purchased on the first day of class and is the only additional fee aside from registration.

Bisqueware and glazeware will be held for a month from the time the pieces are fired. Any unfired work left on the front classroom shelves after Week 7 will be recycled if you are not continuing in the next session.

We do not have sufficient space for people to store personal items at the studio. If you have your own tools, please bring them to class in a portable container and take them home with you at the end of class. You may leave your clay at the studio. 

Joan Wrench owns Monterey Clay Studio. Lizzy Eichorn runs her own business (Lizzy Eichorn Studios) out of the space and oversees all studio management tasks.