Creative Claythings

Winters in Chicago give me cabin fever, so I enrolled in the intro to pottery class to get me out of the house during the week nights– I was not disappointed! The instructors were great, and honestly, the price is much more reasonable than a lot of the other studios. I ended up signing up for another two months– highly recommend if you’re looking for a creative outlet!

I’ve been taking classes at this studio on and off for a few years now and I can’t say enough good things about this place.
Taking classes here is something I always look forward to. There was never a time where it felt like an obligation to go to class. Even after the longest day at work, I would leave Creative Claythings feeling energizing and relaxed.
The instructors at this studio are patient and knowledgeable and the people in the classes have always been fun. Life gets busy, so sometimes you can’t make it to your scheduled class in the evenings. Creative Claythings understands that and offers a flexible «make-​up» class option, where you can come into the studios on Saturday.
Mary, the studio owner is fantastic. She has a dry sense of humor that always cracked me up. That woman is talented and tough and funny as hell.
If you have ever considered taking a pottery class, this is the place to go!

I’m a huge fan of the studio! I’ve been taking classes for a couple of months and am now a studio member. Here’s what I like about it:
1. it’s affordable.
2. my instructor and Mary, the owner, are really knowledgeable and helpful
3. lots of the people who work in the studio make cool pottery, so we can all learn form and be inspired by each other.
4. As a member I can use the studio any time I want, whether I want to drop by for 15 minutes or 6 hours — it’s always available for me.
5. there is always parking available

Joint the beginners class in May. Our instructor Tyler was very helpful and patient. Even if I would get frustrated with my pieces and he would patiently explain and help correct my work. Great job, Tyler!

I love this place! I’ve taken classes with Natalie, Ana, and make-​up classes with Mary and every is so helpful. I’ve made pieces that I thought I ruined– Natalie and Ana both are pretty incredible at fixing «ruined» pieces. Honestly, don’t think I’ve met a nicer bunch of people.
The wheel throwing part of the class seems a bit short because you actually only throw for 2 weeks (trim third, glaze fourth week), so just enough time to get frustrated and think you suck at it. I’d recommend signing up for another round of classes if possible before you give up/​get frustrated with the wheel– it definitely gets easier.
Another huge plus about coming here is how flexible they are. If you miss a class, they offer a makeup class on Saturdays… but if you honestly can’t make that they help you find a time that you can make it up. So so appreciated that they are flexible.

My girlfriend and I have been going here for almost 2 months and we love it. Mary, her instructors and our class mates are great. The instruction and help they give is fantastic… especially for me as I need it. Its a very comfortable atmosphere. I am very happy we signed up for this.

I’ve started the beginner class here back in April 2010 and love the studio, the teachers, the owner, the location and everything in between! I am now a studio member, which has incredible benefits — not only do you get a spot to store all your tools and creations, you get a key to the studio and 24-​hr access during non-​class time. For extra $ 20 per month, you can come over during class time as well.
Both the classes and the membership are the cheapest in town and the quality of instruction is great! The location is also very convenient with plenty of free street parking, and close to the Metra and the Grand bus.
I just love this place and will remain a member as long as I live in Chicago!

When you take classes here, you really feel like you’re a part of a small and slightly dysfunctional family. In a good way.
After reviewing a bunch of options, this was definitely the best bang for my buck — 8 weeks for $ 165 vs lillstreet’s $ 135 for 4 weeks.
The studio does smell like cigarette smoke, but you get over it quickly (trust me, I HATE cigarette smoke). There’s tons of character in the place including the resident caged pigeon that the owner Mary saved some years ago after an accident of some sort (I forget the actual tale behind the bird).
The classes were great and Anna is an awesome instructor. Sometimes Natalie’s wheel class would occur at the same time which is a downer for me since I found her to be obnoxiously loud, but from the other reviews here I guess I’m in the minority on that.
Midway through my classes, I changed jobs which had me out of town during the week, but the great thing about Creative Claythings is that Mary teaches a complimentary make up classes every Saturday. Granted it was like taking a class from your lovable yet slightly verbally abusive aunt, but I really really appreciated how I accommodating the classes were to my schedule.
I can’t wait until my schedule frees up again, because I would love to take the intermediate class there.

The beginner’s class has been fantastic at this studio. Anna our instructor is fun and very experienced. Pretty hands off but always there with patience if you have questions. It’s true what some of the other reviews have said about the clay and the tools, but for the price this place can’t be beat. Besides, it had helped me discover a deep abiding love of clay.

Creative Claythings is GREAT– I looked forward to my beginning pottery class every week. The instructors are so attentive, funny and qualified… all materials are included and you cannot beat the price– $ 160 for 8 weeks of classes.
They are super flexible if you have to miss a class and come in some other time during the week.
Plus I’m pretty sure that if I could make something decent out of clay, anyone could. Very therapeutic and a great creative outlet.

I love this place. I had been wanting to take ceramics classes for a long time, but there were two big things stopping me: studios were far north with difficult parking and the cost was beyond what I could spend.
Creative Claythings is great because it’s close to my neighborhood (near Ukrainian Village) and it’s by far the least expensive classes around.
The class size is small so I got excellent personal attention. The teachers are friendly and the environment is casual. I especially liked that you got to try both hand building and wheel throwing. There is even a make up class on Saturday mornings if you miss a session.
I liked my experience so much I went on to rent studio space as a studio member, which is wonderful since it’s difficult to continue with ceramics in your apartment :)
If you are looking to try ceramics for the first time without investing a month’s rent, this is the place.

I LOVE the classes here. The instructors I’ve had, Mary (the owner) and Natalie have been great. They’ve been patient with me being all thumbs and they know their stuff– never make me feel like I’m asking a dumb question.
Their small gallery next door is pretty nice too when they hold an opening.
Bottom line: I’d recommend this place for classes and if you’re shopping for ceramic art.

I am currently taking the beginner class at Creative Claythings. I love it. When I started the class was small, so most people chose to start on the wheel, as we had had previous experience, and hand building isn’t necessary. But if you like to hand build, you always have that option. Mary, the owner, is great. She teaches the advanced class and also the make-​up classes on Saturdays. She is very helpful. The teachers are really good too. They have helped me a lot, and now I’m actually making real bowls that you could actually eat out of. Also, if you take the classes for the 8 weeks and want to stay on, you can keep going for $ 60 for 4 weeks I think. (don’t quote me on the price) I really like it here and I plan on staying on for more classes. I think the studio member program is awesome too. This is really an artist community and I really like that.

I have taken pottery classes at four other studios in Chicago, and have landed at Creative Claythings for several reasons:
. You can’t beat the price
. The staff are all easy to get along with and very helpful. I have learned a lot.
. There is the option to rent studio space, which is also very reasonably priced. Studio members are given a key to the studio, which I haven’t found anywhere else. Most studios have limited «open studio» time. You also get a lot more space than at most studios… a whole shelving unit vs. part of a single shelf.
. As far as glazes go, you are free to purchase your own, as long as they are for the right kiln temperature. You are also free to bring your own tools.
. Lots of wheels! There has never been a time when I couldn’t just sit down at a wheel and throw. There are also plenty of tables for hand building.
. The neighborhood is not difficult to get around in. There is always parking out front, and little traffic (this is a smaller reason, but sometimes the little things make a big difference).
I would recommend this studio and plan on staying for some time.

I had an okay experience at Creative Claythings. Here’s why…
Pros:
–Very affordable
–Small class size
–Natalie is great wheel instructor
Cons:
–Primarily use recycled clay (which is sometimes difficult to work with)
–Very limited glaze selection
–Older tools and equipment
–Given small amounts of clay per class
–Studio wreaks of cigarette smoke (because owner smokes in studio)
–Instructors tend to want to fix your pieces for you vs. teaching you how to fix them yourself
I’m going to give Lillstreet a try next.

Due to a rare creative urge (and an ad in the Chicago Journal), I signed up for pottery classes here w/​a friend last year.
The beginner’s class was 8 weeks long — 4 weeks making things by hand and 4 on the wheel. The price was pretty reasonable (around $ 160, if my memory serves me correctly). I like the 8 week setup — it’s a good amount of time to get acclimated and figure out whether or not you have enough talent (and patience) to move on to the next class.
I netted out at 3 stars because the first 4 weeks weren’t very exciting. Nor was there very much direction from the instructor.
However, the last 4 weeks on the wheel were much better — Natalie, the instructor, was fabulous. Despite the fact that I completely sucked at making the actual pottery on the wheel, she was helpful, funny & encouraging.
The studio is set up conveniently, with a retail-​type area in front (some of the pieces are for sale, others serve as «inspiration» for non-​creative students like me :). In the next room is the actual studio — split into tables and wheels.
While I was a bit disappointed with the overall experience, I feel like I broadened my horizons. And I have a few interesting bowls & flower pots to show for it.