Your Questions, Answered

  • We offer:

    • Beginners pottery classes - indoor and outdoor

    • Private parties for up to 75 guests

    • Visiting artist workshops

    • Monthly memberships

    • Convenient clay, glaze and tools shop within the studio

  • Booking with us is simple and convenient: visit the Classes & Events page, choose the session you want from the calendar, and click "Book" to select your preferred date, time, and number of participants. Create or sign in to your account to save your details, complete the secure payment to confirm your spot, and you will receive an email confirmation. If you have any questions regarding your reservation, contact our studio directly for assistance.

  • Yes!

    Our colorful Kids Room was designed specifically for young artists — a bright, dedicated space where little ones can create, explore, and celebrate. Whether it's a birthday or just a fun get-together, we'd love to host your child's next pottery party.

    To keep every party fun, safe, and running smoothly for your group and the rest of the studio, we ask all families to review the guidelines below before booking. These policies help us give your kids the best possible experience and keep our space welcoming for everyone.

    THE KIDS ROOM

    All kids parties take place in our dedicated, colorful Kids Room — a space created just for them. To keep your group together and our instructors focused on your kids, parties are held in this room only. Other areas of the studio are reserved for classes and members and are not part of the kids party space.

    For everyone's safety, kids must stay within the Kids Room for the duration of the party. When restrooms are needed, children can use the door that leads to the hallway to access directly. Please do not let kids roam the studio freely — Bitter Root is a working member studio with breakable pieces and members actively creating their own work throughout the space. Keeping the kids in their room protects them, protects our members' projects, and keeps the party running smoothly.

    WHAT THE KIDS WILL MAKE

    To keep things smooth and age-appropriate, our instructors will offer 2 different pottery projects for the group to choose from together. These projects are selected to be fun, achievable, and a great fit for little hands — so every child leaves proud of what they made and are excited to see their finished pieces in a 7-8 weeks’ time.

    PARTY SIZE & PARENT SUPERVISION

    To make sure every child gets the attention and hands-on help they deserve, kids parties have a maximum of 14 children. We staff one instructor for every 5 kids, so your group will always have plenty of guidance and support throughout the party.

    Our staff have lots of experience working with kids, but a great party is a team effort! Here's how parents and guardians help us out:

    1. Stay and chaperone. At least 1 adult for every 7 children must remain for the entire event. If you notice the kids aren't following the instructor, we ask that you step in to help guide and encourage them — your voice goes a long way with your own children.

    2. Cleanup is part of the fun. Kids and clay get messy, and that's okay! We just ask that you let your kids know ahead of time that everyone helps tidy up at the end. Our instructor will guide the group through a quick clean-up.

    3. Food is the parents' responsibility. If you bring snacks or treats, parents are responsible for cleaning up all food items at the end of the party. Please plan to leave the space free of food, wrappers, and spills so it's ready for the next group. We have designated trash bins in the room for your use.

    GOOD TO KNOW

    • Only for ages 6 and up.

    • All materials are included — clay, aprons, tools, glaze, and post-production firing of every piece.

    • Please allow 7-8 weeks for your pottery to complete the firing process. We'll contact you when everything is ready for pickup.

  • We have a couple of options for guests with children.

    1. Open Wheel Classes: these classes are the same format as our adult beginner classes, except they are open to kids 6 years old and older. Please note: Open Wheel classes are not always available, and what you see on the schedule is what is currently available.

    2. Private Parties: You may book a private party and include children 6 years and older.

    All beginner wheel classes labeled “Adult (18+)” are strictly reserved for participants aged 18 and older.

    Due to equipment safety, instructional pacing, and the nature of the class environment, children and minors are not permitted in adult classes under any circumstances.

    If a participant arrives with a minor for an adult class, they will not be permitted to join the session, and the booking will be forfeited without refund or reschedule.

  • All sales are final; we do not offer refunds for cancellations or purchases. If you need to cancel a booking, please notify us as soon as possible and we will take note, but no refunds or credit will be issued. Transfers or rescheduling may be handled on a case-by-case basis at Bitter Root Pottery Aqueous’s discretion and are not guaranteed. By booking with us, you acknowledge and accept our refund and cancellation policy.

  • You can email us at marinadelrey@bitterrootpotteryaqueous.com for the quickest response. You can reach the studio at (310)-342-5217, but please note we may not always be available to answer due to high volume or staffing restrictions.

  • Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting clay on — think breathable layers, a t‑shirt or long sleeve with jeans or relaxed pants — and closed‑toe shoes to protect your feet from dropped tools or splattered clay. White clay easily washes out of clothing with water. Avoid loose jewelry, long flowing sleeves, or scarves that can catch on wheels or tools; tie back long hair and remove rings, watches and bracelets.

  • Both options provide expert instruction, quality materials, and a welcoming atmosphere.

    Indoor classes at Bitter Root Pottery Aqueous offer calm, beautiful studio space to work in alongside other students. We have multiple spacious areas within our 10,000 square foot studio.

    Outdoor classes are ideal for those who enjoy inspiration from nature and enjoy the sunshine with a sea breeze. For outdoor session attendees to ensure comfort while you create, we recommend bringing:

    • sunglasses

    • sunscreen

    • a hat

    Note: If the weather does not permit having the class outdoors, we will shift indoors to our beautiful studio space with full views of the marina.

  • Pottery typically takes 4–6 weeks from the date of your class to be fully completed and ready for pickup.

    This timeline reflects the full ceramics process, which includes two or more weeks of drying time, 1.5–2 weeks of multiple kiln firings, and careful handling by our staff at each stage. These steps are essential to ensure your finished pieces are food-safe, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe.

  • We offer memberships for all skill levels, from complete beginners to experienced ceramicists.

    To join as a member, we require one class with us as a prerequisite. This ensures everyone has basic hands-on experience working with clay in our studio environment and is familiar with our tools, safety standards, and workflows.

    Our membership program is designed to support artistic growth through ongoing access, skill-building opportunities, and a supportive, inclusive community of fellow ceramicists.

    For full details, please visit the Memberships tab in the navigation bar.

  • We offer Fedex shipping at a flat rate of $25 per box. Each box can hold anywhere from 1-3 pottery pieces.

    For all shipping inquiries, please email shipping.aqueous@gmail.com.

  • When you finish forming your pot on the wheel, several important steps follow before it becomes a finished, durable piece. Each step takes time to ensure the clay is stable, strong, and finished correctly.

    Here’s what happens and why the process typically takes 4–6 weeks:

    1. Drying (7-14 days)

      -After throwing, the pot contains a lot of water. It must dry slowly and evenly so it won’t warp or crack.

      -We first let it dry to “leather-hard” — firm but still slightly damp — so we can trim the base or add handles and other details.

      -Then it dries completely to “bone-dry.” This can take from a day to a week depending on thickness, humidity, and temperature.

      -We then “mark” the guests' details on the base of the pot, and clean up the foot to be nice and smooth.

    2. Bisque firing (1 day in kiln + cool down)

      -Bone-dry pots go into the kiln for the first firing, called bisque firing. This removes remaining chemical water and turns the clay into ceramic that’s porous but stable.

      -The firing itself takes many hours to reach the target temperature safely, plus several more hours (or overnight) for the kiln to cool down fully. Rapid changes in temperature would crack the ware.

      -After bisque firing, the piece is strong enough to handle and glaze easily.

    3. Glazing (7+ days depending on schedule)

      -Glaze is a glassy coating that seals and colors the pot. We apply glaze by dipping.

      -Glaze application needs time to dry before going back into the kiln. Scheduling hundreds of pieces for the glaze kiln also affects timing.

      -The glaze firing (1 day in kiln + cool down) melts the glaze into a glassy surface and matures the clay body. Like the bisque firing, this takes many hours to heat and cool at controlled rates to avoid stress on the pottery.

      -Different glazes and clays require specific firing temperatures and schedules, which affects how long the kiln cycle takes.

    4. Final inspection and finishing (2-4 days)

      -After cooling down, we inspect each piece. We may sand rough spots, remove glaze drips from the foot, or perform minor repairs if needed.

      -Pieces are then cleaned and prepared for pickup.

    Why the whole process takes 4–6 weeks:

    • Drying and firing cannot be rushed. Clay must dry evenly, and kilns must heat and cool slowly to prevent cracking.

    • Kiln space and scheduling: We batch pieces together for each firing to use kiln space efficiently. That means you might wait for enough pieces to be marked and ready for the next kiln cycle.

    • Weather and humidity affect drying time. In humid weather, drying can be slower.

    • Quality control: Allowing time between steps and for proper firing ensures durable results and reduces the chance your piece will crack, craze, or have glaze defects.

    What you can expect:

    • Typical turnaround: 4–6 weeks from throwing to pickup, though some simple pieces or off-peak times may be faster.

    • We’ll notify you when your piece is ready for pickup.

    This timeline ensures your pot leaves the wheel as a finished, durable, and beautiful ceramic object rather than a fragile lump of wet clay.

  • To keep the studio a relaxing getaway, and we ask that you leave you only bring other adults that will be able to participate in pottery. Please leave your babies and pets at home.