Great Escape: The Shape of Things

Take a look at your dishes, vases, candlesticks – do you have any irreplaceable pieces? If not, why not take a few hours to escape and delve in to the art of ceramics? Create your masterpiece.

Your last experience with clay may have been in a seventh grade elective, but don’t let that deter you. Most art studios cater to novices, and will go out of their way to get people started in a new hobby.

Beginners can find many places that are affordable and offer glazing, firing and use of the studio for one fee.

And think ceramics is limited to pieces like that one sad, misshapen ashtray you made back in seventh grade? No way. People have been known to make some excellent pieces after taking just one class. Did you know you can make a lamp base in a ceramics class? It's unbelievable what can emerge with a pottery wheel and one afternoon.

Berkeley Art Studio has summer sessions approaching for various levels of ceramics. 

Create In Clay school of ceramics in Emeryville is offering at least two different daily deal specials from as low as $15 for a 3-hour class.