FAQs

GENERAL

What is your Cancellation and REFUND policy?

A refund minus a $25 administrative fee will be issued if requested 10 days or more before the class or workshop begins. After that, we will not offer refunds, transfers, or exchanges, within 10 days of the start of a workshop or class for any reason. While we understand that life happens and can be unpredictable, we are unable to recoup the expense of empty seats in our classes and workshops, and there are no exceptions to this policy.

Is the studio open to the public?

Access to the studio is limited to members and students with an access code. Community visitors who would like to see the space should email us at info@elementalstudiospdx.com to arrange a tour.

What equipment do you have in the studio?

We have a total of twelve Shimpo wheels: eight wheels in the main classroom space, and four wheels in a secondary space.

Additionally, we have two electric kilns, a raku kiln, a slab roller, a wall-mounted clay extruder, multiple wedging and work surfaces, a pug mill, a vast supply of community tools, more than a dozen house-made glazes, and a diverse selection of house-made underglazes and slips.

Do you offer outside firing?

We do not offer outside firing services on a drop-in basis. We do offer monthly glaze and fire memberships for those who have a home studio setup but do not have their own kiln. Visit our Membership page for more information.

Do you have children’s classes?

In the summer months, we offer week-long Clay Camps for children ages 8-13. View our current available sessions on our Clay Camps page, or sign up for our mailing list to stay up-to-date with future classes.

We also offer classes specifically for teens ages 12-17. Visit our For Teens page for current class offerings.

The rest of our classes and workshops are for adults ages 18+. Minors are allowed in our two-hour workshops with a parent or guardian also present.

Can i book a private event?

Yes! Ceramics workshops are a great option for team-building events, leadership retreats, birthday parties, bachelor/ette parties, and more. We are happy to work with you to design a private event that fits your needs and budget. Visit our Private Events page for more information and to fill out an inquiry form.

Do you have wheels available to rent?

Yes! Visit our Membership page for wheel rental options or email info@elementalstudiospdx.com.

Do you offer discounts or scholarships?

We generally do not offer discounts on our classes and workshops. We do offer scholarships a few times per year through our DEI Scholarship Fund. Visit the Scholarships page to learn more about this program.

Members and Students

Can I bring guests to the studio?

Monthly studio members may bring guests to the studio through our Guest Pass program. Students enrolled in our classes may not bring guests, except for short five-minute tours.

Can i buy clay at the studio?

Yes! We stock multiple varieties of stoneware and porcelain clay at the studio, which you can purchase directly and use right away. We also offer our house recycled clay for purchase.

Can i use my own clay and glaze?

We allow firing of clay and glaze purchased outside the studio as long as it is a Cone 6 clay or glaze. Please check with us prior to bringing in outside clay! Email info@elementalstudiospdx.com or check in with a staff member for approval.

How long does it take for my work to get fired?

Firing schedules are subject to change according to the quantity of work that is ready to fire. On average, we fire 1 round of bisque and 1-2 rounds of glaze per week.

Staff makes our best effort to move all work through the kilns in a timely manner, but we are unable to guarantee that work will be finished on any particular timeline. We are also unable to guarantee that work will be fired on a first come, first served basis.

If you have a specific deadline for a particular piece (for example, a birthday gift or a piece you are preparing for an offsite firing) please give us at least three weeks' notice of the deadline. We will do our best to accommodate these requests, but they are not guaranteed.

How much does firing cost? Is there a limit to how much I can fire?

All of our eight-week classes include 2,000 cubic inches of firing (roughly 16 mug-sized vessels through bisque and glaze firing). Students in our classes who produce more than 2,000 cubic inches of work will be charged firing fees at a rate of $.03 per cubic inch. Shorter or longer term classes will have their cubic inch allotment adjusted accordingly (for example, a four-week class would include 1,000 cubic inches of firing).

Firing is not included in the monthly membership fee and will be charged at a rate of $.03 per cubic inch for both bisque and glaze firing. Monthly members will receive a digital invoice for their firing fees at the end of each month. We appreciate the prompt payment of firing fee invoices!

Due to space limitations, we are unable to accommodate production pottery. We reserve the right to limit the amount that any individual fires at any time.

Can i fire work that my friend or child made at home?

No. While we understand that clay is awesome and you want to share it with your friends and family, firing at Elemental Studios is limited to students and monthly members only.

I want to become a monthly member. What should i do?

Visit our Membership page to submit an application for membership! Our team will reach out to you by email to coordinate next steps. Please note that there may be a waitlist, and that priority for membership is given to those who have taken at least one eight-week class with us. Click here to browse all of our upcoming eight-week classes.