Building this studio has been a dream of mine for a long time. For more than a decade, I've worked with students of every age and ability. I love diving into technique, discussing clay bodies, and demystifying kiln chemistry, but my favorite thing has always been introducing new students to clay for the very first time.

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Although… "introducing" people to clay isn't quite the right phrase. Humans have always had a relationship with clay; we’re just living in a time that has forced our attention elsewhere. Seeing someone in the studio for the first time makes this clear. Watching someone delight in the process of moving clay with their hands is like watching them come home, watching them connect with an ancient material and an ancient practice, watching them settle back into themselves. It’s watching a nervous system that’s overwhelmed by constant digital input softly start to quiet and land safely back on earth. It’s peace. But don’t be fooled, clay isn’t only the soft-spoken beauty that she is portrayed to be on social media. She is a force and she will humble you, and it’s so worth it.

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Before moving to Reno, I was teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the country's most vibrant pottery communities, where my teaching approach proved to give students a unique advantage. In studios everywhere, myths are perpetuated, unclear information is given and students are told to follow along step-by-step without ever being told why those techniques even exist in the first place. My philosophy is simple: everyone deserves to understand the why, not just the how. Whether you're hoping to become a lifelong potter or you're here to make one memorable mug, I want you to leave knowing more than a series of steps. When you understand why the clay behaves the way it does, you start collaborating with it instead of fighting with it.

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To me, community is just as important as pottery. Before opening Thrown:Reno, I spent more than 20 years working in hospitality, coaching businesses on customer service and volunteering with community-building nonprofits. Those experiences taught me that great spaces aren't built simply by the walls existing or the equipment being in place; they’re built by people who are committed to fostering a culture that makes people feel welcomed, valued, and connected. That's the kind of studio I’m building.

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I want this studio to feel like home. A place where we slow down, make things with our hands, learn something, laugh at our wobbly bowls, and leave feeling a little more grounded than when we arrived. We'll learn about clay, but we'll learn about ourselves too.

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I don't know if pottery can change the world. But I do think that if we let it, this ancient part of the earth can absolutely change us.

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See you in the studio soon!

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— Karla