Tucked in South Boulder’s Table Mesa neighborhood, Clay Hub—an extension of Tinker Art Studio—is quickly becoming a go-to space for artists of all ages to get their hands dirty and their creativity flowing. With a mission to “cultivate community, connection and creativity through the arts,” Clay Hub is not just a pottery studio; it’s a creative haven for everyone from curious beginners to seasoned ceramicists.
At the center of Clay Hub’s creative buzz is the Teaching Studio—outfitted with 14 pottery wheels, spacious work tables, plenty of storage, and a demo wheel equipped with an overhead camera that transforms lessons into immersive, hands-on experiences. The studio hosts a vibrant lineup of classes: from adult sessions held throughout the day and evening to after-school programs for youth, plus parent-child Make-Together experiences that invite all ages to get creative, side by side. People can also take a 5-week sample class or a one-time workshop. One of the most popular is the Try-It-Out: Wheel Throwing workshop, an easy way for adults to try wheel throwing, plus it makes for a great date night.
“For me, it all started with clay,” says founder Christie Hubley. “After learning how to throw in high school, I was hooked for life. So, opening Clay Hub really is a full circle moment.”
Since 2012, Tinker’s always-popular ceramics classes have consistently sold out, with students eager for more access.
“Clay is so addictive,” Christie says. “The only way to learn is to push the clay too far, have it collapse, fail, and try again. But every single time, you feel the progress. Even 23 years after throwing my first pot, I still feel myself progressing and gaining some new awareness or insight every single time I’m on the wheel.”
Christie says that as adults, we often forget what it’s like to try something new because we generally spend our time doing things we’re good at, not leaving our comfort zone. It’s a realization she’s carried into the philosophy behind Clay Hub.
For those drawn to the rhythm of the wheel or the meditative craft of hand-building, Clay Hub’s Membership Studio offers an all-inclusive haven that’s open around the clock. Members have everything they need at their fingertips: top-tier equipment, generous personal and shared storage, clay, plus access to glazes and firings. Members enjoy keyless entry to a private, members-only studio—no need to plan around class schedules. They also have access to weekly Office Hours where they can ask questions and get personalized demos, with topics shaped by member polls—so each week’s demo (like lidded forms or glaze techniques) is tailored to what members want to see. But beyond the tools and access, what truly sets Clay Hub apart is the sense of belonging it fosters.
It strikes a perfect balance between freedom and guidance. Christie understands the power held in community and connection to others. “It lifts us up, supports us, and fulfills us,” she says. “Ceramics is such an equalizer. Whether you’re brand new or have been at it for decades, we’re united by this common medium, and all the amazingness, learning, mess, love and heartache when your pieces turn out just as you hoped or fall apart. More often than not, it’s somewhere in the middle.”
She says that they celebrate each other’s lives and along their ceramic journeys.
“We’re often living in that beautifully imperfect space—the messy middle—and reminding ourselves that actually that’s just the right place to be. As a community studio, we get to go through those highs, lows, and in-betweens together,” she says.
Whether you’re throwing your first pot or refining your craft, Clay Hub welcomes you into the messy, magical process of making. And if you’re only clay-curious, a workshop or five-week sampler class might just spark a lifelong passion. Christie hopes people leave feeling recharged, more present, calm, and energized, a feeling that visitors have often compared to walking out of a good yoga class. “Ceramics is an inherently mindful practice,” she says. “Your mind is so fully engaged that it can’t wander; your mind-body connection is in full swing as your hands shape the clay—not to mention your hands are messy, so you can’t even peek at your phone. Having that kind of experience becomes more and more fleeting as we’re all so busy with our lives, combined with our never-ending access to technology.”
TinkerArtStudio.com/Clay-Hub
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Clay Fairy Houses from Clay Hub
Materials:
- Air Dry Clay (recommended 5lb bucket of Crayola air dry clay)
- Water
- Wooden Skewer or other Texture Tools
- Acrylic Paints
- Paint Brush
- Optional: String of Fairy Lights
1. Build your structure
You'll start by preparing three spheres of clay, about 1/2 a pound each—a little larger than a golf ball. These three spheres of clay will be your house, roof, and base.
HOUSE: Begin by creating a pinch pot; however, push all the way through the bottom of your pinch pot to make a cylinder or tube. Pinch out your tube until it's about 1/4" thick.
ROOF: Shape your next ball of clay into a cone. Using a pinch pot technique, pinch the cone into a roof shape. Be sure to check to make sure it fits over the top of the tube!
BASE: Now flatten your third ball of clay to make the base for your fairy house.
2. Attach your pieces
Using your index finger, dab water onto the connection points of your three pieces. Using enough water is important, but don't be too generous or your piece may get a little too soft. Snuggle the pieces together and use your finger to smooth and rub the connection points.
3. Cutouts
Use a wooden skewer to cut out windows and a door, and any other features you would like.
4. Add features to theme your house
Think about your Fairy House theme—maybe your house is a Donut Hut, a Strawberry Stand, or a Butterfly House. Roll and pinch smaller pieces of clay to create whimsical features and other additions! You may like to sculpt plants, rocks, vines, leaves, mushrooms, flowers, ladybugs, dragonflies, snails, or any other fun little details you can think of! Attach them to your fairy house using water. This is also a great time to carve details like wood on the front door, and add any other textures!
5. Paint!
Give your clay about 24 hours to dry, and then use acrylics to paint your house! (Pro Tip: mix a bit of white in with each color you use to make it more opaque and vibrant.) Remember, acrylics do stain, so cover your work surface. If you have a string of fairy lights, try tucking some inside or wrapping them around the exterior for some extra magic! Now all that's left to do is find the perfect (indoor) spot to admire your amazing creation.