Mel Rice - STUDIO CERAMICA - San Francisco, California

Melanie L.

Absolutely love and recommend this studio! I just finished the 5-week intro to ceramics course and have only positive things to say about the studio. I have made so many cute things and still have some projects in the works. I came in with a vision and Mel really helped me and encouraged me to bring my vision to life. The community is also so kind and welcoming. Even when Mel isn’t in the studio I have gotten help from other members and instructors and I appreciate the variety in teaching styles. Make sure to use up your studio time as a student if you plan on taking a class!

Renee C.

I took a 5 week course with hand building and wheel throwing, and I really enjoyed my experience learning with Mel!

She provided detailed instructions and was supportive throughout the entire process. We made a lot of pieces using different techniques, and I’m happy with how mine turned out!

Zoe

Mel is the BEST!!!! There are so many new studios in SF now but Mel Rice is the real deal (she is an actual production potter). But besides how amazing she is, the studio space is so special and the culture she has created is a real community ❤️

Rachel M.

Such a fun and informative class. I took a beginner pottery course in 2022 at another studio and it didn’t even slightly compare to this! Back then, I wasn’t able to create anything worth keeping, but with Mel’s instruction, I finally learned the basics and created things I am proud of, in only a few weeks! The open studio time was very helpful to this. Mel really wants her students to learn. She’s very encouraging and will always step in to provide guidance or help if you need it. Highly recommend. The space is also really nice, well organized, and I’ve never had trouble with parking. If you’re looking to take classes, I recommend coming here!

Hannah

I took the 6 week dinnerware course which allows you to come in during studio hours.

Their clay bags are around $20 (a little pricy compared to another studio) and they have probably a dozen or so glazes. I enjoyed my time there because of the people. I do wish that the studio was a little cleaner and brighter because I often go home feeling congested on the days I come in and the lighting is a little low. It’s hard to hold everyone accountable to cleaning well since sometimes there are only members in the studio and no staff.

Parking after 6pm is free and the community is really kind.

It could be useful to have a whiteboard that communicates when the next kiln unload will be so that we have a general idea when things will get fired. Otherwise I had to come in hoping mine is in the batch and I have to come a long ways. This is an issue if you are going to purchase the extra clay and make more items. I’m still waiting on a lot of pieces to bisque fire and I’m almost out of the extra 2 week they budget for extra glazing time after the 6 week course even though I finished the pieces in the 4 week mark. This is more of a wishlist since I can imagine how difficult it is to fire everything on a schedule.

Sally S.

I took a class here (and prior to taking the class, I was considering joining as a member) and while the physical space is nice enough, I was very disappointed by Mel Rice. While I want to support a local, woman-owned business, Mel has some serious professionalism and attitude issues. She selects unfortunate students to be rude towards. Theres another review here that mimicked my own experience of being the unlucky one in the class. No ceramics class should leave you in tears! There are way better studios within the Richmond neighborhood or elsewhere in SF if you're looking for a studio. Ceramics is amazing and I fear intro students may come away without loving the art if they chose to start at this studio. I would have never continued ceramics if I hadn't come into the studio with my own prior experience. When I talked with others in the ceramics community in SF, others have validated and confirmed my negative experiences at this studio as not being unique.

Parnassus F. C. C. U.

Our team was excited to host a team building event at Mel Rice Studio Ceramica, but unfortunately, our experience was tarnished by several issues.

The initial booking process was straightforward, and the owner was friendly. However, when we arrived for our scheduled session, the studio was dark and locked. We waited about an hour and were unable to reach the owner, and it wasn't until a regular studio member arrived that we were able to make contact. She said she would still try to come but we decided to just reschedule as it was getting late.

While the rescheduled session was more successful, there were still some disappointments. She was a fun teacher, and very pleasant to be around and talk to. However, we had paid extra for wine and cheese, which she offered to give for free at the rescheduled session to make up for the missed appointment, but wine ended up not being provided, and we didn’t receive the refund for it as promised either. Additionally, the promised timeframe for receiving our finished pieces was not met. We experienced significant delays in communication and the return of our work, and several pieces are still missing months later.

Despite the owner's friendly manner, these organizational and logistical issues significantly impacted our overall experience. We hope that future guests will have a more positive and reliable experience.

Abby E.

Awesome studio with great people, wholesome vibes, sound instruction, ample space, and a real sense of community. Everyone you encounter in this studio is warm and open — especially the owner, Mel. I tried many studios in the city and this is my favorite by far. Start with a class and become a member! Best way to do it:)