decorative pieces. He offers classes for groups of individuals, couples and families.
Rives said some of the classes are scheduled to go as late as 8 p. m. and he also hosts after hours sip and spins.
He said attendees at sip and spin events may bring drinks – alcoholic or non-alcoholic – but admits little drinking is done because one’ s hands are covered in clay.
“ Typically, for regular classes we use the stoneware,” Rives said.“ Everything’ s food safe. I have all food-safe glazes. We try to make things that people will use – bowls, cups, things of that nature.
“ We do have more decorative, artsy projects but most of the time, people want to do the wheel. When you think of pottery, that’ s what you think of – the pottery wheel. Once people experience the clay, they’ re like,‘ Oh, I can do other things too on the table top.’ I’ ll show them stuff I’ ve made on the table and they’ re like,‘ You can do that on the table? The wheel’ s really hard, let me try the table.’ The wheel is not an easy task, but it’ s a fun task.”
Rives noted that the age limit for classes utilizing the pottery wheel is 12 years old and up. For tabletop classes, children as young as five may participate. Potter Rey Studios also offers a membership program.“ Once you take a four-week class and get the basics of pottery, then you have 24-hour access to the studio,” Rives said.“ I wanted to set that up because it was a great way to get creative juices out whenever you wanted and sometimes the studio’ s too busy. There’ s too much going on for you to think. You need to be in there alone, so you can come up there at nine o’ clock at night if you want to.”
Rives said that pottery is missing in your life if you haven’ t tried it.
“ If I can do it, anyone can do it, because I didn’ t think I was artistic,” he said.“ I thought I was going to get in this ceramics class and just flounder about. You never know what you can do until you try it. There’ s so many paths and avenues in ceramics that you can find one that you’ re good at.” He also noted that pottery is a versatile art form. When asked what he enjoys most related to his business, he said it fluctuates.“ Some days I’ m gung-ho and I want to teach
people. I want them to learn. Other days, if I have a lot of commissions, my brain is kind of focused on commissions. I do have classes set up, so whenever it’ s class time, I am focused purely on them,” Rives said.“ I really live in the moment when it comes to pottery.”
Rives can tell you exactly why he enjoys the pottery itself.
“ The world is kind of an ugly place sometimes and it feels really wonderful to bring something that’ s from the earth, to form it, shape it into something that is beautiful and will last centuries. It will stand the test of time,” he said.“ Something is truly magical about taking this gray lump, adding material to it and just making it into something beautiful that someone will fall in love with.”
Potter Rey Studios maintains a website and Facebook page, and Rives said messaging him through these was the best way to reach him as he can’ t always get to the phone due to the nature of his work.
Check him out at potteryreystudios. com or Pottery Rey Studios LLC on Facebook.
Spring 2026 | Jacksonville Progress 11