Thrive Clay Studio to expand classes, workshops in 2019

Having a space to dedicate time and energy to creativity has always been important to longtime Birmingham resident Lana Hobbs. 

The more she found herself working with her hands through shaping clay with pottery wheels and designing molds by hand, the more she found herself wanting to teach others how to enjoy that hands-on connection to art. 

“When people are working with their hands, they’re able to focus while relaxing, and sometimes they’ll open up and tell you their life story or open up some part of themselves they couldn’t before, which I love,” she said.

In May 2018, Lana B. Hobbs Pottery rebranded to Thrive Clay Studio when she moved her pottery business downtown to Southside at 2821 Second Ave. S. Hobbs has been practicing pottery since 2008, and she has been teaching pottery classes to adults and children since 2014, after she went back to school to get her license to teach art.

Thrive Clay is a working studio for both beginners and longtime sculptors looking to learn more about the intricacies of clay and practice their craft. She teaches workshops about how to make casserole dishes, hanging planters, garden flowers, abstract bowls, mugs, pitchers, wall pocket planters, ornaments and more, and also offers private events. 

Although she has been the only teacher so far, Hobbs said she is training new teachers in 2019 to grow her class sizes and offer more to the Birmingham community after such a high initial interest level. 

Thrive Clay Studio hosts two-hour workshops, which can be used to “mix things up and try something new,” Hobbs said, and to see if locals are interested in committing to a six-week class. The six-week class is more process-oriented, Hobbs said, so students can understand the craft, what goes into making various forms of pottery and how to use the pottery wheel. All pottery is fired and given to the creators at the end. 

Thrive Clay Studio also offers kids summer camps, Hobbs said, where she introduces many kids to clay for the first time. About once a month, Hobbs said, she brings some of her pottery to Pepper Place Farmers Market, where she sells her mugs and art and tells people about her new classes and workshops. 

“Thrive Clay is a space for any and every one,” Hobbs added. “Art breathes life into communities, and that’s what we are all about.”

Hobbs has texturized and hanging clay art at the Liz Lane gallery in Homewood. She also sells a variety of pottery on her website and in-store. For more, go to thriveclay.com.