By the time most people are winding down from work, Rob is just getting started.He wipes clay dust from his hands, greets his evening class, and smiles at the hum of spinning wheels that fills The Pottery, a Steveston studio he built by himself, mug by mug.
“In a time when we consume so much, this is an opportunity for people to create,” he says, glancing around the room. “That’s what this place is about.”
The Spark That Started It
Rob didn’t set out to become a studio owner. By day, he still works in food distribution; by night, he’s a maker, a dad of two, and the heart behind one of the city’s most down-to-earth pottery spaces.
His love for clay began the same way many hobbies do. Curiosity turned obsession.
“I love pottery,” he says simply. “And when you love something so much, it’s even more special when you get to share it with other people.”
He’s been doing pottery for close to three years now, but his passion for the craft feels lifelong. That instinct to share became the foundation of The Pottery: a space where people can slow down, get their hands messy, and remember what it feels like to create something real.
Building Something From Scratch
Starting the studio wasn’t glamorous. Rob laughs when asked about opening day.
“Not funny, just challenging,” he admits. “Every time I thought we’d be finished, it took another few months. You really have to let go of expectations — just like in pottery.”
In the early months, he spent evenings scrubbing, sanding, and organizing after his day job.
“If I’m not throwing, I’m cleaning or building,” he says. “But when you have a big passion for something, it’s easy to do. The studio’s been so fun to build and bring to this area.”
And he didn’t do it alone.
“I built the studio with the support of Michelle from Cafe au Clay. I couldn’t have done this without her.”
Now, the space hums with life: students chatting, wheels spinning, music low and steady. The light hits the shelves of mugs just right, and for a few hours, the world outside feels far away.
The Philosophy: Create, Don’t Consume
There’s a reason Rob’s words about creation resonate so strongly. His philosophy runs counter to the constant scroll and instant gratification of modern life.
“We live in a time where we consume so much — content, products, everything. Pottery slows you down. You can’t rush it. It teaches patience.”
That patience is something he tries to pass on to every beginner who sits down at a wheel.
“Be patient with yourself,” he says. “You’ll see videos online where people make things fast, and you think, I can do that. But it takes time to make something beautiful.”
Sometimes, he adds, the lesson is knowing when to stop trying to fix a piece.
“If you get to the point of asking how to save it, you reclaim it. You’ve got to let go sometimes.”
A Studio Built on Support
After spending years in other studios that didn’t always feel inclusive, Rob wanted to do things differently.
“I’ve met so many chill, cool people doing pottery, but also saw a lot of weird rules and energy that didn’t align with me,” he says. “I wanted to build a place where people come to feel comfortable and build a community.”
That vision is now shared by his four instructors — Laura, Yasmin, Hannah, and Ruth — each bringing their own teaching style and energy. Together, they’ve made The Pottery a place that feels both professional and personal, a community that cheers each other on.
“If you have a dream, I want to support that dream,” Rob says. “If we all supported each other like that, the world would be a beautiful place.”
Looking Ahead
The next chapter for The Pottery is as creative as its classes.Rob’s planning hand-building workshops, community pop-ups, and collaborating with other small businesses in the area to really help grow the Steveston community.
There’s talk of offering Mandarin-language workshops too, to connect more deeply with the neighbourhood’s community.
“We’re excited to bring people together — through clay, through pop-ups, through little creative events here and there,” he says.
Why It Matters
Pottery isn’t just about the clay. It’s about the rhythm of the wheel, the laughter between spins, the moment a beginner realizes, I made this.
Rob smiles when he talks about those moments.
“When I see other people passionate about what they’re making, it makes me happy,” he says. “It’s soul-filling. There’s just something about pottery that feels so good.”
And really, that’s what The Pottery is: a space where joy takes shape, one mug at a time.
🎟️ Try a Workshop at The Pottery
The Pottery is part of our Hobby Hop lineup. A city-wide celebration of creativity and connection.Join one of Rob’s 6 week workshops to kickoff your own pottery journey and experience the magic of slowing down and making something with your hands.
👉 See upcoming classes at The Pottery
