Mud Lily is a community-centered space to discover, explore and practice creating with clay. We bring concepts from wisdom traditions and a beginner's mindset to pottery making. Fun and engaging, serene and soulful, Mud Lily brings deeper connections to life and art.
MUDLILY IS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY SPACE…
…a place where you can discover, explore and practice creating with clay. We tie concepts from wisdom traditions and a beginner's mindset to pottery making. Fun and engaging, serene and soulful, Mud Lily brings deeper connections to life and art.
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities.... Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
WHAT'S A MUD LILY, ANYWAY?
Mud lily is another name for the lotus flower. The lotus symbolizes spiritual enlightenment, and did you know that it grows from the mud? What a great reminder in our busy lives: Growth can be messy and beautiful--all at the same time.
When we first opened Mud Lily back in 2017, almost everyone who crossed our path was brand new to the world of pottery. These days, San Diego has leaned heavily into its maker reputation—pottery classes have become almost as ubiquitous as microbreweries and yoga studios!
We’ve learned a lot while spending this time living our passion, and we’re here to help you live yours. Our “beginner’s mindset” guiding principle, rooted in wisdom traditions, is still the backbone of what keeps us grounded, and today we offer more options than ever for you to chart your own unique path in ceramics:
Pottery Experiences: Weekend fun and a one-time, condensed version of what you can expect if you’re considering pottery as a new hobby.
5-Week Classes: Our original “Start Here” beginner-friendly pottery classes that we built our reputation on. Wheel, hand building, glazing, and studio use information.
3-Week Wheel Skills: If you’re drawn to the pottery wheel, you probably feel like you can never get enough guidance and practice. Same! So we designed this all-wheel, all-new offering so that you can increase your knowledge and practice a lot in just three weeks. PS: It’s also beginner friendly!
Guided Practice: Topic-based sessions, wheel and hand building, where you can ask an instructor for advice on a challenge or learn something new.
Studio Time: Once you know how to move your work through the journey from creation to complete, you can book studio time to work without instruction. Single sessions and five class packs.
Independent Studio Membership: Like a gym membership, but so much better ;)
Private Pottery Events: The party’s at our place. Perfect for friends, family, and team building get togethers.
We hope this overview has helped you get excited about your next steps. If you’d like to share more about where you are in your clay journey, email us at hello@mudlilyclay.com and we’d be happy to answer your questions and make more specific recommendations.
Jo Ann, Susan, and the Mud Lily team
Mud Lily Co-Owners Susan Tull and Jo Ann Molter, enjoying the journey. No mud, no lotus. ~Thich Nhat Hahn
“You’ll hear us use the word “practice” a lot at Mud Lily. Not because we think that practice makes perfect, but because we believe practice is all there is—no done, no destination, only the journey. ”
Susan Tull
Susan took her first pottery class at the UCSD Craft Center in the early 90s and has been searching for a similar studio vibe ever since. She has resided and raised her child in La Mesa since 1999. In 2014, Susan left the corporate world to become a yoga teacher and to continue her love of practicing pottery. Current inspirations: Faceting clay, Heath Ceramics, white roses, Warrior I, 5oz cappuccino.
Jo Ann Molter
With a career in marketing that spanned more than 25 years, Jo Ann took a a break from employment to raise her son. She also stepped into volunteerism, assisting several non-profit organizations make deeper community impacts. When she's not co-creating a place for pottery making, she manages to sneak in time to explore painting and writing and desires to share the discovery of art with others.