Loam soil is valued for its balanced composition and its ability to support sustained growth over time. LOAM Clay Studio is intentionally designed around these same principles, created to provide optimal conditions for sustained ceramic practice by balancing structured instruction with independent learning, creative freedom with technical guidance, and individual focus with shared community. Through classes, workshops, and open studio membership offerings, LOAM supports long-term creative practice in clay across all stages of experience.
Inspired Makers
Years in Business
Team Members
At LOAM, every piece begins with a purpose: to create, to connect, and to grow. Our mission, vision, and values guide how we shape clay, nurture artistry, and support one another as makers.
To create a space where potters at every stage of their practice can nurture their artistry, confidence and independence; through community, craftsmanship and continuous learning.
To create a space where potters at all stages of their practice can find a studio to continue growing and building their talent.
To be recognized as Ottawa’s leading ceramic studio. A creative haven where artistry and community meet and where potters feel inspired, supported and connected through every stage of their journey.
Thoughtful Making: Many of us come to love pottery for the positive impact it has on our wellness. We aim to honour the craft by enjoying the process, not just the outcomes. We lean into the patience needed to refine our skills, upholding values of fine craftsmanship and artistry, and produce quality work.
Sustainability: It is increasingly apparent our actions are having a dramatic effect on the planet. We prioritize implementing practices that help reduce the environmental impact, focusing on quality over quantity.
Inclusive Community: It is through sharing our diverse experiences that we all grow and expand innovation. We aim to preserve a positive and safe space where people with different perspectives, backgrounds and paths in life come together to share, support and encourage each other's creative pursuits.
Growth Mindset: LOAM hopes to support our local pottery lovers at every stage of the learning process. No matter what skill level or stage in their practice they are at when they join, they share a goal of continuing to improve and get better.
Studio Manager, Designer, Maker, Technician & Instructor.
Emily Dore came to clay by way of a night-time pottery class while on maternity leave. She sat down at the wheel, got her hands dirty, and has been passionate about ceramics ever since.
Emily is a studio potter with a strong foundation in wheel-thrown functional ware. Emily studied throwing under Audrey Killoran and pursued ceramics and glaze making under the mentorship of Olaf de Winter at the Westmount Visual Arts Centre’s School of Art in Montreal. Since moving to Ottawa in 2013, Emily has refined her craft working in her home studio and as an open studio member at Loam, where her work is sold.
A researcher and story consultant for documentary film and television, Emily holds an honours BA in English and Creative Writing from Concordia University.
Instructor
Instructor
I love to create one-of-a-kind fun, functional and ornate art pieces. My background as a designer, calligrapher and painter informs my sense of colour, texture, shape and form.
Always exploring new and challenging decorative techniques to express my innate creativity.
As an artist, pottery allows me an outlet to lose myself and be completely immersed into the creative process. I create unique whimsical hand-built, thrown & altered pieces.
Instructor
I was born shortly after World War II, when tracts of Veteran’s housing were springing up in the fieldsclose to Toronto. I spent many happy hours as a child in clay filled ditches, modelling tiny figures and their household necessities to live in hollowed out caves or grassy labyrinths.
I’ve travelled, married my best friend, raised two smart young men, and am part of a flourishing arts community.
Instructor
After taking a wheel class a few years ago, I was hooked! Which lead to more wheel and hand building classes. Something about always learning and creating things from the earth is soothing.
Perfection in the imperfect is the best way to describe my approach, creating functional pieces through pinch and slab hand building techniques.
I love keeping a little part unglazed to have a textural aspect to my pieces.
I get my inspiration from food and nature/life. How food looks on it, who you can share it with and how I can incorporate what I see to clay and glaze.
I love being on this creative path and am excited to share that with others!
Maker, Head Technician & Instructor
Shiva Nasiri is a sculptor and educator with a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Sculpture from Tehran University of Art. With over six years of teaching experience, she has taught art history and visual foundations at various institutions and participated in curatorial projects at SAW Gallery in Ottawa.
Her work, exhibited internationally, blends traditional and contemporary techniques, exploring themes like embodiment and site-specific art. Shiva’s expertise spans life-size clay modeling, bronze casting, and digital sculpting.
Shiva is currently the head technician at LOAM Clay Studio as well as an occasional instructor.
At LOAM, creativity takes many forms. Whether you’re trying the wheel for the first time or building a long-term practice, LOAM offers classes, memberships, and creative experiences designed to grow with you.
Low-commitment, high-fun experiences designed for curious beginners, creative nights out, and hands-on making. Try something new, make something beautiful, and get a feel for the studio.
Multi-week classes designed for steady growth, technical development, and deeper exploration of clay. From beginner wheel to advanced design-focused courses, our programming supports makers at every stage.
Flexible studio access for potters looking to practice independently, develop consistency, and make clay part of everyday life.
Mentorships, intermediate and advanced courses, artist-led intensives, and specialized programming for potters looking to refine their voice and deepen their practice.
Have questions about our classes or memberships? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form and we’ll get back to you.
Monday: 12pm – 9pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Friday-Sunday: 9am – 5pm
131 Loretta Avenue North, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 2J7
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