Course Overview

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel—no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Classes meet once a week for 2.5 hours in the AMOCA Ceramics Studio for six weeks (15 hours of total instruction), and are limited in size to twelve students. Access to open studio hours is included for the duration of the class and one week following.

Studio classes are for adults ages 18 and over (students 16+ may attend classes when accompanied by a paying adult).

Week 1: Introduction to working at the AMOCA Ceramics Studio and throwing on the wheel
Week 2: Introduction to the terminology and protocols of throwing
Week 3: Introduction to basic trimming and throwing techniques
Week 4: Introduction to basic forms and shapes (bowls and vases)
Week 5: Introduction to glazing
Week 6: Introduction to basic glazing techniques and final review

Course Policies

Refunds are not allowed after the course begins. Refunds requested during the week prior to the start of the class will be honored at 50%. Refunds requested prior to this will be honored minus Humanitix fees. If you would like to request a refund, email studio@amoca.org.

Studio classes are for adults ages 18 and over (students 16+ may attend classes when accompanied by a paying adult).

AMOCA follows current Los Angeles County COVID guidelines. We encourage you to keep up to date on vaccines, wear a mask if you'd like to, and stay healthy!

Your Instructor

woman with dark ponytail with clay — Isabella Hackerman throwing on the wheel

Isabella Rose Hackerman is an artist living in Pomona, California. She received her Masters of Fine Art in 2022 from Claremont Graduate University. Isabella works with clay and mixed media to create conceptual sculptures and installations. Her work is influenced by questioning gender norms, studying the history of erotic art, and empowerment of the human body. Her most recent series of sculptures are influenced by her interest in Neuroplasticity and understanding the most complex part of the human body. Additionally, she creates home decor in the form of pottery while using a palette inspired by her sculptures and installations. Isabella is a ceramics professor at Santa Monica College and Chaffey College.

Studio etiquette

Open studio:

Students are encouraged to come in on their own time to work on their projects during Open Studio hours (posted online and in the classroom). Entry to studio outside of Open Studio hours will be disabled via entry system.

Studio Artists:

Our Studio Artists and Artists in Residence occupy private spaces. Please be respectful of their personal space and please do not interrupt them while they are working.

Cleaning:

Please be sure to clean up the area you are working in, including:

Handbuilding tables - wipe down after use

Slab roller - always use canvas

Glaze area - wipe down any spills, countertops, and buckets

Studio tools - clean before putting back in drawer

Noise:

All cell phone conversations are to be taken outside. When listening to music or podcasts please only use headphones! It is important to not assume others want to listen to your tunes.

Storage:

There is shelving provided for each class in the classroom. This can be used for the duration of the class; however, once class is over these shelves must be cleared. Anything left behind after the two week grace period concludes will be assumed abandoned and then discarded.

Clay:

All clay must be purchased through our studio; no outside clay will be fired. If there is a cone 10 clay body you like from Laguna Clay that we don’t have in stock please let us know and we can order some for you.

Beginning Wheel Throwing (Mondays w/Isabella, Summer 2025)

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