IN THE STUDIO WITH COCO…

Pottery/Hand-building Lessons and Hand and Foot Impressions

Coco has been teaching ceramic art since 1994. She was the founder and owner of Santa Monica Mudd Ceramics Studio and Malibu Mudd Studio/Gallery located in Southern California. Coco has worked with students of all ages and abilities. Coco has spent a good portion of this time doing clay therapy for adult living with dissabilities as well as mental decline and spent over 8 years working with teens/patients of an adolesence rehab center, struggling with different types of addiction.

Coco teaches her students basic techniques in clay; slab work, coil, pinch and the use of the potters wheel. She also has a variety of decorative options to choose from; press molds, stamps, lace, wood block imprints,…  just to name a few.

Coco guides each student with a hands on approach, to ensure that each student, regardless of ones skill level, has the ability/guidance to create a functioning and/or decorative piece of art.

Creativity does not have to be ones strong point in order to make something functional. Students can create and paint their work that same day, with the use of clay based colorants, called under-glazes.

Every clay piece will undergo two firings. A bisque firing and a glaze firing. Underglaze can be used on both greenware and or bisque ware.  Either way, a clear glaze will need to be applied to the ceramics after it has gone through the bisque (first) firing. A glaze firing allows the piece to become vitreous. In other words – water tight and functional. For those who sign up for a series classes, you’ll have the opportunity to use glazes.

Firings will take place approximately every 3-5 weeks. 

Coco also captures a moment in time for parents of infants and young children. She offers Hand and Foot Impressions and Convex prints. These make great gifts for the family and are wonderful keepsakes as the years go by. Must be 5 weeks or older – from the due date. 

For more information contact Coco to set up an appt. 

Lessons in Clay…

Group Lesson (4 – 8 students) – One class:

$70.   2 hours/per adult  Create 1 wheel or hand built project and paint using underglaze that same day.  

Private lessons (1 – 2 students) – One class:

$85.   1 hour/per person Create 1 project and paint the same day.

$125. – 2 hours/per person Create 2 projects with the option to paint.

Weekly Classes (3-6 students) – Series of 4 classes.  

(one make-up per session)  

Learn a variety of techniques used to create a functioning object.  Slab, wheel, pinch pot, coil methods will be introduced during a session (4 classes), making up to 4 projects during the session.

$200.   1 hour / 4 classes 

$280.   2 hour / 4 classes for (adults) – creating 1 project each lesson and painting with underglazes. If you have an interest in glazing your projects, a class can be scheduled to glaze all pieces.  

See “Glaze Options” below.                                                                           

Holiday Work Shops (a minimum of 4 students)

 $75. – 1.5 hour/per artist  Creating a holiday project using either on the wheel or using a slab technique. Students will also learn a variety of decorating techniques using; stamps, press molds, material, stencils as well as natural textures.

Choosing to “Glaze” your piece/s

A student may create and paint during the same lesson, however, if you would prefer to schedule a seperate class so that you may use glazes…

Depending on when the next Bisque firing occurs, one might be a couple weeks away. WIth that said, allow approximately 3 weeks before comeing back in to glaze work created from a previous class.

$50.  1 hour/per person. Using glaze on bisque pottery – that was made during a previous class.

$90.   2 hour/per person. Using glaze on bisque pottery – that was made during a  previous class.

*Bisque is a term used for clay that has been kiln fired in the kiln. It is then a  ceramic object ready for glazing and then a glaze firing.

*Glaze is a glass based liquid material that is painted on the surface of a bisqued (fired) ceramic piece. This creates a water tight surface that can be utilized. This process can only be done when the pieces have been bisque fired. 

If you would like to schedule a private lesson or would like to put together your own group lesson,

please contact Coco for availability. As of right now, Coco does not have any group sessions scheduled.

Additional pieces may be made during a private lesson.

Cost per project is based on weight of clay – currently $5. per pound. 

Hand and Foot Impressions 

Double Impressions  $45. This includes impression of both hands or both feet or a hand and a foot – name and date optional on front.

Single $25.  This includes impression one hand or one foot – name and date optional on front.

Convex Prints:  Double $35. each Single $15 each. You must order impressions to do the convex prints. 

Specialized shapes to place print on; heart, surf board, cloud, fish, boat etc. $75 for a single. $95 for a double.  

New borns must be at least 5 weeks old – from due date.