Your child can experience learning pottery wheel throwing in Pleasanton & Tracy California under the expert guidance of our art instructors. These lessons will get your child slinging clay on the wheel and turning mud into something valuable. Whether your child is a beginner or looking to refine their abilities, these lessons provide a comprehensive lessons to wheel throwing, from centering clay to shaping and finishing your creations. Our ceramic classes cover ceramic vases, mugs, jugs and more. Learn different glaze techniques and trimming as well.
There are no prerequisites for ceramic wheel throwing. Just be prepared to enjoy the process of learning and don't expect perfection on your first try.
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Once a week or more
Pottery, Trimming & Glazing
Contact us by text message at (209) 629-6101
Wheel Throwing
Wheel throwing is a foundational technique in ceramics where a lump of clay is shaped into functional or decorative pieces using a potter’s wheel. The process involves centering the clay, creating basic forms like cylinders and bowls, and refining them by pulling up the walls. Mastery of wheel throwing requires an understanding of clay behavior, technique precision, and the ability to control speed and pressure. It’s an essential skill for creating symmetrical pieces and building a strong connection with the material, leading to the creation of intricate and well-formed ceramics.
Key Topics Covered:
Introduction to Wheel Throwing: Understanding the basics of wheel setup and operation.
Clay Preparation: Techniques for wedging and selecting the right clay for throwing.
Centering the Clay: Steps to achieve stability and balance on the wheel.
Throwing Basic Shapes: Creating foundational forms like cylinders, bowls, and plates.
Texture and Decoration: Exploring carving, slip application, and other surface techniques.
Drying and Firing: Managing drying stages and preparing for bisque firing.
Troubleshooting: Addressing common issues like cracks, uneven walls, or warping.
Materials Provided
All materials & tools
Drawing pencils and charcoal
Sketch pads and drawing paper
Erasers and blending tools
Easels and Furniture
Access to still life objects and reference materials
Pottery Trimming
Trimming is the process of refining and detailing a piece after it has been thrown and has reached the leather-hard stage. During trimming, excess clay is removed from the bottom and sides to create a smooth finish, clean footrings, and refined shapes. Proper trimming ensures a piece is balanced and aesthetically pleasing, and it also prevents uneven weight distribution. Key skills include knowing when to trim, how to handle the clay to avoid cracks, and using the right tools to achieve sharp, defined lines and details.
Key Topics Covered:
Timing for Trimming: Understanding when a piece is at the leather-hard stage and ready to be trimmed.
Tools for Trimming: Essential tools like loop tools, trimming bats, and chamois for precision work.
Securing the Piece: Techniques for centering and securing the piece on the wheel for stable trimming.
Creating Footrings: Shaping a well-defined footring for both aesthetics and functionality.
Refining Shapes: Smoothing and thinning walls to achieve the desired form and balance.
Adding Details: Incorporating decorative elements like grooves, textures, or bevels during trimming.
Troubleshooting Trimming Issues: Avoiding common problems like cutting too deep or uneven surfaces.
Maintaining Tools: Keeping trimming tools sharp and in good condition for precise work.
Materials Provided:
All materials needed
Oil paints and brushes
Canvas boards and palette knives
Linseed oil and turpentine
Easels and furniture
Access to still life objects and reference materials
Glazing & Under Glazing
Glazing and underglazing are key decorative techniques in ceramics that add color, texture, and finish to the surface of the clay. Glaze is applied to a bisque-fired piece and then re-fired to create a smooth, shiny, or matte surface that is often waterproof. Underglaze, on the other hand, is used before glazing to apply intricate designs or color to the surface. These techniques involve understanding glaze consistency, application methods, and firing temperatures to achieve the desired effects. Combining underglaze with glaze layers can result in rich, vibrant colors and unique textures on the final piece.
Key Topics Covered:
Types of Glazes: Exploring different glaze types, such as glossy, matte, and satin finishes.
Applying Glaze: Techniques for evenly applying glaze with brushes, dipping, or pouring.
Glaze Consistency: Understanding the ideal thickness and viscosity of glaze for proper application.
Underglaze Application: Techniques for applying underglaze for decoration and color before glazing.
Layering Glazes: Combining multiple glazes or underglazes to achieve depth and effects.
Handling Drips and Runs: Preventing glaze drips and managing runs during firing.
Glaze Firing: Understanding temperature ranges for glaze firing and how it affects final results.
Testing Glazes: How to test glazes on small sample pieces to understand color outcomes and compatibility.
Common Glazing Issues: Troubleshooting issues like streaking, cracking, or undesirable finishes.
Surface Decoration: Using underglazes for detailed designs, stencils, and painted textures before glazing.
Materials Provided:
All materials needed
Oil paints and brushes
Canvas boards and palette knives
Linseed oil and turpentine
Easels and furniture
Access to still life objects and reference materials
Handles, Spouts & Lids
Creating handles, spouts, and lids is essential for adding both functionality and aesthetic appeal to pottery items like mugs, pitchers, and teapots. Handles are shaped and attached using a variety of methods, ensuring they are both comfortable and secure. Spouts must be carefully designed for optimal pouring, with considerations for angles and flow. Lids and tops must fit seamlessly with the body of the piece, both for function and visual harmony. Mastery of these techniques ensures that the pieces not only serve their purpose but also have a refined and cohesive look.
Key Topics Covered:
Making Handles: Techniques for shaping and attaching handles securely to mugs, pitchers, or other pieces.
Types of Handles: Different handle styles such as pulled, coiled, or slab handles.
Attaching Handles: Proper techniques for scoring and slipping to ensure strong connections.
Creating Spouts: Steps for shaping and attaching spouts to teapots, pitchers, or other vessels.
Spout Design: Understanding the angles and flow needed for a functional and aesthetically pleasing spout.
Making Tops and Lids: Techniques for crafting lids that fit snugly and seamlessly with the vessel’s body.
Shaping Lid Knobs: Different methods for creating decorative or functional knobs for lids.
Securing the Spout or Lid: Ensuring tight, functional attachments through scoring, slipping, and smooth finishing.
Drying and Firing Considerations: Ensuring proper drying to avoid cracking and warping during firing for handles, spouts, and lids.
Finishing Touches: Smoothing and refining the connections between handles, spouts, and the body of the piece for a professional look.
So that you and your child(ren) can experience what our art classes have to offer, a noncommital first class can be scheduled.
The trial class is free if the student decides not to join. This allows you the freedom to try without obligation.
If they decide to join, then the trial class is considered the first class.
Scheduling Classes
start when your ready
Scheduling
Students are taught individually even though they are in small groups, resulting in many scheduling benefits to you and your child.
For example, this allows students to start classes when ever they feel they are ready to.
Also they can switch class day and times seamlessly since the curriculum is dependent upon your child’s progress and not on the other students or assigned teachers.
To set the initial day and time, use the registration form to select your class.
Other benefits include:
freezing accounts
sheduling flexibility
exploring other activities
working around sport seasons
Our members can pause classes between sessions or by freezing their account once a year.
Because we are a year round art academy, and not a semester based one, students have more flexibility for their schedule and their lessons.
Tuition Plans
choose a class credit plan
Tuition Pricing
Oam Studios Art Academy currently has 3 payment plans to choose from.
The tuition is determined the age bracket that the student fits into and with class plan is choosen.
Purchasing a larger amount of classes results in greater savings.
There is a $50 registration fee per single student or a $25 registration fee per sibling.
Age Brackets
taught individually
Paired by Age
Students are grouped by age in small teacher to student ratios.
Age bracket 5-8
We recognize that children of this age range need lots of one on one attention for their developing minds and insatiable curiosity.
By being taught individually in small classes, we can cut classes while maintaining the highest standards possible
Age bracket 9-11
Children of this age range are more self sufficient, becoming concerned with socializing and fitting in, and now more aware of their talent or lack of talent in differing subject matters.
It’s important at this age that art remains fun, educational, disciplined, but not damaging their developing awareness of self.
Age bracket 12 & Up
Adolescents of this age range are highly capable of focusing on their work and delighting in their concentration. At this age they are highly aware of what they enjoy doing and no longer seeking as much social praise from their peers.
Students in this range have serious issues to start focusing on that will determine their future. Regarding art, that could be an art portfolio for an art college or university whether their major is art related or not.
It could also include competing in art contests, or developing the habits of success such as completing a project that they’ve begun.
Class Credits
what are class credits?
Class Credits
When a guardian purchases a class package for their students, they have the option of purchasing 4 class credits or 12 class credits.
Class credits are used when a student attends their class time or when they no longer have any more excused absences on their account and do not attend their class.
To avoid losing a class credit, guardians and students should be sure to not go over their allotted excused absences on their account.
*We do eventually hope that guardians will be able to choose the amount of class credits to purchase in bulk
Absence Credits
what are absence credits?
Absence Credits
Absence credits allow for a student to miss their class without a penalty so that the student is automaticall excused from class.
The student can then continue their class the following week exactly where they left off.
It is unneccasry to set a make up class, if the student has an absence credit on their account, since they will not be docked a class credit for their absence.
It is also unneccasry to notify us if your child will be absent
the 4 Class Credit Plan provides 1 absence credit
the 12 Class Credit Plan provides 4 absence credits
absence credits can be reaquired after attending a make up class
Absence Penalty
An absence penalty occurs when a student misses their class and no longer has any absence credits on their account.
An unexcused absence result in losing a class credit.
Guardians and students can avoid this by not going over their allotted excused absencesand by scheduling a make up class if they have 0 absence cedits on their account
Holidays, Vacations, & Absent Teachers
All accounts are frozen during scheduled holidays
Holidays do not affect class credits.
There is no need to notify us for classes that will be missed during Holidays and Vacations.
No classes are docked when the studio is closed.
Class Ratios
teacher to student ratios
Teacher Student Ratios
Teacher Student Ratios
Age Bracket
Ratios
5-8
1:7
9-11
1:10
12 & up
1:12
Grouping Students
Students are taught individually while being in a group setting. Students are grouped together by age, not by skill level.
Each student will be working on different assignments based on their placement in our curriculum and also based on the student’s preference on the subject matter.
There is no formal critiquing between students unless they are in the Studio Art Class.
Freeze Accounts
pausing your classes
Freezing an Account
You may need to freeze your child’s account.
Freezing an account is necessary when you and your child will be gone for an extended time due to a vacation or emergency.
You do not need to freeze your account while the studio is on a holiday break.
Freezing a students account will remove the student from their scheduled class time and day. Parents can reschedule the class upon unfreezing the account, however, there is no guarantee that their previous class time and day will be available.
A guardian can have their students account frozen if they will be absent for an extended period of time that is a minimum of 1 month and no more than 3 months. This ensures that they do not lose class credits during that time period.
Please contact your child’s teacher to freeze an account.
Make Up Classes
scheduling a makeup
Scheduling a Make Up
You do not have to schedule a make up class if you use an absence credit since no class credit will be docked for the excused absence
Absence credits are used automatically if the stuent does not attend
You will want to schedule a make up class if your account is out of absence credits, inorder to avoid an absence penalty, which will dock a class credit
Art Projects
quality over quantity
Time vs. Quality
At Oam Studios, we strive to teach our students the intricate techniques that go into mastering an art material and medium.
Because of this, we assign our students exercises in order to perfect those techniques before attempting the techniques on their final projects.
We believe that practice is more important than how many projects are completed.
We believe that a student should complete one project to their highest capability, with the best training, concentration and use of time. This ensures that their work can be used for competitions and portfolios.
We do not believe in rushing students to complete several low quality projects that the student and parents will not be proud of.
Many of the art projects require at least 3 months to complete. Some take nearly 6 months. Please understand that a master artist also requires much needed time to complete their work and that a student requires much more.
Please let us know if you agree or disagree with these values.
Art Gateways
seventeen worlds of art
The Art Gateways
The Oam Studios Art Curriculum is made of 17 sections that each consist of 4 levels totaling 72. These sections, or gateways as we like to call them, cover most of the techniques and mediums that Master Omar has learnt through his career as an artist.
Each gateway represents an important section of art mastery:
Line Quality & Properties
Dry Coloring Materials
Classical Drawing and Mathematics
Stippling & Mosiacs
Hatching Techniques
Print Making
High Contrast & Color Theory
Sculptural Mediums
Water Color and Airburshing
Landscape Art
Ceramics and Wheel Throwing
Manga & Anime
Oil Painting
Portraiture & Figure Drawing
Perspective Drawing
Digital Art & Design
Students will choose the Gateway they would like to study and persue the prerequisites to reach the level that they have choosen. They will be able to change their goals during their journey, but mainly between levels. We believe that at this stage in their art career it is important to complete what they start.
An adult can start reading a book and within the first five pages decide to never lift that book again. When a child is starting to read, its important that they finish what they start so that they can develop a meaningful understanding of their likes and dislikes. They may be surprised by what they learn.
Levels within each Gateway
Within each of the 17 Art Gateways, there are four levels. Each level is represented by a Oamie-Mon character that the student will earn as a badge for their accomplishment of completing a level.
An OamieMon character is similiar to a Pokemon character, giving the student higher stats and increasing their art capabilities. You can view the characters from the students profile page.
To bring in as much fun and enjoyment to the process of learning the visual arts, We have created a story and mythology for the students that can be read and explored below and also at the curriculum page
The 17 Contrade
The Italian medieval city of Sienna is made up of 17 contrade, or what in english would be referred to as city districts. Each of these 17 districts has a patron creature that is symbolized upon each of the districts colorful and unique flags.
There is the district of the Snail, the Shell, the Unicorn, the Porcupine, the Eagle. the Turtle, the Owl, the Panther, the Goose, the Tree, the Elephant, the Shewolf, the Dragon, the Dolphin, the Ram, the Giraffe, and the Caterpillar.
The Secret of the Masters
Unbeknownce to the layman and the sunday artist is a well kept secret held by master artists from across the world.
This secret, I will reveal to you now if you only promise to never tell another living soul. Do you promise? Do you truly promise? If you promised twice then and only can you know.
The secret is that each of the 17 districts have a hidden gateway that leads to different world of art. You only need find the gateways and enter them in order for your journey to of becoming an artist to commence.
Worlds of the Artist
Through each of these gates, you will find a world of art in turmoil. Something has fallen out of balance and caused disharmony to each. It will be up to you to learn the techniques unique to each world in order to bring it out of chaos and back into order.
Do not fret though young art apprentice, because through each of these gateways you will find friendly OamieMon that will help you learn the art materials and techniques to fulfill your purpose.
“The work of an artist is to make order of chaos” - Master Paskewitz
Fountain Gaia
The 17 districts surround the center plaza named Piazza del Campo. This plaza is world renown for a yearly horse race, known as the Palio, where the triumphant horse wins a special banner designed by a world renown artist.
The horse race is brutal and there are no rules that govern it. In fact, its not even important if the rider makes it across the finish line, since it is the horse that is praised as the winner, leaving the rider forgotten
More importantly though, there in the piazza remains a fountain named Fonte Gaia which is secretly known amongst artists as the final gateway to becoming a Master Artist.
However, for the fountain to open, and the final challenges to begin, the fledgling artist must bring balance to the 17 other worlds of art.
Do you have what it takes to become a Master Artist?
Profile Pages
account information tabs
Profile Pages
Each student at Oam Studios Art Academy recieves an online profile page that stores their account information, awards and achievements.
Account Information
The profile pages are super convenient for parents for several reasons:
Easily make payments digitally
Check the amount of class credits remaining
Verify the amount of absence credits
Sign up for Summer Camps
Change the Day & Time of the Class
Adjust the amount of class credits to purchase
Schedule a make up class
Freeze the student's account
& more features are coming!
Progress Reports
On the student's profile page, guardians can quickly see their child's progress by referring to a progress wheel that depicts the percentage of the current project completed
Students also will let the teacher and parent know how they feel about the current project or studio by selecting an emoji that represents their feelings.
Their profile page also has behavior bars which indicate how well they are seated, concentrated, hand raising, and cleanliness.
Activity Walls
We update guardians by posting current progress images and critiques on the students activity walls tab
Parents can ask for an update any time but we will also automatically do so when students hit certain progress percentages
Parents and other members can comment on the posts or make their own posts to encourage community conversations
Portfolio Tab
Each student will have their art work uploaded to their portfolio tab with a custom critique
Guradians and students can look back at their progress and share it with their friends and family
Levels Tab
Click on the levels tab from the students profile page to view all the levels of our curriculum
The OamieMon creatures display in color when a student has competed that level and earned their OamieMon creature.
Click on the OamieMon creatures for more information about the levels and for story information regarding the mythology.
Oam Awards
student behavior awards
Oamoji Awards
Art students earn several digital awards that can be traded in for physical or digital gifts
💸 For the completion of each level, students earn art money that can be spent by the student at our student stores online or in person
🧁 class cup cakes are gifted by the art teachers randomly and after 4 are collected, they become teachers apples.
4🧁 = 1💸 + 1🍎
🍎 teacher apples are earned when the student shows the very best behavior improvement of their class.
4🍎 = 1💸 + 1💎
💎 digital diamonds for being the absolute best behavec student in the whole class.
6💎 = 5💸 + 1👑
👑 class crowns are accumulated by earning 6 digital diamonds. Each crown means a visit to the art store.
Gathering oamjoji awards result in more art money and higher student status.
Behavior Oamojis
In order to spend their earned art money, students must earn all 4 Behavior Oamojis.
🪑 The chair oamoji is earned by remaining at their seat and asking for permission to leave the table
👁 The eye oamoji is earned by concentratiing on their art project and resisting the temptations of distraction
🖐 The hand oamoji is earned when a student consistenly raises their hand and asks for permission to speak
🧼 The soap oamoji is earned when a student keeps their space organize, cleans up after themselves, and helps the teacher and classmates maintain a clean and safe studio space
Competition Oamojis
Additionally, student can earn more art moeny and oamojis by competing in art competitions.
🍄 The mushroom oamoji is easily earned just by participating in any online art competition.
🍄 = 5💸 + 1🧁
🌷 The flower oamoji can be earned by participating in an in-person competition and participating in the award ceremony by at least attending.
🌷 = 10💸 + 1🍎
⭐️ The star oamji is earned when the student places second or third in any art compettiion.
⭐️ = 25💸 + 1💎
🏆 The trophy oamji is earned when a student places first in any art competition and is highly coveted.
🏆 = 50💸 + 1👑
Leveling Up Character Oamojis
🧖 After completing a level, a student is classed as an artist type. Students can multiclass depending on the way they conduct themselves as an artist during their projects
👩🚀 Art Astronauts are very intelligent and use science and math for making their art work super precise.
More importantly though, there in the piazza remains a fountain named Fonte Gaia which is secretly known amongst artists as the final gateway to becoming a Master Artist.
🦸♂️ Art Heroes are very social and talkative. This can be helpful to their classmates when they focus their social skills on helping their art teacher and classmates discuss art and solving art problems.
🥷 Art Ninjas are very silent and private when they work. Art Ninjas rarely ever distract their fellow students but they have to be really careful to not be too shy.
🧙♂️ Art Wizards are very imaginative and creative students. They see the world as a magical place without limits and art allows them to explore their mystical ideas.
