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Adult Class Levels
If you are new to the HCA Ceramic Studio, we suggest that you sign up for a Beginner/Intermediate Level class.
Beginner/
Intermediate
Best for students with no prior experience or who would like to review basic concepts and techniques for a particular discipline. These classes can be taken multiple times. Intermediate students increase their knowledge of materials, improve technique, and find their artistic voice.
Intermediate/
Advanced
Best for students who have taken 4 or more classes. Intermediate students increase their knowledge of materials, improve technique, and begin to find their artistic voice. Advanced students focus on artistic voice and vision, art styles, personal themes, and advanced techniques.
Adult Open Studios
We love, that you love, ceramics!
That is why we make the ceramic studio available to currently enrolled Adult students outside of class hours to hone their skill, practice, and build community. Adult open studios are not guaranteed and are on a first-come first-reserve basis for currently enrolled adult ceramics students. Students can only sign up for 3 hours of Open Studios a week. The Open Studio week is Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. Adult students can sign up for 3 hours on one day or 90 minutes on two separate days. Sign up is required.
Adult students must register their name in the time block to reserve Open Studio time. If for any reason the student is unable to attend a date/time signed up for, they are required to remove their name so that another student may take their place. If the student misses three Open Studios without removing their name, or notifying the HCA Office, before the start of their sign-up slot they will loss their open studio access for the remainder of the session.
Sign up is required. A link will be shared with currently enrolled students the first week of the session.
Ceramics Program
Here at the HCA, ceramic students have the opportunity to get their hands muddy while creating everyday useful objects such as mugs, bowls, serving dishes, containers and other vessels as well as exploring the sculptural aspects of the medium. Directed by Hana Reilly, the ceramics studio welcomes students of all backgrounds and abilities. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and supportive community where individuality and life-long friendships thrive.
Our ceramics studio provides a space for students in grades 2nd through adult to explore their own visions while being inspired by both their instructors and fellow students. The studio is equipped with nine wheels, two large hand building tables, a slab roller, an extruder, two kilns, 16 glazes, slips, under-glazes, oxides and a plethora of hand-building and surface design tools.
Instructors
Hana Reilly
Director of Ceramics
Hana has worked as a potter and educator for 15 years, teaching ceramics to adults and children at the Potter's Shop and School in Needham, Southborough Art Center and the Danforth Art Museum School in Framingham. She has sold her work in South End Holiday Market and other shows, Lacoste Gallery, Danforth Museum and the annual Primarily Potters showcase in Hopkinton. She is a graduate of the School of Arts and Crafts in Prague, the Czech Republic.
Cheska Komissar
Instructor
Cheska Komissar earned her undergraduate and master’s degree in education from Boston University. She has been experimenting with creativity her whole life and has used clay as her primary medium for over 20 years. With a background in special education, Cheska believes that, given the opportunity, everyone can be creative and turn their visions into realities. She believes in using as many senses as possible and frequently stops her whistling or humming to test out the sounds of her clay.
Martha Gold
Visiting Instructor
Sectional Wheelthrowing Workshops
Martha Gold (she/her) worked as a production potter in Oregon and Connecticut from 1974 through 1987. After an eighteen year break, Martha now enjoys creating one-of-a-kind clay pieces without the pressure of production schedules. Function is still very important in her work, from kitchen and tabletop ware to Asian-inspired lanterns. Martha received a B.A. in Art History from Boston University.
Samantha Andrews-Jarvis
Visiting Instructor
CLASSES
FAQs
Can I buy clay elsewhere to use in the studio and fire in HCA kilns?
No. Youth and teen students clay is provided with tuition. Adult students get a free 25 lbs bag of clay with their tuition. Any additional clay must be purchased at the HCA studio from our teachers.
Adult Student Clay Fees Starting Fall 2023:
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First Bag: Free
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Second Bag: $15
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Third Bag: $30
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Fourth Bag: $45
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Fifth Bag: $55
The price of registration and clay purchases include all firing, access to glazes and underglazes. Tools are available in the studio, however, students can bring their own tools.
Can I buy my own commercial glazes and use them in HCA kilns?
No. Our studio currently has 14 glazes to choose from. We cannot fire any outside glazes.
Can I buy my own underglazes?
Yes, however, you will have to show those to your teacher for approval, to use in our studio.
Can I use my own tools?
Yes, we encourage students to use their own tools.
Do you provide tools to use in the studio?
Yes, we have tools for you to use, however, feel free to purchase your own tools. You will be able to keep those on your shelf in the studio.
Why can’t my child take a wheelthrowing class until middle school?
Wheelthrowing requires a certain level of strength, height and maturity. Children younger than 12 can enjoy learning to handbuild with clay, creating a large variety of forms, including sculpture. Students who have experience with handbuilding will succeed on the potter’s wheel faster, when older, than students with no experience with clay.
I am not enrolled in a class, can I pay for Open Studio access?
No. Open Studios is only available to currently enrolled adult students.
Can my teen or child attend Open Studios to finish a project?
No. Open Studios are only available to currently enrolled adult students.