Sculpt Your Surroundings with Isaac Scott

Explore how surface and form can work together to convey emotion, memory, and narrative with inspiration from the surrounding area, using found objects and everyday materials. Learn Scott’s unique hand-building techniques of clay stretching, stamping, mark-making and carving, to create mugs, jars and busts. Explore ways to make dynamic forms, develop rich, layered textures and enhance sculptural details. This workshop is suited for beginner and intermediate students.

In conjunction with this workshop, Watershed will host a free public artist talk with Isaac Scott on Friday November 7 at 6:00pm in the Commons.

Dates: November 7-9, 2025
Workshop Fee $410 (includes meals)
Materials Fee: $30

Optional Housing: $65/night double room; $90/night single room

REGISTER

About Isaac

Isaac Scott is a Philadelphia-based ceramic artist, photographer, and educator, originally from Madison, WI. Scott works mainly with ceramics and photography, mediums which best allow him to interpret and elaborate upon current political and cultural events. Scott’s photographs of the 2020 Uprising in Philadelphia were featured in the June 22, 2020 issue of The New Yorker. He is represented by Lucy Lacoste Gallery in Concord, MA, where Mouros, his solo exhibition, took place in 2023. Scott’s ceramic work has been exhibited around the country. Recent shows include the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY (2024), the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts’ (NCECA) convention in Richmond, VA (2024), Fleisher/Ollman Gallery in Philadelphia, PA (2023), and Watershed Center for Ceramic Art’s Barkan Gallery in Edgecomb, ME (2022). In 2024, NCECA awarded Scott their prestigious Emerging Artist Fellowship.

Workshop Schedule

Daily Schedule:
Friday, November 7: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. artist talk in Commons
Saturday, November 8: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

  • Please arrive at the Commons by 8:45 a.m. each day to grab breakfast; instruction begins in the studio at 9:00 a.m. The group will break for lunch at 12:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Breakfast is the only meal served on Sunday.
  • Participants are responsible for their own dinner plans and can make use of the studio kitchenette for storing food and cooking. There are multiple dine-in and takeout options within driving distance from Watershed.
  • Participants must agree to follow Watershed’s health & safety guidelines. Read them here.

What to Bring

  • The materials fee includes:
    • 25lbs B-Mix Clay
    • B-Mix Slip
  • Participants should bring:
    • Basic clay tools (wire tool, needle tool, flexible rib, serrated rib, sponge, knife, fork, other favorite hand building tools)
    • Plastic for covering work
    • Boxes and packing material for transporting work (we do not keep much of this on hand!)
    • Notebook and pencil

Housing & Meals

Meals

  • Watershed provides continental breakfast and self-serve lunch Friday and Saturday. Breakfast is the only meal served on Sunday.
  • Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets can be accommodated.
  • Those with additional dietary needs are welcome to bring supplemental food to store and prepare in Watershed’s studio kitchenette.
  • Workshop participants make their own dinner arrangements. Various restaurants and take-out options are accessible via car.

On-Campus Housing

Watershed offers housing in single-occupancy or double-occupancy rooms furnished with twin beds. Single-occupancy rooms are $90/night and double rooms are $65/night. Those who would like to reserve housing may do so with their registration. Housing is limited and participants who request housing will be assigned rooms on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bathroom facilities are shared but can be used by one person at a time, much like a bathroom in a home. Participants must bring their own sheets, blankets, and bath towels. Pillows and mattress pads are provided. 

Those arriving Thursday, the day before the workshop, should arrive between 2:00 p.m. and NO LATER THAN 4:00 p.m. to check in and be shown to their room.

Those arriving Friday will be shown to their rooms that morning or at lunch. 

Participants may also elect to stay off campus.

Payments & Cancellations

The workshop fee and any housing fees are due in full with your registration.