Our mentors
Our mentors are experienced and passionate artists dedicated to sharing their knowledge and fostering a creative community. With diverse backgrounds in ceramics, fine arts, and design, they bring a wealth of expertise to help you grow as an artist. Through their mentorship, you’ll gain valuable insights, refine your skills, and explore new techniques, all while being part of a supportive and inspiring environment. Each mentor brings their unique perspective, allowing for a rich and dynamic learning experience
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Nadia Tarzi-Saccardi
OWNER
Nadia Tarzi-Saccardi is an award-winning, autodidact ceramic artist from Marin County. Originally from Europe, she began her ceramics and sculpture studies in Strasbourg, France, and later published work on Central Asian archaeology with a focus on Buddhist Studies.
For the past 15 years, she has taught ceramics across the Bay Area, including Terra Linda Ceramics, Mill Valley Potter's Studio, and Walnut Creek Arts Center. As director of Terra Linda Ceramics since 2017, Nadia expanded the program with new classes, summer camps, and exhibitions.
She is proud to offer the Ceramic Art Center of Marin (CACM), a new program dedicated to providing advanced and professional ceramic artists with expanded opportunities and a wider range of resources for growth and development.
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Bree Woodward
MENTOR
Bree's fascination with sculpture began at a young age. She was heavily influenced by her great-grandfather, a master woodcarver whose detailed animal and figure sculptures sparked a lifelong passion. At just ten years old, she created her first wood carving, a duck, which led to a childhood hobby of whittling and sculpting.
Later, she pursued a career in the video game industry, spending over a decade creating 3D sculptures. While working at LucasArts, she had the opportunity to train under renowned ILM sculptor Richard Miller, where she gained a deep understanding of human and creature anatomy through plasticine work.
In 2018, Bree transitioned to working with natural clay, embracing its unique challenges. Looking for a community that supported sculptural arts, she joined Terra Linda Ceramic Artists in 2019 under the mentorship of Nadia Tarzi-Saccardi.
Now, she aims to share her wealth of knowledge—offering techniques, strategies, and tips for capturing the essence of animals in clay—while encouraging others to develop their own artistic voice.
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Melissa Woodburn
MENTOR
Melissa has always known she wanted to be an artist. Growing up in the woods of Iowa, she developed a deep connection to the cycles of nature, which continues to influence her work. After earning a BFA from Wittenberg University and working as a graphic designer, she returned to her fine art roots in 1996. During this time, Melissa co-founded a freestanding birth center and taught meditation techniques for pregnant women, sparking a lasting interest in meditation, female empowerment, and creativity—tools she still uses in her artistic process.
Throughout the pandemic, Melissa worked in close isolation, drawing inspiration from the natural world around her. Her creative process, which she describes as a series of widening arcs and circles, allows her to continuously integrate new techniques and life experiences into her art.
Her work is featured in the Kamm Teapot Foundation and in private collections across the U.S. and internationally. A long-time participant in Marin Open Studios, Melissa is also a member of critique groups, the ACCI Gallery in Berkeley, the Association of Clay and Glass Artists (ACGA), Terra Linda Ceramic Artists, and the National League of American Pen Women.
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Jo Clarke
MENTOR
Jo’s artistic journey began with a passion for ceramics in art school, but her career path led her to pursue Graphic Design at Harrow College of Art, London, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Graphic Information Design. For over 30 years, she worked with leading branding agencies in London, Hong Kong, and San Francisco, mastering the art of visual communication through a combination of text and imagery. A perfectionist with a deep love for typography, Jo’s eye for detail was critical in shaping the stories brands told visually.
Seven years ago, Jo rekindled her love for ceramics, returning to the tactile world of clay. She now combines her design expertise with her love of simple, modern forms to create ceramics that explore shape and color. Her work is a reflection of her fine-art background and passion for storytelling, aimed at evoking thought and discussion.
Originally from the UK, Jo now lives in Mill Valley, CA, with her husband and daughter, where she continues to refine her artistic style, always striving for balance between visual beauty and conceptual depth.