life often encourages us to grow and improve with those areas we are already fairly familiar but there is often a fear connected to commencing something completely new.this is a shame as to enter something new with no expectations or preconceptions can be so freeing.
i have many ceramic artist friends and have often wondered about having a go at pottery and just out of the blue last week i finally signed up for a beginners class and i am so pleased that i did as it is wonderful to enter at a place of no knowledge and to approach the subject in a gentle and exploratory way.
so far i have learned how to create a simple pinch pot.
by creating a sphere shape with a lump of clay and slowly pressing one thumb into the centre a pot can be worked by rotating slowly and pressing with thumb and fingers to create sides to the vessel and slowly this fashions a pot, a pot which bears indentations of the creators hands. these can be smoothed out or left in as desired. there is something quite meditative about pressing and forming a lump of clay. i had an inkling that i would enjoy it and i so did!
my pot from week one is waiting to be fired. this week i took my camera along to document some of the processes i am learning.
this time i fashioned a smaller pinch pot and put it to one side to harden up a little. when i returned to it i added some coils. these are long thin sausages of clay. think rolling out plasticine as a kid. my coil became so long i had a sudden childish urge to add a snakes tongue and eyes to one end, but i resisted!
this is the pot waiting to have the coils added
notice the top edge is scored and a slip (a liquid clay) added. I also did this to the first coil. this helps the pot and coil to stick together.
here it is with coils added. i wished to curve the pot inwards so each row of coils rested slightly further in than the previous row.
the coils were then smoothed inside and out. i have put the wee pot to one side now till next weeks class. i have covered so it won't dry out, and will return to it.
i am looking forward to more explorations with clay and will post some of the things i am learning in my space here or over a my flickr space.
wishing you all a happy weekend
x
I think I would have enjoyed that class too Ginny. It will be interesting to see how you progress. x
Posted by: simone | March 11, 2011 at 20:07
Ohhh wow, lots n lots of fun and learning. Pure bliss indeed. Loves Ionwen XXX
Posted by: Ionwen Charlesworth | March 11, 2011 at 22:53
I'm so jealous... I've always wanted to try my hand at pottery!
Posted by: Monica | March 12, 2011 at 18:36
I always used to enjoy working with clay in art classes at school and remember the excitment as the pieces came out of the kiln. Sounds like a super class.
Posted by: French Knots | March 12, 2011 at 19:19
I've always fancied trying ceramics, as I'm drawn to them when I see creations in galleries,
Have lots of fun with your new adventure!
D x
Posted by: D @ Homemade and Happy | March 16, 2011 at 16:30
wonderful work! i've always wanted to learn ceramics too. have fun!
Posted by: melissa | March 24, 2011 at 08:54
Looks like you had fun with this pot, ceramics is not so easy as it seems but can be a way of entertaining and disconnection of quotidian routine.
Posted by: Lasik surgery | March 30, 2011 at 16:03
VERY exciting, Ginny! I loved pottery when I had it waaay back in school days. I would love to take it up again sometime, it is great fun. Can't wait to see what you make... This pot is taking great shape. :o) Happy Days ((HUGS))
Posted by: Tracy | April 03, 2011 at 13:59