Today was my last pottery class. I was able to bring home my first 6 pieces, and I glazed the last 3 - they’re being fired this week or next, and I’ll be able to pick them up in early June.
The class was very frustrating for me at first. Most crafty things I’ve tried came to me fairly quickly, but pottery was a real challenge. But I’d paid for the class and I intended to see it through. I was too cheap to walk away.
As soon as I got in this morning, I found the pieces that I glazed last week. Then I found the 3 that were fired last week and needed to be glazed today. I looked at my first bowl, and at the last one I made, and I saw real improvement. I think I learned something these last 8 weeks.
So, I not-too-humbly present FairyChatPots. They’re most definitely primative, which is a nice way of saying they’re pretty rough. But I’m pleased with the progress I made, and I plan to take the class again in the fall.
No, it’s way too small for that. I think it could serve as a coaster for maybe a juice glass. Most of the pieces are very small. I guess I should have put something in a picture to give a sense of scale. I’ll try a few more photos.
My last 2 pieces are bigger. The remaining piece was thrown by my spousal unit, but I finished it for him, so I can’t take credit or blame for it. But it was enough for him to decide he wants to take the class with me in Sept.
And thanks - throwing was harder than I expected, but I was starting to get the feel of it towards the end.
Dang, that’s some very pretty work there FCM. If that ball is too small to hold dentures, perhaps it can be used to hold very small balls?
Really good stuff. I used to hang with a coupla very fine potters. I tried. I failed. I was cited for clay abuse by the Consolidated League of American Potters. ( The CLAP ).
Your website puts me in mind of that classic Eddie Murphy/ SNL skit…
" Kiln mah landlord. Kiln him. k-i-l-n kiln mah landlord. "
The glazing was the most difficult for me for a variety of reasons. Most of the glazes were pale and mostly colorless, and we had to rely on sample tiles. I’m not good at looking at tiles and translating what I see to my pieces. So I just kinda tried several kinds to see what I got. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what I used. I think the blue ones were from one of the buckets that had several miscellaneous glazes mixed together. I do like the way they came out.
What you’d learn about this potter is that she has problems maintaining consistent thickness. My teacher didn’t think it was bad at all, but it drives me crazy. Maybe I’m too hung up on symmetry and balance and all that…
IIRC from hanging out with guys and gals who threw, consistent wall and base thickness was a slowly learned art. For one thing, you are going to develop the kind of forearms and wrists usually associated with a 14 year old boy.
As you work a piece over and over, you will find methods of steadying your arm and hand and in doing so, will begin to develop a really fine feel for wall thickness. Ditto base or bottom thickness. After a while, you are going to find that the process feels very very different.
I haven’t thrown since I was a teenager and wasn’t all that good at it. I can share this with you, however. For a few years I was hot into sculpting alabaster. One day, maybe I’ll do more- I’ve a bunch of rock laying around waiting on my muse. When you start working stone, each day for me was the same. For a few minutes, I’d be clumsy and finding a groove. ( pardon the pun ) After a while, it was almost as though the stone was … not softer so much as easier for my hands and head to deal with. The lines of communication were flowing well. On a really wonderful day, things and shapes and lines and angles would come out that pleased me. On a lousy day, I’d stop if things didn’t feel right.
You are working clay. You have an enormous advantage. If things do not feel right, fold the pot down wetly into itself and knead and throw again. Time spent but not materials lost in the process. When things start to cook inside and the clay subtly alters how it feels in your palms, you will know it. You will begin to master it.
Listen, despite my smarmyassed comments up there, I looked at your photos. They show native skill and promise, and a gentle eye with the slips and glazes. You are going to enjoy this more and more, and please keep sharing all of the images of them with us.
Nothing more fun that getting a forty pound box of ceramic shards in the mail…
See, the whole time I was reading your OP I was imagining Patrick Swayze standing behind you at the potter’s wheel, helping guide your arms as you molded and smoothed out your pots. Him being kind of a klutz though, I was really impressed when, upon seeing your pictures, all the items look beautifully symmetrical. I especially like that shade of blue. Made my eyes glaze over, it did. Nicely done, FCM!
