Today, I felt like a fool for attempting to master this skill. Then I thought of this poem, which offers an encouraging message and (through its context) puts my own small struggles in their place.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
pebbles
This was my fourth attempt on the wheel today. After the first three failures, I took a break to watch the "quick method" demo that came with my wheel. Watching someone throw correctly helped immensely.
Today, I felt like a fool for attempting to master this skill. Then I thought of this poem, which offers an encouraging message and (through its context) puts my own small struggles in their place.
Today, I felt like a fool for attempting to master this skill. Then I thought of this poem, which offers an encouraging message and (through its context) puts my own small struggles in their place.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
past creations
I wandered around my apartment today, photographing the pieces I made in previous classes. Ultimately, I would like to create beautiful, functional pieces that are used so often that they become absorbed into the everyday.
today
In conversation, I often think beyond my words to the effect they may have on those listening. Avoiding silent judgment has become routine. When I thought of chronicling my one small journey in this medium, the usual hesitations nearly held me back. I thought, I should wait until I'm really good at this before showing my work to everyone and no one and What if I never get good at this?
I'm not holding back, about this. The world doesn't need to hear from another amateur who is passionate about her new interest, but I need to speak.
My intermittent interest in pottery began back in community college, when I took both a beginning drawing class and a ceramics course. I still can't draw a straight line to save my life and I don't remember much from the pottery class.
A few years later, I took a beginning wheel throwing class at a local craft store. That class was so much fun! Our instructor shared his passion for pottery without a hint of condescension. He loved throwing pots and he loved guiding us through creating in clay. Our pots were off center, too thin or to heavy, and sometimes turned into planters in the kiln. Yet, through his lenses, they looked good and only in need of the right glaze. In this class, I found my joy in clay.
Work and grad school interrupted my newly discovered hobby. It is a few years later and I just finished another beginning wheel throwing class at a different location of that same craft store. This instructor was ever patient and serene. She allowed us plenty of time to practice, which is what I needed.
Having rediscovered clay, I didn't want to give it up. After a brief cost-benefit analysis (wherein my desire to keep my hands in clay far outweighed any potential costs), I decided to purchase my own wheel. It is a small countertop wheel that fits perfectly on my kitchen counter, between the rarely used bread maker and my workhorse-- the coffee maker.
The first bowl thrown on my very own wheel had a lovely form, but was off center and too thin at the bottom. It didn't make it to the kiln.
I'm not holding back, about this. The world doesn't need to hear from another amateur who is passionate about her new interest, but I need to speak.
My intermittent interest in pottery began back in community college, when I took both a beginning drawing class and a ceramics course. I still can't draw a straight line to save my life and I don't remember much from the pottery class.
A few years later, I took a beginning wheel throwing class at a local craft store. That class was so much fun! Our instructor shared his passion for pottery without a hint of condescension. He loved throwing pots and he loved guiding us through creating in clay. Our pots were off center, too thin or to heavy, and sometimes turned into planters in the kiln. Yet, through his lenses, they looked good and only in need of the right glaze. In this class, I found my joy in clay.
Work and grad school interrupted my newly discovered hobby. It is a few years later and I just finished another beginning wheel throwing class at a different location of that same craft store. This instructor was ever patient and serene. She allowed us plenty of time to practice, which is what I needed.
Having rediscovered clay, I didn't want to give it up. After a brief cost-benefit analysis (wherein my desire to keep my hands in clay far outweighed any potential costs), I decided to purchase my own wheel. It is a small countertop wheel that fits perfectly on my kitchen counter, between the rarely used bread maker and my workhorse-- the coffee maker.
The first bowl thrown on my very own wheel had a lovely form, but was off center and too thin at the bottom. It didn't make it to the kiln.
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