Last year, one of the intentions I set for 2012 was to explore my artistic side. I am pleased to say that I really did do this, and it enriched my life. I took a photography course through Creative Live, got out my art supplies and tried my hand at painting with acrylics for the first time, and I took pottery classes-- three times! It did enrich my life, and it was really fun trying something new and working on various projects through the year. I think I also gained a lot of confidence in the process, and a genuine curiosity about what I can make with my own hands.
Since pottery was totally new and what I devoted the most time (about 60 hours in class) and energy to this year, I thought it would be fun to just show you my learning process/ progress.
We started out hand-building objects, which was fun. This was my first show-and-tell, when I got that first taste of the satisfaction of bringing something useful home!
There is a step here that is missing-- my first few weeks on the potter's wheel. Mostly, I made very small vases that were a little wonky/ wobbly, and thick. I learned about glazes the hard way in several cases, and, long-story-short, made quite a few pieces which I did not keep. I actually wish I had taken pictures of these as well, for the purpose of showing you what starting out looks like!
After a month (translating into only 5 hours, really) of practice on the wheel, I saw some big improvements. I was able to throw larger vessels, and found some good glazes I liked. I enjoyed showing some of the results here.
After summer break, I went back, and my new class had much fewer people vying for the wheels. This was great, since I really wanted to spend more time on them, getting through as many lumps of clay as I could, honing my skills and styles. The smallest ones below are a couple of my favorites, and they are the product of larger vessels gone badly-- I salvaged the remaining small bit of clay on the wheel and was so pleased to be able to make something sweet out of it.
I didn't actually improve in the last class of the year, in terms of being able to throw larger pieces. But I was able to get the sides much thinner, and I feel like I developed a style of ceramics that I like. The things I brought home began to look like they belonged together. I didn't get pictures of everything, since I gave away about half of the better ones at Christmas. But here are the ones I held onto-- as you can see, once I found this satiny white glaze, I couldn't get enough of it.
It's a lot of fun to use them for my own flower arrangements!
And I like seeing them all lined up together!
So, my next class starts in a few days, and I am looking forward to continuing to learn this skill, and see what else I come up with.
Did you learn a new skill in 2012? Do you have plans to try something new in 2013? I'd love to hear about it!
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
Since pottery was totally new and what I devoted the most time (about 60 hours in class) and energy to this year, I thought it would be fun to just show you my learning process/ progress.
We started out hand-building objects, which was fun. This was my first show-and-tell, when I got that first taste of the satisfaction of bringing something useful home!
There is a step here that is missing-- my first few weeks on the potter's wheel. Mostly, I made very small vases that were a little wonky/ wobbly, and thick. I learned about glazes the hard way in several cases, and, long-story-short, made quite a few pieces which I did not keep. I actually wish I had taken pictures of these as well, for the purpose of showing you what starting out looks like!
After a month (translating into only 5 hours, really) of practice on the wheel, I saw some big improvements. I was able to throw larger vessels, and found some good glazes I liked. I enjoyed showing some of the results here.
After summer break, I went back, and my new class had much fewer people vying for the wheels. This was great, since I really wanted to spend more time on them, getting through as many lumps of clay as I could, honing my skills and styles. The smallest ones below are a couple of my favorites, and they are the product of larger vessels gone badly-- I salvaged the remaining small bit of clay on the wheel and was so pleased to be able to make something sweet out of it.
I didn't actually improve in the last class of the year, in terms of being able to throw larger pieces. But I was able to get the sides much thinner, and I feel like I developed a style of ceramics that I like. The things I brought home began to look like they belonged together. I didn't get pictures of everything, since I gave away about half of the better ones at Christmas. But here are the ones I held onto-- as you can see, once I found this satiny white glaze, I couldn't get enough of it.
Did you learn a new skill in 2012? Do you have plans to try something new in 2013? I'd love to hear about it!
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
The new skills I'm planning on this next year are not necessarily artistic unfortunately as I start my doctoral studies - well hopefully. I'm waiting to hear if they have accepted me yet. I will have a go at freeform crochet though. I adore crafts and making things and have a room full of materials to get going on, but when I get studying I haven't the time and when I'm not I'm usually in the garden.
ReplyDeleteAll the best with your pottery, I do love the style you have developed
Oh! Starting your doctoral studies is so exciting! I hope you get good news about getting into the program soon. I think it will be good to dos something creative on the side, though, to balance things out. I would be in the garden, too-- that is definitely a creative activity, in the most literal sense!
DeleteI love your flower arrangements! And I like the sweet wobble of the small vase in the last photo - so cute :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amanda! That little wobble vessel reminds me of some kind of sea-something. Maybe the shell of a sea anemone?
DeleteAs usual, I adore your flowers! The pots are lovely. Isn't throwing pots so much fun? I love pottery so much more than metal or glass or crystal. It has such a nice feel to it.
ReplyDeleteThis year I'm getting back into needlepoint, doing some sewing crafts and I'm super excited to start making cards!
It looks like a lot of fun and something useful :)
www.keepingrobin.blogspot.com
Hi Robin. I agree completely about the feel of pottery. I love the heaviness, and the smooth glazes-- there is this human attraction to holding the earth in our hands, isn't there?
DeleteCard-making sounds like fun! Do you write a lot of letters, or do you mostly sell them? I have a bit of a card and stationary addiction, and I am hoping to USE the stash I have this year!
I am also glad you left your blog address-- I will be heading over there shortly to say hello!
I think all of those pieces look great; and they really do look beautiful grouped together...I love making little bouquets when I can find something pretty outside. The one thing I would really love to do this year is an addition to my house and some remodeling...don't know if it will happen or not (depends a lot on finances, ofcourse) but a little DIY is exactly what I would like to throw myself into this year. Even if it turns out to be on a smaller scale than what I would wish for, I think I would learn a lot. Good luck on your class! I hope to see more photos of your work.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Hi Julie, and thank you for your nice words about my pottery! I hope you get to do some great projects at home this year. When we bought a tiny little house in Portland, Oregon, it seems like all of our extra resources went toward improving our home, and it was SO gratifying. I am of course less motivated and not permited to do much here in our rental, but I find fixing up my living space super rewarding. Enjoy!
DeleteHow fun and your pottery is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dana!
DeleteWell done you - those little white vases with all of the wild flowers look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOne of my Christmas presents was a cookbook from the Beechworth Bakery (famous in Victoria, Australia) so the pressure is on to try my hand at a few Oz favourites. My stepmum has already marked out 'Beestings' for me to try!
Happy New Year, Kym! I love getting an inspiring new cookbook and trying a bunch of new recipes. I am not at all familiar with Aussie baking, I'll have too look up Beestings. Have fun!
DeletePottery for me! I'm really looking forward to the pottery lesson that Connie and I have for her Christmas present.
ReplyDeleteI love your pots, the jug at the beginning of the post especially.
My list of other skills I'd like to learn/improve on gets longer- improve my knitting, learn to crochet, make a basket, do more garden willow weaving, flower arranging, soap making, (beeswax) candle making...
Not sure I'm going to have time to do all those!
Hazel, did you have your pottery lesson yet? Was it mostly hand building, or did you get on the wheel as well? I love your list of things to work on this year-- love all of those traditional crafts. I'd love to learn basket weaving-- so useful!
DeleteNo, not yet. We're waiting until DH can drive again (he hasn't been able to drive for the last year- health not criminal reasons!! 3 1/2 weeks to go...) so that we can all go to Eastnor for the weekend and he and the other 2 children can go out for the day after dropping us off at the pottery.
DeleteIt will be on the wheel though- Connie was very specific about what pottery she wanted to do!
I'm having a sporadic catch up - as life has been rather busy and I haven't had as much time to spend reading the blogs I enjoy - but didn't want to read and run without saying how lovely I think your pots are :)
ReplyDeleteThis year I would like to learn how to watercolour rather better than I can (or rather can't ;) ) I keep saying I will practice sewing with a machine more (but I've been saying that for the last couple of years!)
Everything is punctuated by small baby atm, so I have to work around her.