Ceramics 4

Here's an update on my ceramics class. Generally I am really enjoying it. It is no doubt the kind of thing that forces you to just relax and take your time. This is counter to everything our society seems to value and I find it very relaxing. When you rush things you end up fighting with the clay and nothing works. When my friend Freya and I feel like things just aren't working, we tell each other to try and consider it like a meditation. And if I can get myself in that mindset, it works much better. Because of this, it soaks up time. I can turn around and I've been sitting at the wheel for 3 hours without noticing the time pass. Its actually quite amazing. Its nice to step out of my life and have one singular focus in my life that has everything to do with my hands and the clay. Its very rewarding.

So here's what I've been up to. The basic thing you learn to make first is a cylinder, so I've been trying to practice my cylinders.

Here are my practice cylinders

Trying to get the bottom flat, and the sides even

One wonky curved pitcher in the back

I threw these cylinders on Wednesday evening and  came back in on friday afternoon to try turning feet for the first time. Basically, you leave a lot of thickness on the bottom and you let your pieces dry to "leather hard" which in the studio right now took about 2 days. It takes 4-5 days for something to dry completely and be ready for firing. One of the tricky things is re-centering you pot on the wheel so that the foot is centered too. Then you have to try and make the inside and outside the same. Patience is key.

Feet

After I turned some feet I thought that I'd just try and throw a few bowls before I go. My first assignment is 4 jugs and 4 bowls and since I have many more jugs to work with, I need to get some bowls going so that I'll have something to work with. I was able to get these 3 out pretty quickly and they are all different sizes and all rather shallow. I'd love to try and make something a bit more like a deep soup bowl - the kind we all love at home.

So with another gorgeous sunset over Adelaide, I wish you all goodnight.