Adventures In Wheel Throwing
Adventures in Wheel Throwing is a continuation from last week’s post that focused on living a joyful life. To date, I’ve been throwing on the wheel for a year and a half. When I started, I was really focused on trying to make things that I could sell, and much to my surprise I sold those pieces… which is awesome! As Andy and I get closer to our departure, my pottery focus is starting to change. I’m realizing that I will most likely have to take a break from throwing once we move because getting the Airbnb built and then operational will be my primary focus. This combined with getting us settled on a new property will most likely be all time consuming. Plus, I won’t have easy access to a wheel, clay, or kiln. With this revelation, my need to learn as much as I can while I have access to these resources has increased exponentially!
Now I’m throwing pieces for myself, using the time I have left to push my creativity to experiment with larger shapes, smaller shapes and creating both functional and artistic pieces for our future home. I am concentrating more on technique… pulling better walls, trying to decrease the weight of the vessels, learning to master trimming, and figuring out which glazes I enjoy the most. I am also focusing on throwing more complex vessels.
While the pieces I throw still have a preciousness to them, which makes it harder to experiment and take creative risks, I am starting to give myself permission to destroy work I don’t like! This is a big step in my ceramics creative process… I’m able to do this with my paintings but for whatever reason I’ve struggled to do it with my ceramics. Dean (my first ceramic instructor and friend) says it is because I’m still relatively new to ceramics. As I gain more experience and master more techniques, the theory is the preciousness will no longer be an issue.
Two weeks ago, I learned to throw off the hump which was great fun! This is a technique where you center a large amount of clay but only throw from the very top. This allows you to keep a smaller amount of clay centered while you pull your vessels. You can also pull more pots from one piece of clay. As I worked my way down the hump, I pulled a total of five small pots. Of those five, I ended up pitching three either because of poor trimming or they had uneven walls. While this may sound frustrating it is also very freeing as it just means I have more opportunity to fine tune, learn and grow as a clay artist.
Per a friend’s suggestion, I also started watching The Great Pottery Throw Down, which is like The Great British Bake Off only instead of baking and bakers it is a room full of potters competing to throw the best ceramics. This too has been a wonderful learning experience and shows that my struggles are not singular to me but rather just part of the overall learning process. What’s even cooler is the fact that Andy also enjoys watching it with me and has declared that I will need to get my own wheel! He is also into the firing processes, and like me is keen on Raku! This is wonderful because it means I will be able to share my joy of ceramics with him as we create our new life in Palisade! But… we aren’t there yet so, back to focusing on the here and the now.
Retiring from RMCAD has allowed me to dial back on my teaching. This in turn gives me additional time to attend more open studios. During the week I spend two days working in clay and one day painting. I’d love to increase my days in painting, but our small apartment doesn’t lend itself to that possibility. I must say, I really am glad I decided to try my hand at throwing. Even though it is incredibly challenging and humbling it is also very rewarding, my adventures in wheel throwing are just beginning… the possibilities are limitless and for this creative that is very appealing! I do not foresee me getting bored with ceramics any time soon and look forward to when I’m able to combine my love of gardening, painting, and increasing interest in clay… the possibilities are endless!
