Many years ago, after high school, I took my first pottery class. It was called Stoneware Pottery I. I was in the class with about fifteen other people. After a tour of the studio, we were each seated at a pottery wheel. Think about Demi Moore in the movie Ghost. That's what a pottery wheel looks like. The smooth and artistic shapes she made at the wheel are what you're supposed to do with your hands. Folks- it's not that easy! Clay has a mind of its own and the ability to dance all over the place.
My first attempts were comical. I really wanted to learn this and I wanted help from the instructor. She was very kind, but fifteen newbies at the wheels were a lot for her to handle. Some folks took to it like the saying of ducks taking to water. Others, like your truly, struggled. Walking requires extreme coordination for some of us! I kept trying to ask her things and get some help. She finally asked me to step away from the wheel to come with her and get some clay. She told me to take some clay and go sit in another area of the studio. Time out? I wasn't asking any more questions than the others who weren't getting it, but she felt a need to move me. She gave me some clay and told me to familiarize myself with it and make something. At that point she left for a very long time and dealt with the others at the wheel. When she returned she found this:
This is the unicorn after he had been glazed and fired.
close up of his face
The instructor had a surprised look on her face as she said, "Why in the world would you ever want to throw pots when you can do that?" The remainder of the semester, I happily sculpted in clay. Many other creatures, and hand built trays were created.
"Little Brother" unicorn was the next thing I made. I
wasn't very good at glazing, but I think he has a comfortable, "funky" look.
A few years ago, I returned to the same art center and took basic pottery. I was able to do the wheel much better, but it was nasty on my lower back, so I ended up back in my old routine. This time, there wasn't a unicorn in sight. I made lots of fun and functional thing and loved my "me time". After three semester, it became too impractical for me to travel a distance and spend a lot of money on a class. I decided to put that money towards my own equipment. Regretfully, other things took priority, but I hope to one day play in clay again.
Today I'm linking to Katherine's Corner.

Yes, I agree with the instructor. Why would you wanna do pots when you can do fine details like that!!! I'm amazed.
ReplyDeleteI dream of having a studio too, but mine would be for painting pottery. I love doing that kind of stuff, wish I could do it without having to go to a shop and pay them to fire up my stuff in their kiln.
those are really pretty!
ReplyDeleteThose are so cute! I would love to do pottery again. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteI love the unicorns and agree with the instructor - so much prettier than a "pot"
ReplyDeleteI hope you can return to your dream someday, you definitely have a gift!!
ReplyDeleteHi lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteI also love your Beautiful Unicorns !! I also hope you can follow your dream sweet lady.
Your comments on my tablescape was so sweet thank you!! Hope you have a wonderful week with your family.
XXOO Diane
Oh I hope you get to set up a studio one day! You are so talented! I still love my okra Santa!
ReplyDeleteYou have such talent. Don't give up on your dreams.
ReplyDeleteOh ny, you never fail to amaze me...I never know what wonderful talent you are going to share with us next....I could say ditto with the first portion of your post but I wasn't sent to sit in a corner and I definitely did not sculpt anything as beautiful as this unicorn....but girlfriend, I just couldn't get it...I am pretty creative but pottery was not for me....I so admire anyone who can make anything on a wheel.....
ReplyDeleteBut my next question is if you can sculpt like this, why don't you sculpt until you can get a kiln.?Who knows, you may fall in love with sculpting.....But if you want a pottery studio complete with a kiln, then go for it....Your heart must be pushing you in that direction....Keep us informed.....
If you're interested in sculpture, craft stores carry this stuff called Sculpy III or Super Sculpy. It's a polymer clay that you bake in your oven to harden. It's not too expensive and it really scratches the itch to sculpt things. :-)
ReplyDeleteThose are adorable! You really need to find the time to get back to sculpting one day, you definitely have a gift.
ReplyDeleteHappy thursday!
They are so precious and MAGICAL!!!!!! what a gift! : ) hugs...
ReplyDeleteCute little guys- you are so talented!
ReplyDeletePatrice, you are full of surprises. Wow, you are talented. I would just forget about the pots. Get yourself a small kiln. There must be some for sale second hand somewhere near you. JB
ReplyDeletePatrice, I love your unicorn. Did you know it's the patron saint of the lost, wayward, homeless and foundlings? I think there's one flying over the farm; I can't see it but to the foundling animals that end up here, it's as plain as day.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, you definetely have a talent there!
ReplyDeleteKathy
Thank you for stopping by my lil'blog and leaving sweet comments :)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend! ... nice work by the way. You are very talented!
Greetings from Australia♥
I adore your unicorns! I can just picture you contemplating the clay and then, almost without thought, having your hands craft the creature.
ReplyDeleteI do like the first tiny unicorne.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have the talent! I hope you're able to play in the clay soon!
ReplyDeleteYou really are very talented! That is a gift and it is so much fun to be creative! ♥
ReplyDeleteI like your unicorns! I also love your blog header!
ReplyDeleteWell, I like learning things about you I didn't know. I have a potter's wheel sitting right outside my bedroom window. I threw pots and I loved it. I haven't like you now because I need a kiln. I found out today that Em's already perfect friend, ran the Ceramic department at our college. Ron has wanted to get into it so he could throw his own bonsai pots. I totally understand about working with clay. Kessie is a sculptress. Except she uses Skulpy. Have you used that? The kind you bake in your oven. She taught that to her art students.
ReplyDeleteI think your teacher was wise. My teacher said I was the worst untalented person he ever saw and I got kicked out. :) It was okay, I went to a class that taught needle arts. But still, I am always so slow and I would have done better in a room by myself.
I will be praying about your day tomorrow.
Hugs, from me.
You are a very talented artist.The unicorns are wonderful. Your instructor is incredibly smart to recognize such a lovely artist as you.Thank you for your bloggy friendship and participation at The Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop Linky Party xo
ReplyDeleteYou are very talented. I would love to see more of your clay work.
ReplyDelete