More Fall Ceramics in Progress

I was disappointed to have my Wed morning ceramics course cancelled just one week before it was to begin.  However, I have been very fortunate that my family has allowed me to sneak away on Sunday afternoons to attend the open workshop, in addition to Wed afternoons.

Today I decided to try some throwing, since I haven't thrown anything since Spring, and I don't want to lose my confidence.  I still find throwing quite challenging.  In particular, I have never really learned how to center the clay.  So today I think I was spending 20 or 30 minutes centering, then 5 or 10 minutes actually throwing the piece.  At least that's what it felt like.

The first piece I threw was this little jug / vase.  I painted it with green slip, and will decorate it with sgraffito.

The second one I struggled with, trying to create a two-walled vase.  I have been inspired by some young ceramic artists on Instagram who throw two-walled vessels, and carve the outer part.  It didn't turn out anything like I had imagined, since the outside part went out of balance, and I had to cut it down a couple of times, and then I didn't have enough clay to get any height out of it.  But I should be able to make a few cuts into the outer part.  We'll see.

The final one was prompted by one of the other potters today, saying that she was making a jewelry container.  I remembered that I wanted to make a container as a structure to hold some beads / pendants while firing.  I plan to poke some holes in it, and buy some high temperature wire to hang them on.  You'll see.  I guess I didn't take time to snap a photo of the leaf beads/pendants I just sent to the bisque.

After 2 hours, I was exhausted from throwing, and spent the remaining 2 hours cleaning up bottoms and edges of some of the platters and bowls I started the past 2 sessions.  I painted the Davidii leaves in one of my bowls, using Green slip.  I think the effect could be pretty good.  It almost looks like just painted the leaves onto the bowl, but the texture of the leaves still shows through.

I should have paused to take a photo of the two rectangular platters I sent to the bisque, decorated by rollers and stamps.  They look really good.  I hope they don't go missing like one of the previous rolled/stamped rectangular platters I sent to the bisque.

The ceramics sessions are great therapy for me.  On one hand, I am continually challenged, and making mistakes, and learning lots.  On the other hand, the creativity and decorating and bringing pieces to life feels so natural for me.  I wish I could spend more and more of my time creating the ceramics.  I guess at some point it would depend on whether I am creating anything which other people would truly enjoy.  So far, I have been quite encouraged by the feedback I have received, so that tells me that it's at least not a waste of my time.

I am still reveling in the sight of my sea dragon on display in the student exhibit.  I have visited her a number of times, including with the family (they were at Shadbolt for music lessons).  She looks so good there :