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26 August, 2014

Ceramics 101

Gosh it's been so long since I posted on this poor neglected blog, I wasn't sure I would remember how to do it! Behind the scenes, there's been lots of making. Always.

I've been attending a ceramics class at a new ceramics studio that has opened on the north shore in Auckland. It's housed in a former Anglican church, complete with church pews, hymnals (if that's what they're called) and a church bell. I've been wanting to take a ceramics class for a long time, and it seems to have filled some inner need to just create something intuitively, without thinking too hard about it. My teacher gave me some good advice recently. She said that if you don't know what to make, just get on the pottery wheel and make a mug. And from that, things just flow. And it's so true. There's something about just getting out of one's head and just allowing yourself to enjoy the materials.

So far it's been mostly bowls and platters, both thrown on the wheel and built by hand. I did have one project that didn't quite work out, which was a large water jug which cracked right down the side before I fired it. I'm still not sure what I did wrong, maybe it was a bit ambitious for a first project but it's still on my list. I'm determined to try again.








8 comments:

  1. Wow they look beautiful! Love the detailed engraving - is it a stencil of some sort? I'd love to try ceramics one day :)

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    1. Thank you! Actually, it's just a piece of lace rolled into the clay with a rolling pin. Super easy! Good idea re ceramics. It's very therapeutic :)

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  2. What absolutely beautiful pieces. I've never really tried ceramics, other than high school, which was so long ago it almost does count. I think I would like to try it though. It looks so tactile and the end results are amazing. I love the idea of working intuitively.

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    1. Thanks Deb. You should try it! I've only just started, and I've had a few hit and misses, but it's satisfying. All thoughts go out the window.

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  3. Lovely, Lovely, Lovely!! Stay with it. You have a good eye.

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement Joan! I'm certainly enjoying it.

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