Take a pottery class and make something to bring home

“First up was ‘raising’ the shape of the clay, as if you were creating a standing paper towel roll. Then you schmush it down again. You do this 3x to prepare the clay before you begin to create. I was really surprised how much physical effort this requires! Lots of upper body and arm / hand strength. I also had some trouble keeping my clay in the middle of the wheel because I wasn’t applying enough pressure to the piece. I could instantly see the need for 8 weeks… Once I could see a bowl shape of sorts, things got super exciting… However, it didn’t take much to destroy it! A slower wheel spin was crucial, and gentle hand movements. I did neither and was left with a fair bit of damage control. But once the piece is done, you just KNOW it. I sat there filthy from head to toe, arms dripping with clay up to my elbows, with the biggest smile EVER. My first bowl sat there on that wheel and it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”

“We were given a HUGE cube of packaged clay. It was heavy! I was to be responsible to make sure that clay stays with me, including bringing it home in between classes. Once class started, we were brought into what I’ll just call the ‘pounding’ room. We learned how to cut the clay with a wire, then weigh it on a small kitchen scale. Our first project would involve 2 lbs of clay. Wow, so precise! We then learned to ‘drop’ the clay onto the table, creating a square shape out of it. This helps join and work the clay to prepare it. Next up came the ‘kneeding’ part. It involves a special technique that activates the clay hardening process. I was surprised to find how much upper body strength this step utilizes!”

“I had only two goals for the class: to enjoy it and bring home something I had made. I didn't expect to become a master, of course. I've been in the creative business all of my life, and I know that real talent is a mix of instinct and hard work. Emphasis on the hard work. I was hoping I would improve over time and enjoy the process and I did! As you can see, over the course of the class, my bowls got a whole lot better. They started chunky and misshapen, and they ended up looking like a real bowl. Not elegant or anything, but still an improvement!”