Thursday’s Throwing…

Learning is the fountain of youth,
No matter how old you are.
You mustn't stop growing.
Deng Ming~Dao

So…to continue a little further with yesterday's post about repetition, I am almost at the close of another pottery class.  I am going to take one more set of classes to learn a few specific things such as throwing a pot with a lid and a footed berry bowl, but then I am going to practice here at home.

This summer I was fortunate to find the same pottery wheel that we use in class on craig's list for a third of what it would have cost to purchase new.  Once we get the treadmill that my parents gifted to us for winter walking upstairs in the house, I am going to set up the pottery wheel.

I have been watching Tammy Jo's series called 365 days of clay cups.  She filmed this 4 years ago, but it's been fascinating to watch her growth as she goes along.  This goes right back to what I said about spinning 15 minutes every day, with repetition comes confidence and knowledge.  In this series, Tammy Jo commits to throwing a clay cup every day for a full year and I love that she shares her fails along with her successes.
While I won't be doing a video diary, once I get my wheel set up, I am going to do something much like this, except I will use the same block of clay and just keep repeating and recycling the clay until I have a good feeling for the clay in my hands as I pull it up. 

I have learned so much in my classes and a lot more watching Tammy Jo struggle along, so I am looking forward to giving it a try and gaining experience, growth and confidence.

Tuesday we glazed our pots and we will have an a kiln opening in a week or so.  I will share my successes and failures with you..ha!  I have met some super nice people in my classes.  I love the people who are drawn to the arts, whether it is fiber, paint or clay.  It's all good.