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My First Pot
Posted – March 02, 2010
Somehow got to this age without having worked with clay, so when I joined the Clayworks Board a few years ago, knew I’d have to plug the gap. Scheduling problems made spring and falls classes difficult so signed up for a Try It! potters wheel course last winter.
Reported one Sunday afternoon. Gary Slavinsky diligently walked the class through basics – preparing the clay, centering, techniques, etc. Following his instructions, I sat down and made a fairly tall cup – the first time! That was easy, I thought, so started to rework the clay into something different, but it wouldn’t behave–wouldn’t stick to the wheel–too wet–too wobbly–couldn't get it off the wheel, and other things I didn’t understand. With Gary's encouragement, got several new clay balls and tried to make something, but it just wasn’t working. In the end, had nothing to put on the drying shelf and worse yet, nothing to take home and show Jean! This experience was humbling. How do real potters do it?
But I’m starting over in a Try It! hand building class this Sunday (barring snow), and this time I’m really going to make something that lasts beyond the end of class! Clay is humbling.