Pottin

In my final year at university I specialised in ceramic design. I had always wanted to learn how to use a potters wheel but thought that 1 year wouldn't be enough time to become refined enough to produce quality pieces to contribute towards my final degree. Therefore I decided to stick to slab building which I had been doing since high school.

I later had the opportunity to purchase a second hand potters wheel at a bargin price so I snapped it up. That was over 10 years ago and I still have not learnt how to do it properly, I've had a go on it plenty of times but it has always ended in disaster.

I still have my wheel. It has followed me around, with some difficulty, over the years. It is now in the garage with the kiln where I have set up a little workshop.

My daughter and I had a go on it during the half term holiday and after watching a few YouTube videos I was able to centre the clay easily and keep it there. First go I went down too far- see the one with no bottom! I wish I could say my daughter was responsible for that one!

I persevered with it and could see I was making progress and I was really pleased with my final attempt. The trouble being that my initial expectations of this weren't very high and I had promised my daughter that she could decorate them when in actual fact they are too good and I would like to try and sell them at my next fair.

My next task was turning, taking off excess clay from the bottom and creating a foot ring. Again we come back to centring which I found difficult and keeping the pot pinned down to the wheel, there was alot of swearing as a few times the pots flew off the wheel creating huge gashes in them, so frustrating. Any who, managed to even them out again, if a bit heavier at the bottom than they should be! I am going to stick some handles on a few, see if they work as mugs/cups.

They are currently drying out in the garage before a bisque firing.

Keep checking for up dates on your that goes.