Mug 1
Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. ~Josh Billings
Today is my 57th birthday. I spent a pleasant afternoon at the pottery studio where I have been taking classes for the last three years. I love pottery. I love the classes. I don't feel like I am progressing as a potter the way I would like. Part of that feeling comes from having moved from the beginner class to a class filled with very experienced potters. My classmates can make beautiful, huge bowls, platters, pitchers, teapots, and casseroles. I still worry that I will get the clay centered and be able to keep it centered. I have made a casserole. I have made lots of bowls but not large ones. I have made a few pitchers mainly when a cylinder goes wrong. My birthday gift to myself is this journey. I am going to make 100 mugs. Every time I throw I will make mugs until I have made 100. Will I see improvement in my mug making skills? Will I develop a mug style all my own? When I compare Mug 1 with Mug 100 will there be a clear difference?
I threw Mugs 2 and 3 after finishing Mug 1. I will take another picture of them after I add handles. I may add a face. I like to put faces on my pots. Sometimes I feel a vague disapproval from the other potters. I don't know why I like the faces but the pots seem incomplete without them. I am not trying to make "cute" pots. I just like to add faces. I am going to experiment with to stamping and slip trailing. I used just over a pound of clay for each mug. Notice the size and shape differences. Will I be able to consistently throw a certain size and shape?
Mug 1
Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. ~Josh Billings
Today is my 57th birthday. I spent a pleasant afternoon at the pottery studio where I have been taking classes for the last three years. I love pottery. I love the classes. I don't feel like I am progressing as a potter the way I would like. Part of that feeling comes from having moved from the beginner class to a class filled with very experienced potters. My classmates can make beautiful, huge bowls, platters, pitchers, teapots, and casseroles. I still worry that I will get the clay centered and be able to keep it centered. I have made a casserole. I have made lots of bowls but not large ones. I have made a few pitchers mainly when a cylinder goes wrong. My birthday gift to myself is this journey. I am going to make 100 mugs. Every time I throw I will make mugs until I have made 100. Will I see improvement in my mug making skills? Will I develop a mug style all my own? When I compare Mug 1 with Mug 100 will there be a clear difference? |
| Mug 2 and Mug 3 |
My dad wants in the worst way to help me set up my studio in the garage. I was the lucky one and my name was drawn in a lottery for the chance to purchase one of 5 used wheels. My choice was a Bailey wheel because it probably has less wear and tear then the more popular Brent wheels. I have an area in my garage where I can set up a studio. I need to clear out a bunch of junk and get it all set up. I'll share photos of that journey, too.
“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” Aristotle
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