Took my first pottery course tonight at the Oak Ridge Art Center and Museum. Not sure how I feel about pottery, it was an interesting mix of emotions. While having my hands covered in wet clay was enjoyable, the tiny bits of sand in the clay felt like little slivers of glass. And of course there is always the issue with improper technique. My hands seem to work as individual entities instead of together to shape and mold.
The class is held in the pottery studio attached to the back of the Art Center. In the winter months the room is heated with a space heater. I can only guess that a fan is the mode of cooling in the summer. Class atmosphere is very informal allowing room for the very experienced potter to the very inexperienced (me and two other ladies). The instructor, Mark Turpin, floated from person to person offering help as needed. Nancy and Larry, two experienced potter taking the class were very helpful and didn’t seem to mind stopping on occasion to show technique.
Anyone who knows me knows that I can make a pretty big mess with creative projects. My first night in class was reminiscent of playing in mud, I had water and clay all over me. I would start with a one pound ball of clay, dowse it with water, start my wheel and clay sludge went everywhere! Seems like I wore away more clay than I kept and I ended up with with a small wad with a mind of its own. By class end, I had two little pots. One pot has a flared top (a mistake) and one doesn’t. The pot without the flared top is crooked. Oh well, seven classes to go. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next class.
