Last night in my THROWDOWN pottery class, I challenged them all to make a “perfect” bowl using three pounds of clay. We were looking for a nice round interior with no “beginner’s ledge” or indentation from a flat bottom… and a nice rim. It was fun to see all the different “versions”… the size differences… and the one that flopped at the very last minute.

And now we’re all “waiting” to see what happens next week…
for the continuation of our THROWDOWN bowl project!!!

With my Intermediate students, we’re all working on “chip & dip bowls.” We’ve already thrown the traditional “all-in-one-piece” chip & dip. But last night we tackled a little gravity-defying stacked version! Fingers crossed… as I always love a class demo where we’re all trying something new.

Looks like might have “forgotten” my bowl at my friend Melissa’s house.
My bad.

Hope she can find a use for it… now that it’s been added to her collection!!!

One last alteration to my set of class demo bowls… on the bowl with a split rim & two indents. I told my students I might add a large loop handle on this one to make a fun “basket bowl.”

So I did.

Sure, the ombre’ blend of colored slips was nice… but I thought it could use something more! So I did a little carving with my favorite P1 carving tool from DiamondCore Tools this morning… and I’m glad I did!!!

And for now, they’re all decorated & under plastic…
waiting to be trimmed tomorrow!

Sure… I coulda left my altered class demo bowls as they were after class.
But you know me… MORE IS MORE!!!
So I might have just done a bit of stamping & decorating up in my studio since class!!!

Well, here’s Part Two of last night’s class demo with my Beginners. It was time to start encouraging them to “play” with their clay more. To alter, stretch, bend, color & decorate more! So I shared some quick tricks & techniques for them to do to their own pots… just hoping they try a couple of them!!!

And here they are… one by one…

And then THIS happened!!! While my students were practicing making their bowls, I quickly threw a few more… getting ready for Part Two of my demo. When we start altering, decorating & playing with our clay more!

Last night’s class demo for my Beginners started like this!
Showing them how to throw “a bowl on purpose… and not a cylinder gone bad.”