Here’s a great little article about learning to throw clay on the wheel.
To some the process is magical, relaxing & zen-like. To others there’s frustration, aggravation & a big dirty mess. I love working with my Beginners to get the through the tough first few weeks of class. We’re now in Week 7 and it’s great to see them having fun & creating great pieces… and breathing.

Click here to read the article – “The Clay Will Tell You How You Are.”

So when we did the basic bowls demo last week for my class, I also explained to them the benefit of throwing on a plastic bat. Better pots. More “round” bowls. Less squishing. No need to “pick up” a freshly thrown bowl. Easier to move around on the bat. Who knew that they would take my advice to heart?! They got their act together and ordered well over 50 plastic bats online!!! Most of them now have their own bats to work with… and such a great green color. Mine are basic boring brown. Must say I’m kinda jealous!!!

Thank you Katie for coordinating the class order.
Now I can’t wait to see what they all make on their new bats!!!

Last Tuesday was my class demo on how to make a basic bowl on purpose. Followed by showing my students some quick tricks & techniques to make each bowl unique. And that not every bowl needs to be precious. That they should play with their clay and try some new things. If it messes up, you just cut it off, re-wedge it and throw it again. It’s just clay!

For the demo I used a full bag of clay and made seventeen bowls. The bowls all came up to my studio where today I did a little more “detailing” with some stamping. I would have loved to save this part for my students too, but I was afraid they would all be too dry in a week’s time. So here the the photos of some of the bowls, freshly detailed… AND the stamps that did all of the hard work making a good impression.

More festive flavors from the folks at Nabisco!!! Some new, some not.
But either way, it makes for another “sweet” time in my pottery class tonight!

And while my beginning Beginners were finishing up their mugs, my returning Advanced Beginners took on my “Throwing With Intention Challenge.” The goal is to draw three pieces of paper out of the hat, and then make whatever shape they tell you to. Throwing with intention rather than letting the wheel take over… and being “satisfied” with whatever the wheel gives you! After a little hesitancy, the Advanced Beginners tackled the challenge with ease & finesse. They must have has a great teacher?!!! Ha.

Tonight was our third class of the new class session at Lillstreet. And my “newbies” tackled their first mugs tonight. They all did great. It’s only Week Three and they’ve already done wedging, centering, throwing, cylinders, trimming and handles too!!! They’re off to a great start.

Tonight was Week Two with my new Fall session pottery class. Some of them are “returning” Advanced Beginners… while other Beginners are just starting out. Several of them expressed interest in stamping their work for decoration – no idea where THAT might have come from?!!! So tonight we tackled stamp-making with my class. Next they’ll dry and be bisque fired before they can start using them.

Look who stopped by my studio today for a class field trip…
The kids from the AP Art Class at Vernon Hills High School.

Their teacher Allison has been one of my friends & customers for a long time now. And she thought it would be great for them to stop by for a quick tour and some Q&A. So much fun… especially when the first question was “If there was a Taco Bell nearby?”

The new Fall session of the Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing class begins tonight at Lillstreet Art Center. Always a busy session… Summer’s almost over and people are looking for something new & fun to do. Luckily, eighteen people swooped in and filled my class. All wheels will be occupied tonight with eager hands waiting to get muddy!!! I feel sorry for those who waited too long to sign-up… and are now on my Waiting List?!!!

In case you’re wondering… I don’t have any classes starting the week of October 19th.
That’s only for the shorter 5-week introduction classes.

Yes, the bubble glaze craze continues!!!
Here’s another one of my students playing with the “glaze bubble” technique again.
Great glazing fun with great results… and so much more fun to watch someone else do it!!!
Blow harder Colin!!!…    Blow. Scoop. Press. Repeat.

Basically it’s just glaze and dishwashing soap mixed up. Then blowing bubbles with a straw. We’ve found it easiest to scoop up the bubbles with your hand and then gently press them onto the pot. Be careful of the runny drips though… we don’t like those!

As the bubbles pop, they leave behind a slightly textured residue of glaze.
Don’t smooth it in… that’s the beautiful bubble pattern you’re looking for!
The more color contrast between your two glaze choices, the more bubble effect you’ll see!

Hopefully I’ll get to see this bowl of Colin’s before he snatches it up to take home.
I’ll try my best to share a photo if I can get one!