Part Two of this week’s wheelthrowing demo was altering all of the basic bowls… turning them into “not-so-basic bowls.” I took all of the basic bowls & showed my class some.very quick & simple alterations that can add some style & whimsy to their pots. I tell them that “the wheel” pretty much made the round bowl for them. Now it’s time for THEM to do something to it to make it THEIR bowl! Encouraging them to play more with their clay, try something new & have fun making pottery. Don’t sweat over it… IT’S JUST CLAY!!!

This week in my Beginning Wheelthrowing class we tackled “making bowls on purpose instead of a cylinder gone bad.” I showed them how to make a bowl with a smooth, rounded interior with no fla bottoms, no corners, no “beginner’s ledge” or indents along the way. We did a full demo… and then I sent them back to their wheels while I threw “a few more” bowls for Part Two for the demo…

And just for the record… this was ONE 25lb. bag of clay!

Another week of Wheelthrowing Camp… and my campers are doing amazing this week. Just three days in and they’re already making some great pots! Pretty good for 10-12 year olds… one group in the morning, and another group in the afternoon!

It’s been a busy week at Summer Camp! This week I have a dozen 10-12 year olds who are having a great time! And in just three days, they’ve learned to wedge, center & throw on the wheel. And they’ve made enough pots to fill the entire table!!! Now we just gotta trim, finish & paint them all with colored slips before end of camp tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!!

I’m hoping with enough time & some creative “fan work” I might be able to get these all stamped, trimmed & combined today? Although my students know that I am not a Fan of the fan. But desperate times call for desperate measures! Giddy-up!!!

Another quick batch thrown before 10:00am… this time more than ten tumblers!!! I’ve got to fill a soda kiln next weekend… and I’ve decided today is my last chance to throw new wet work for that. So here we go… it’s going to be a LONG & hopefully productive day in the studio!!!

Another chilly start for an early morning in the studio.
This time tackling small plates for this 10×10 Challenge.
More than ten pieces thrown before 10:00am. Gotta love a productive morning!

With dark clouds & some rainy sprinkles this morning, I decided to get to the studio early instead of my morning bike ride! So it was another 10×10 Challenge with more than ten pieces thrown before 10:00am! Gotta love an early start…

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!!!

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…