So here are my “not-so-basic bowls” from Tuesday night’s beginner class demo. Again, altering all of my bowls with some quick twists, flicks & slips! Trying to do something to them to make them more fun & more unique. My students really seemed to enjoy the demo… as I saw the “light bulb” go off for many of them as I demo’d. I don’t expect them to “copy” me… but hopefully employ some of the techniques… but twist them somehow to make it their own!

And I’m sure you’ve already guessed… and yes, I will be doing even more to them up in my studio over the next day or two. There might just be a bit of stamping here there… allegedly…

So here are all of my class demo bowls. Keep in mind they all started out as very simple round bowls. Nothing special. Nothing col. Just plain & round… and then I PLAYED with them!!!

Bowl #1 – Two simple fluted twists opposite each other.

Bowl #2 – Eight fluted twists evenly space around the bowl.

Bowl #3 – A simple flared-out flange about an inch wide.

Bowl #4 – Another flared out flange… twice as wide!!!

Bowl #5 – Combined fluting & flared out flange.

Bowl #6 – A split rim treatment… then dented inwards at two places opposite each other. This one we decided to keep like this… knowing that I can add an over-the-top handle to turn it into a “basket bowl.”

Bowl #7 – Another split rim… and then pinched together in eight places.

Bowl #8 – Split rim – dented inwards at four places.

Bowl #9 – Split rim dented inwards & outwards!

Bowl #10 – Sliced through the sides, and then pulled-in & overlapped.

And then it was time to introduce thick slip as a surface decoration option! I like to use white so it’s there for texture so the glaze can pool & puddle over it… and not a dramatic color “forced” onto the bowl.

Bowl #11 – Just one splatter paintbrush stroke of thick white slip… kind of a joke, but then I actually started to like it.

Bowl #12 – A layer of thick white slip with the rounded end of a tool dragged through while the wheel was spinning.

Bowl #13 – Thick white slip banded… setting up a canvas area for sgraffito carving later.

Bowl #14 – Thick white slip with a chattering effect… my favorite technique!!!

Bowl #15 – An ombre’ blend of white to green slip… also waiting for some sgraffito carving to come…

Bowl #16 – Another ombre’ blend of white to green slips… and then a spiral from a a tool dragged through while the wheel was spinning.

And for now… all of these bowls are up in my studio under plastic for the night.
As there’s most likely going to be some stamping & detailing coming soon…

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!

Any excuse for a party! Including celebrating Kaitlin’s birthday last night in our pottery class!
A fun surprise… and a fun “not-so-basic bowl” by Kaitlin herself!!! Well done…

Just got home on my bike… and noticed my first dahlia of the summer!!!
Small, but mighty… and hopefully the first of many this summer!
Fingers crossed…

After a full day of Summer Camp, I was seduced by blue skies… and just had to make a quick escape onto my bike along the lakefront. Beautiful shades of blue as I pedaled along the lake. And now… a quick shower & then back to my studio for the night!!

Looks like someone was out having a little breakfast nosh along the bike trail this morning by Montrose. Imagine my surprise when I turned the corner on my bike and saw her standing right there… not too alarmed, but maybe just a little annoyed that I interrupted her breakfast?!

Not a cloud in the skies… except for a small cluster of wispy pinks a bit to the south of the sunrise?! A fairly quiet & seemingly uneventful sunrise… quiet, serene & very relaxed. That is until I met a “friend” along the path…

Celebrating another Mugshot Monday with a bunch of my “hybrid mugs” fresh out of my soda kiln. Still loving the colors & flashing effects… and the texture patterns made with great handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools!