Pottery class, Round two: Part 2

As promised, here is the second half of pots from my recent pottery class.

This batch has contains many of my larger pieces, though nothing is all that large. The white plate in the center is about 8 inches in diameter, if that gives you some reference. 

My biggest bowl would still probably be the smallest size in a set of nested mixing bowls.

These three are my favorites. The two pieces in the front are glazed in lavender, but it looks more like gray to me. The bell shaped bowls are small, but deep. They could easily hold an apple. (You know, if you needed a little pot to hold your apple.)

Secret: I only crimp the edges when the rim of a pot starts to look a little wonky.

I'm kind of sad class is over, but I was spending about five hours each week working with clay. So yeah, time to work on something else.

Pottery class, Round two: Part 1

Last fall, I took a pottery class. After that introduction, I couldn't wait to get back to working with clay. I started a new session in February and it just ended. I wondered if the two-month break between classes would affect my new skills, but I was able to pick up right where I left off.

So here's the first batch of pots from my recent class. The largest piece pictured here is probably eight or nine inches in diameter. I went through two 25-pound bags of clay this time, so I made tons of stuff! I'm still waiting for some pieces to be fired, including most of my larger pieces, so expect another post when I get those back.

I glazed these pieces a few at a time and didn't see them all amassed until taking these photos. Funny how I choose the same colors all the time! Coral, aqua, white, black. I don't think the next batch is any different!

These two are my favorites so far. The one on the left is matte white on the outside and glossy aqua on the inside. The glossy white one on the right is low and shallow and has a scalloped rim. 

I think many of these will turn out to be gifts. If I know you and you have a birthday or other occasion coming up, you might be seeing one of these again! But seriously, I am going to have to figure out what I'm going to do with all of these. I can't possibly keep them all, especially because Elise doesn't let me put out anything breakable.

A couple more pottery pieces

For the sake of completeness, I just wanted to show you the last two pieces of pottery from the class I took.

The first is another black and white bowl, though it was made with recycled clay so the white glaze does not appear quite as bright as it was on the white clay.

The second is a heavy plate about 7.25" in diameter. I used a wax-resist technique to decorate it, first dipping it in white and then in a buttery yellow glaze. It's fairly thick and pretty heavy.

The results of my six-week pottery class

Over the past six weeks, I have been taking a pottery class. It's something I've always wanted to do, but just never made time for.

I had never thrown on the wheel before this class and each step of the process was more difficult than I thought it would be. It's not hard to throw a pot, but it takes a lot more than six weeks to throw anything great (and avoid ruining it in the trimming, firing or glazing stages). I have a new-found respect for potters! I ended up with 24 pieces in all. (Two are still waiting to be fired.)

These were some of the first pieces I threw, and their forms certainly suggest it, but they are proof that glaze can make all the difference.

Everything I made is a cup / bowl / dish except for this little basket. I'm not in love with it, but it will probably look better with jelly beans inside.

These are my teeny pieces. The smallest is the blue piece on the bottom, which is three inches in diameter. I tried to go smaller, but my hands got in the way.

I used a wax resist technique when glazing this little bowl and layered lavender on top of yellow.

My throwing technique did get much better as the class went along, and my better pieces are my favorites. The inside of this dish is almost perfectly concave. The base is a little thicker, so it's got some nice heft. It has a buttery yellow glaze on the inside and black amber on the outside.

This might be my favorite of my favorites. The glaze is a simple teal all over, but the dish is deep and one of my best as far as form goes.

I really wish I had used the white glaze on a few more pieces, but I didn't know I would love it this much. It's creamy and opaque and it looks like white enamel. Love it.

I'm really tempted to take another session so I can make some larger pieces, but clay classes are expensive and they've made life a bit hectic, so I may take a break for a little while.