Over spring break this year I took a short course on using a pottery wheel. I hadn't thrown since high school and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to given the arthritis in my hands, knees, and ankles (old injuries due to horses and ice skating LOL). But I gave it a shot. Now the first piece I threw I wasn't able to get the clay "centered". This is the lovely point at which the lump of kneaded clay is balanced on the wheel so that when the wheel spins the clay isn't lurching to one side or the other. For me, finding that point wasn't easy.
The upshot was that while the other students were making these sublime bowls, cups, orange juicers, etc. I was making this lopsided, goofy looking thing-a-ma-jig. The teacher asked me if I wanted another new piece of clay to try again with and I said "no, it would just be a waste, let me see what I can do with this." With a look that spoke volumes, the teacher went to the other students. About 30 min later, after dragging my nails through the spinning clay, lifting and teasing the edge, and making a base, I stopped the wheel. Someone said "Wow, did you mean to make that?" I looked down at the wheel and said the first thing that came unbidden to my lips "I guess I was channeling Georgia O'Keeffe". The laughter was contagious!
So I brought the wet piece home, let it dry for weeks, and then fired it to bisque. Since it still reminded me of an O'Keeffe poppy painting, I glazed it in colors to suit that. And this is what I ended up with, the photo in the upper left corner.
Since then, I've gotten better (I had to LOL). My husband even said one day "Wow, that's a bowl!" So at least the pieces are recognizable shapes now! Cheryl
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