Pottery Class: Round Three

My mom and I just finished our third pottery class. I think we have definitely progressed and I can't wait to take another class. It's nice to have a new hobby to be excited about. The community education program we've been going to isn't doing a summer class, so I'm hoping we can find another place...because I can't wait until fall!

After three classes, there are two things that still amaze me about this pottery stuff: how much it shrinks and the variation in the color of glaze. My goal has been to make bigger pots with each class. This last time, I made some bowls that I thought were pretty big. But by the time they were completely finished, they were a lot smaller. The pots actually shrink three times before they are finished: once when they dry, a second time when they are fired the first time, and a third time when they are fired with the glaze on them. I was so proud of myself this last class because I thought I was making some pretty large pots. Unfortunately for me, my biggest one didn't turn out to be any bigger than a soup bowl (or the smallest bowl you have in your cupboard... whatever that may be). The sad thing is, I've been using about as much clay as I can handle. Gotta build those muscles!

Glazes are frustrating, too. So much so that I don't even really think about what color I am dipping my pot in because it's probably not going to turn out anything like I expect. For example, I love the red glaze. It's deep and rich and oh, so pretty. I've learned, in three short classes, that you are lucky if your pot actually turns out red. A lot of the time, it turns out a weird green/yellow-- something to do with oxidation? I would have been much happier with some of the pots I made this time around if they had turned out red, like it says on the bucket of glaze...

Anyway, here are all of the pots I made in this last class, because I think all of them are photo-worthy this time and I am not ashamed to say that I made a single one:

Accidental miniature flower vase (it started out much bigger)

My attempt at making a set of bowls

the inside of the bowl above

My friend, Aaron, said this crooked vase was his favorite so of course I gave it to him

Supposed to be red

My first pot with a lid-- also supposed to be red