Ceramics

Four weeks into this project and my pots are not very tall... it is extremely time consuming to coil the clay and add it to the rim of the pot. Our class is actually a combined class of intermediate/advanced students and those, like me, who are taking it for the first time. So, I see one of the advanced students using a metal contraption, which I later learn is called an extruder, to make her coils. Put the clay in the tube, and push the handle down, voila! Long, snakey, tubes of clay. Way too easy, I'm thinking. But, no, we beginners are not supposed to use the extruder. We have to learn how to do it ourselves. Ok, I guess that is a good thing, but still, it takes so long! I find myself looking with longing at the extruder...

As the clay is added it

 also has to be blended 

with what is below it. 

 Around the fourth week, I seem to find that the techniques needed are starting to fall into place. All of a sudden my pot is rising to great heights, and I have to set it down on a stool so that I don't have to reach up, now it is lower than me. It is going much faster and in one class I have added over 12 inches to both pieces! I mentioned this to the instructor, she smiles and says this is very typical. Somehow, after several weeks we just get over the daunting aspect of the requirements of the projects. And I found myself being profoundly glad that we were forced to make something so big. It just made all that fear of not being able to do it go away, and now I am really looking forward to our next project... and making it big! Plus, she has told us we will be allowed to use the extruder! Yeah!

 

I have been going in on Saturdays to work, the extra hours are really needed. I think my project will end up well, but I have made such wide and round pieces that it may be taking me longer to finish my projects when compared to what others are making. 

Finally set it in a bucket, as it comes to a point at the bottom. 

Obviously, the inside of my pot.

The plastic is left around the rim to keep it moist, incase more clay is added.

My second piece, the "neck" stand for the first pot.