You spin me right round, baby - ceramics week two

 

 

Ready?  Okay!

 

 

We had a lot more time on the wheel in week two, only a short review demo by the instructor, Wendy.  After the demo, we went step-by-step together centering the clay and forming a basic shape.  Then we were left to practice, with Wendy answering questions and walking around to give help. 

 

Let's see if I can remember the initial steps:

 

1) Wedge, wedge, and wedge some more.  This is sort of like kneading dough in baking, but a lot more physical.  The purpose in ceramics is to have consistent material, get out air bubbles, and get the mound in a shape that will make centering easier.

 

2) Get the clay on the wheel, ideally right in the center.  If not, skootch it around until it looks like it is. 

 

3) Start the wheel, get your hands and the clay wet and slippery. 

 

4) Center

 

5) Make a depression in the center, going almost all the way down.  Check the depth of the bottom, using the pin tool.  If okay, move on, if not make thinner or thicker as needed. 

 

6) Open the shape to the desired circumference.  Compress the bottom.  Pull the walls up, shape.

 

7) Grab a board (it has a name, I forget), and have it very nearby for transferring your creating.  Hold the wire taught at the base of the piece.  Very slowly turn the wheel, cutting the clay free from the wheel.  Hold gingerly, with a light turning motion pick the piece up close to the bottom and transfer quickly to the board. 

 

 

Of course Wendy makes it look like no big whoop, the rest of us are a wet lopsided mess.  I am so thankful for all that teach beginning anything.  They are so patient!  I really appreciate Wendy's philosophy, which is:  we are beginners, and should be patient with ourselves.  Learning any new skill takes time.  Enjoy the process, don't worry about production, and just have fun getting messy!

 

I can dig it!

 

Be back soon with an update for photography class.

 

Hugs,

Tara       

  

 

Ceramics!

 

 

Clay that has been wedged and is ready for the wheel.

 

 

Centered

 

 

Yay, I made a small pitcher (foreground)! 

A vase by the instructor during the demo is in the background.

 

 

A pitcher made by the instructor last week.  It is now

"soft-leather hard," a good time to do any trimming.

 

 

 

 Tools

 

 

 

Smocks

 

 

Land of too wet clay, drying out on a plaster slab.

 

 

Something on my shelf!

 



Wheels spinning 'round - ceramics week one

 

 

 

 

I took a ceramics wheel throwing course, oh, 15 years ago, when I worked at the Art Institute of Chicago.  A perk was free courses at the School of the Art Institute.  It was a non-credit class on Sunday afternoons.  Lately, my fingers had been asking to do ceramics again.  But it was actually a search for a photography class that led to taking a ceramics class now.  It is another non-credit class, with Northwestern University's Norris Mini Courses.     

 

Our first class was primarily introductions, review of studio procedures, and how to get started demonstrations by the instructor.  We spent some time towards the end of class on the wheel.  It was as fun, and hard, as I remembered.  I think my fingers did retain some little bit of knowledge, I didn't feel like I was starting from zero.  We'll see how it goes this week when we have more time on the wheel.  I plan to arrive a little early, as I have to leave promptly to get to photo class.  We're welcome to use the studio any time it is open, giving priority to classes.  Here are a few photos from last week.  Not sure how many I'll get each week, it's hard to use a camera with clay-covered hands!