Getting your hands dirty

As a child I used to love making mud pies (much to my mother’s dismay) so it’s hardly surprising that I feel comfortable working with clay. Strangely, I find the whole process both relaxing and exhilarating. Relaxing because you need to be slow and methodical - clay takes time to shape, time to dry, time to fire. The exhilaration comes from the pleasure in creating something yourself, the mixed feeling of eager anticipation and nervous trepidation whilst the kiln is firing, the pride and delight in knowing “I made this”. Getting your hands dirty is an incredibly satisfying experience - you should try it!

So what’s the magic formula?

There are many different types of clay body, each with its own distinctive property. I use a prepared white earthenware, which is a general all-rounder suitable for a number of different techniques and uses. I’ve met a potter that uses a clay deposit from his own garden to produce a beautiful yellow-ochre clay body suitable for throwing which makes his work highly individual. Don’t worry, my courses don’t involve digging up the garden - I wouldn’t know where to start to find out its exact chemical composition nor what other minerals to add to make it more elastic, pliable, slow drying etc. Fortunately, others have perfected this complicated procedure over the years, so I know that the white earthenware clay body I use will be reliable time and time again.

But it’s not just the design and construction that is exciting, there’s the final decoration to enjoy too - THE GLAZE. If you were so inclined you could create your own, but needless to say there is a vast array of prepared glazes on offer, either powdered or ready to use: underglazes, overglazes, on-glazes, stains - and not just plain colours, but glazes containing crystals or speckles that “burst” or “melt” into fantastic shapes, giving a unique finish every time you use it. I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop when it comes to glazes - often overwhelmed by the choice, but greedy for more!

These blogs are intended to describe my enthusiasm for pottery without seeming too precious about it. I certainly don’t profess to know everything as I’m experimenting and learning new things all the time. If you want to find out more, watch this space. If you want to find out for yourself, come and join a course.