2023

My first wheel throwing session began in October of 2022. In that first 6 week session, I wasn’t very successful in making pieces on my own that were worth keeping. Many of the pieces I made were continued or finished by the teacher. I really struggled with understanding the methods of centering, opening and pulling walls. I have 3 pieces that I kept. One I have, one each I gave to my sons. Over the 2 week break, I broke out YouTube and watched every video I could find to understand how to be successful at these very basic but important skills to wheel throwing. When I came back in 2023, I impressed my teacher by creating 6 vessels in the first class alone. After that session I was placed in a “class” of more experienced potters so I could learn and grow even faster than I would in the beginner class. Those Sunday night people taught me so much and I greatly appreciate them!

2023 was the year of experimentation. I have so many ugly pieces from this year, mainly due to my love of experimentation. Many of the pieces shown here are in a closet being kept for “original” pieces for when I am “rich and famous”. They would have long been donated, and I have donated many pieces, if it weren’t for my husband’s suggestion to keep them.

The main problem I was having was trimming bottoms. I couldn’t quite grasp how to do it properly which is why there are so many photos showing the bottoms. Each and every clunker project taught me something that I tried with each new successive piece.