Other stuff

Pretty pots

Hi everyone. A slightly different topic on the blog today but hopefully one that resonates with you. I’m talking about how ceramics is making me feel excited to create in a totally different way!

Almond rock ceramics pottery clay sunken studio leeds glaze sgraffito inlay

When I think back to how long it took me to start sewing, well into my 20s when I’d been dreaming about it for such a long time it seems ridiculous that I waited. So recently I decided if I wanted to try another skill, I best get on with it. After going on a Hey Clay free taster session last year I finally booked onto a proper course. In a act of risk minimization I went for decorative techniques at Leeds’ Sunken Studios… thinking how bad could that be? We made three dishes using two techniques.

Almond rock ceramics pottery clay sunken studio leeds glaze sgraffito inlay

The two coloured ones used a sgraffito technique and show my ropey artistic skills and the third has red glaze as an inlay in the grooves! That was trickier I must say. They were fired once to seal the under glaze, then a clear glaze goes on before a final trip to the kiln. I picked these up in late September. It was a short but informative session with a group of lovely ladies, and a kind helpful teacher in Rebecca.

Almond rock ceramics pottery clay sunken studio leeds glaze sgraffito inlay

Being creatively fulfilled is something I’ve been talking a bit about at work recently. It gets so mixed up with being good at something creative when it’s really about having an outlet for your ideas and how you can turn them into reality. I am very lucky that I’ve picked up sewing so quickly; in 10 years I’ve made many difficult garments and used tricky fabric and mastered a lot of techniques but there’s still lots to learn and challenge myself with.

Almond rock ceramics pottery clay sunken studio leeds glaze sgraffito inlay

But I missed being a beginner. That fear of trying something new, the risk of being rubbish but not really caring and also being proud of yourself for having a go! There’s a thrill at the beginning of a new project where you don’t exactly know how things will end up and you don’t know if you’re ready for the task.

Almond rock ceramics pottery clay sunken studio leeds glaze sgraffito inlay

It’s so easy to talk yourself out of doing something and either you start to believe you never could do it or you live with regret that you didnt have a go. There are plenty of other things on my dream list that I hope I do one day but I’m happy in the knowledge that I am being creatively challenged.

Almond rock ceramics pottery clay sunken studio leeds glaze sgraffito inlay

I’ve now booked myself a throwing workshop at Sunken Studio so I can have a proper go on a potter’s wheel and live out my Demi Moore fantasies!

(2) Comments

  1. Carol Thomas says:

    Oooo! Patrick! Little dishes are bright and cheerful. Fabulous first attempt.

  2. Oh my goodness, these are brilliant!!! Love the pin dish.

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