Passage of Time

I am a potter

We should all have one creative outlet. One thing we do that makes the world disappear. I’m fortunate I have several pursuits that keep me occupied. My most favourite is pottery. I was introduced to it years ago in Welkom (:-o where I grew up!) as an early anxst ridden teen.  Over the years I have stopped and started but more recently started working on the wheel.

I love clay. It can be the most gentle refection of where I am and how to get me back to centre again.

The studio where I work is in my opinion the most tranquil and relaxing creative space in my world.  It is a place of peace for me. Often times cool and quite but can also buzz with activity and creative energy.

I find my peace here.

I learn my life lessons from a humble hunk of clay that sometimes refuses to do what I would like it to do. Some days everything just flows, I am merely the channel, the vehicle for something  Greater to create beautiful things.

There are three stages and two firings...so, the item can at any of these stages break and be discarded.

First to throw the clay and form the inside shape of the pot. Quite important when you think its what is on our inside that really matters the most, defines what it is and where it will be utilised for its lifespan. The trick is to get the clay centred. Critical, if it’s not centred its very difficult to work with thereafter. Forming the inside you need to leave enough clay at the bottom of the pot to be able to work with later. The inside needs to be smooth and even all the way around and a good curve.

Leave to get leather hard and strong enough to “Turn”

Turning involves cutting away at the outside clay to give the pot a foot and match the outside shape as best as possible to the inside shape. Once again, it needs to be centred - or as centred as is possible.  Patience is a virtue I hit my head on constantly. But it really must be centred and stable. Then layer after layer of clay is shaved off until you have a desired vessel.

Fire in kiln.

Then Glasing! The outside colour that seals and completes the pot.  I have learnt to release myself from the outcome at this point. I have never successfully managed to replicate a glasing or effect exactly. Expectation = Disappointment. So now I let whatever happens, happen. Mostly I think each of my pots are the most beautiful I have ever made. Sometimes I don’t like the result and keep it in my kitchen, looking at it in different spaces and invariably someone comes along and matches my bowl perfectly. We are all unique and beautiful in our own way. Some of us striking from the moment we walk in the door. Some of us sit quietly and let their true beauty shine through to be appreciated in a gentle manner.

All my bowls are made with love and given with love to anyone who has touched my life. I am truly blessed with the most wonderful, extra ordinary people that these are a token. In fact I can’t keep up with demand!