Pottery Class

I'm taking a pottery class at the community college this spring.  This is my first venture out from the relative safety and comfort of Allen's studio where I have been happily working since I started back in August, 2007.  Here's a picture of all my stuff that I hauled to class for the first night.  Ridiculous, isn't it?  To be honest, I use about 3 or 4 of these tools on a regular basis, but the thought that I was going to be somewhere else and might need something that I didn't have with me made me very anxious. I packed up everything that I own, and I used maybe 3 or 4 of them as usual.

Ron Philbeck is a great instructor.  His demonstrations and explanation of how he centers and pulls up a cylinder gave me much to think about.  Although I can usually center and pull a cylinder successfully, there are always things to learn to do to improve.   I have a lot to practice.  

One thing that I'm going to have to get used to is working with so many people around.  Those people talk and sometimes expect a response from me.  I learned from Ford McDonald that talking and being creative utilized different sides of your brain.  His point was that he wanted his students to be quiet while they were working.  Now that I think about it, I can appreciate all the reasons that would be important to a high school art teacher.  Whatever the motives, I learned to shut my mouth and focus on my work.  

The point of taking this class is to grow.  I believe that one needs to get out of their comfort zone to grow.  Part of what I learned the first night is that I can make stuff in a strange place and with other people around.  This is good for me.  

Next week, Ron has promised to help me work on pulling handles.  I can't wait!