Studio classes and deep thoughts

So, I am close to the end of my Tuesday classes and Two weeks ago we started the Saturday morning classes. To put it shortly, its going wonderfully. Its always been one of my joys to see students just getting it. After you show them demos or make suggestions on how to throw on the wheel you can see them grab the idea behind the demo and run with it. Of course, we all trip up, make mistakes, and have some failures but just as it has been told thousands of times before, this is the only way you learn. Take what you have learned up to the mistake or failure and understand what you can change to work with the material to fix or avoid that same mistake in the future.

I have found that in working with clay for the last 10 years that it has much to teach us. Patience is by far the biggest lesson clay has for us in my opinion. Not only with the clay, or the world around us, but with ourselves. We can't just sit down at the pottery wheel, slap a piece of clay on it and throw a vase or a cup. It takes steps that lead up to that. We have to wedge the clay, preparing the clay, kneading it and preparing all the particles of clay to work together, removing air bubbles. Preparing our tools, our bucket of water, putting on a smock or our towel, and turning on the wheel. All these steps precede the actual throwing. Being prepared. Oh man my boy scout leaders would be so proud that I apply the Scout motto. Being prepared can set you up for success but practice is where all the magic happens.

The biggest hurdle I find students really struggle with is centering. I get all hippie dippy on this. Centering clay in essence is centering yourself. I tell people if there is ongoing turmoil, drama, or whatever to leave it outside of the studio door and come in here for you. Outside issues can derail us easily and it can be seen within the clay. Remember we can't control other people, situation, or the world. We can only work on us and have control over our own domain (Hence your mind, body, and spirit). When we center, we want to find a balance between both sides of our brains and body. This is easily accomplished with our hands. When our hands work together, as in keeping in touch with each other during the throwing process you will find that you will have more control working with the clay. Notice I said working with the clay, not working against the clay. There is an even flow when we let the clay move through our finger as opposed to against. When our hands work together, we can understand teamwork, they work well together as a team. It's when each hand works separately that we can find uncertainty, fear, and intrusive thoughts that can offset our centering. So just like a healthy couple that work together as a team, your hands work the same way. Keep them connected during every step of the way during the throwing process. But first, center.

Once you practice the centering within yourself and the clay you will find a sense of calm. This is especially true when we work with clay. Clay can be found all over the world. It is processed to remove debris, packaged (Or made in studio), and used by potters, artists, construction workers etc. but it always starts its journey within the earth. Hence when we work with clay, we are grounding ourselves. There is something primal that comes out when we put our hands in the mud. It takes me back to childhood when we used to build little mud forts to put my GI Joe guys, and green army guys who would battle against my Star Wars action figures that would come from the high weeds that I imagined would be a huge forest. That recall to innocence, and that natural connection to the earth calm my whole being. As adults we can forget that and view working with earth as dirty. But getting a little Dirty never hurt know body. In my opinion it can only help.

I could go on about all the steps of throwing, but I want to bring it back to my classes. I have a huge sense of gratitude every time I teach. I have learned so much from my teachers in the past from Mentors, tutors, professors, and so on. I want to give back to my community and the easiest way I can find is by sharing the knowledge I have gained over the years. I love to help when I can, I love when my students get it, I love the look on their faces when they create a pot or see the glaze ware come out of the kiln. This sense of wonder keeps me going. Where I am and where the studio is at wouldn't be if it wasn't for Patience, Centering and Grounding. Be kind to yourself and be kind to others. (This I Practice, I may not be perfect, but who is? as long as we try)

Thank you to all my students who teach me as much as I hopefully teach them.

Jason Ferguson