Ceramic 101

In September, I started ceramic classes at Tanjong Pagar Community Centra after a friend recommended that she did classes there and enjoyed it. So that was when my journey started and I signed up for a 3 months course. I have a good teacher, a very patient and quiet man who remains calm all the time as he patches up the damage we do to our pieces.

Since it's a beginners' class, I learnt the coiling method. I have tried the electric wheel once before and that's like tuff with clay flying all over the place. I ended up having more clay on me than on the wheel. With this method, it's easier cuz I use a wheel that I spin manually.

For the first lesson, my coursemates and I made a dish from using them coils. Sounds easy but the tough part was getting all the coils to be of the same thickness. Then had to get use to spinning the wheel which takes some strength. But the end product looks nice and is one of my favourite pieces so far.

This one broke my heart some. Thanks to my clumsiness, while sandpapering the container before glazing, I was a little rough and broke a ceramic flower that I had attached to this container. Also had problems when glazing the container :o(

From the piece below, I learnt alot more about spinning the wheel, keeping my hand supported and firm when shaping the clay. I have a horrible tendency to get stressed out cuz a voice in me keeps reminding me that I have to get it right. But thankfully, I have a good teacher who patiently explains and shows me what I need to do and I watch how relax he is when he works the pieces. So am reminding myself now to relax instead and enjoy the whole process and it's okay to have bad pieces :o)

The sake bottle and cup wasn't what I had in mind. The bottle turned out a little too tall and too skinny for my liking. But it's done so just need to get some sake to test it out! Anyone game?

The bowl below is another favourite piece of mine. I am alot more relax (after self reminders for the first ten minutes of class) and I have better control over what I make than before.

This next piece below is not made by me but by Slawek who attends class with me and it's now mine :o) He did this free form and I think it turns out pretty cool!