I've spent the last few weeks working with raku clay and techniques in my class at Springfield Pottery with some success. I haven't spent any time working on my pit pots, much to the chagrin of Jen, my instructor. I also am considering taking a break from the classes to focus on studio time. That is yet to be worked out with Nathan and Jen. I'd like to pay for studio time equivalent to class time, to allow me to come in when I want to and not have the structure of the class.
I've come a long way with my throwing technique. I've done well with the raku clay, a much more gritty clay than the standard red-ish clay that we normally use. I've found that my fingertips are useful. I was using the sides of a finger or fingers to move clay as it turned on the wheel. What I realized was that the tips provided more force, similar to the way ice skate blades work. Now, I can move clay at will.
Now I'm left to work on form. I have several shapes I've done sucessfully, put the form is poor. An example: nice curving body with the top of the flare of a vase as big and tall as the base. I need to learn proportion. Not bad for someone who never took art classes in school and is a techie-geek!
9:17:53 AM 
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