Throwin’ It Down

Thanks to my student Catherine, I’ve been watching The Great Pottery Throw Down lately. If you’re unfamiliar with this, it’s a British show very similar in format to The Great British Bake Off: an elimination contest of amateurs, judged by well known professionals with some sweet, understated, British charm thrown in.  

I use throwing for producing multiples of functional work, but generally it’s not the way I explore ideas and try new things. Confession time–watching this show is inspiring me and I feel like trying a bunch of the techniques and challenges that have been presented! I was throwing mugs the other day and I was having fun!!

There are pro’s and con’s to both hand building and throwing. While hand building is slower, it gives you time to think while you’re working. I’m constantly adjusting and trying things as I work. It also requires more attention to the wetness levels in the clay when you’re joining parts together because it takes longer and things can start to dry.

Throwing is much faster process and you can make more work or more disasters in a shorter time. You have to respond to the clay immediately as it’s spinning past you but keep your touch gentle and controlled. Over all, it’s a wetter process and there is more waste to be reclaimed. I was going to say it’s easier to get repeating forms with throwing but I’m not sure that’s true. It just all happens a lot faster!

There’s a new class session starting at the end of March. I’ll send out all the information when we get closer to the time. So, stay tuned!!