My Trials at the wheel........

I have recently started learning Ceramic Pottery. I have been going to this ceramic artist's place every morning. She lives in a farm in village just outside Baroda. It's a simple farm house but really cute. They've lots of Geese, Dobermans, Alsatians, Star turtles, Cock, Hens, Love birds etc, etc & etc.

The geese sitting in the shade, under the jhoola !


The studio is an open thatched area,with all the pottery studio requisite stuff.

& while I am working on the wheel or at the table with my clay, the geese, hens & dogs happily saunter by.
& you know how petrified I am of dogs..... that too Dobermans..........they are sooo huge ! I used to get really stressed out every time the Dobermans came around, but since they are around all the time , I am now slowly allowing myself to breathe calmly as they walk by. Brave Girl ! Even if I say so myself.


From where I sit at the wheel...


Well, coming to the work I am doing there,...I started off by learning to make some pinched pots.The oldest type of pottery. Made a few pathetic small bowls....Then started on coiled pottery. Made a small bowl & nice tall cylinder. Not bad for a first trial.

Made a few slab pottery too ...Some free form bowls too with some dry leaves stamped into it. I really was thrilled with it. But it seems to have cracked while drying. I will have to make another one !!

But what I really wanted to do is sit at the wheel & learn to make those easy looking jars, vases & bowls. & of course straight away , I realized that the easy looking work was not easy at all !!!

But I am determined to really get into this ceramic thing.

& So , every morning for the past month I have been mostly sitting at the wheel & trying my hand.
Of course, it helps that I have a extremely good teacher who is really patient & gives me all the time I need.



The coiled pottery............

I have now started turning out some half decent shapes. Of course they are all not all that big in size but I am able to make what I have in mind. ......( previously, I would have a shape in mind but end up making something completely different.........my hands weren't listening to me !)
That's a big thing let me tell you...........

But now, I am finally able to control the clay just as I want !!! I am so thrilled & satisfied ...you have no idea............





Finished pots drying...







Just made...not yet trimmed.




Still on the wheel............

From tomorrow I am going to try my hand at slightly bigger stuff. Let's see !!!


The lane leading to the farm................

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