Getting In Shape

Shape is an important aspect of pottery. Achieving a pleasant-looking form takes practice, a critical eye and willingness to experiment. I’ve been playing with the configuration of simple drinking vessels over the last couple of months.

This is a standard mug shape. It mimics the shape I used to throw on the potters wheel. After it is assembled, I use my fingers to bulge out the middle belly of the mug.

I begin by thinking of the useful purpose of each cup or mug. Will it mostly hold a hot beverage? Could it be used for a cold drink also? Where and when will someone choose to use this item?  Will it be used for the first cup of coffee in the morning?  Will it hold a mid-day beverage sipped while working? Maybe it will be used at the end of the day to wind down and relax. 

This is a new mug form for me. I chose to have a wider base and narrow top. This helps the functionality of the mug by keeping a hot beverage hot. 

Because I use hand-building methods to create my clay forms, subtle changes in the pattern alter the end result of the shape. Is the cup widest at the top or bottom?  Should it have a handle? 

I've been wanting to make a travel mug. So I started by ordering the lids to guide me in the overall design. Here's my first attempt. I'm playing with a one finger handle. I will fire and glaze this test piece to see how it works before I go into production.

Sometimes I create a shape just because it is pleasant to my own eye. Other times, I work to create a piece that must fit into specific calculations. Will it fit in the car cup holder would be one of those determining factors. 

These are some of the patterns I've created to make my drinking vessels. The top one is used for the standard mug I make. The middle pattern was used to create the wide-bottomed mug. the last pattern is the template for the travel mug. Subtle differences in the height, width and side angles all contribute to the overall shape of each piece. 

Speaking of shapes, I've created some new ones that will be used in the upcoming Potsticker Craft Party, July 20 sponsored by The Muse in Frederick, Md. If you'd like to have a fun evening creating a special garden or plant decoration -- this is the class for you. Click here to sign up! Class space is limited. 

ClayByLaura Club members received a special discount offer for the month of July. It's just one of the benefits of joining. Are you a member yet? No?!? What are you waiting for? It's easy to sign up. Click on the image above to join. Check and respond to the email you receive. That's it. You're in!

With A Nod To Mother Nature

The winter weather we experienced this past weekend along the Eastern Seaboard is one of those storms that is hard to fully appreciate until you are living through it. I’ve weathered snow, rain, blizzards, a small hurricane and even a derecho in my lifetime, but the appropriately named Blizzard of 2016 called Jonas – has been jaw-dropping. So what does this have to do with art or clay? The simple answer is: nothing and everything.

I finished one mitten and have begun the second.

The storm did not deter me from my regular routine. I was able to continue to create in my studio and sit by the fire and knit even while three feet of snow (give or take) fell and the winds whipped outside for about 36 hours straight.

When the sun finally came out, and we could venture past our driveway (which has been continuously shoveled by my husband and ‘snow-blowed’ by our next door neighbor throughout the storm), the reality of limited movement in deep snow was quickly evident. Even snowplows were getting stuck so only a patchwork of moveable paths are available for maneuvering. It’s going to take days to dig out completely. During this sort of crisis, people –-neighbors –- band together and the community spirit is in full force.  Walking the dog has led to numerous conversations with neighbors I’ve never met before.

So back to the connection between nature, art and clay.  I have an affinity for achieving an organic feeling to my clay creations. When I first learned to throw pots on a wheel, I worked to eliminate any evidence of finger marks on the clay. There was rigidity in my pieces. But I liked the more natural shapes that I saw and aspired to interpret that in my own pieces. Once I began hand building and loosening my stringent tendencies, I’ve begun to achieve a more natural feel for my finished art.

I've been in the studio working on a new tumbler shape for an upcoming yarn pop-up show in a few months. Here are two prototypes I created based on an idea I had. Once I glazed and fired the one on the right, I realized I wanted to tweak the design. The newer model on the left has a narrower base (easier to hold) and a button on the middle (instead of the top) to act as a thumb rest.

This week, I’m reminded of the power of nature in our lives. It can disrupt our routines and shake us out of our habits. It can help neighbors meet new neighbors. It can band people together with a common goal. Nature is powerful, beautiful and sometimes unpredictable. Reflecting those attributes in my clay art is an ongoing practice.