How to do continued ed when you’re a one woman show
This week was my first week back in the studio. Hallelujah! I’ve really missed this place. . . and the solitude.
I purchased a hand building course way back in January so I thought I’d finally put it to practice. The course is called Stamp Making for Textured Pottery by clay artist Sarah Pike. I became interested in her work because it captivated me on Instagram. She uses her own handmade clay stamps to create designs on slabs that are then formed into beautiful mugs and other pieces. My first few are not unlike the first couple of pancakes if you know what I mean. I’m still learning and refining, but I can already see improvement in my skills.
In reviewing the courses (for the 4th time) I realized I actually missed a couple of steps in the process. Sometimes (ok, every time) I get too excited to really stick to a specific plan. If you haven’t checked out creative online courses, Domestika is an excellent resource as the lessons are expertly produced. They’re succinct, well organized, and come with a plethora of additional tools and ideas. Plus, they’re cheap! I think I paid about $6 for this fun course. From it I’ve carved my own clay stamps, cut stencils, and successfully hand built mugs that I love (as long as they survive the entire make process).
Through the process I’ve found some things I really enjoy about hand building.
Less wedging and less mess
Handles and refinement can be done same day
Working with stamps and tools for surface texture
More on this project to come, as I get them to bisque and plan what glaze to use. . .
