This is my first post on Substack so it will soon become apparent that I haven’t much idea what I’m doing but I’m hoping to learn by doing it.
Yesterday, I went on a pottery workshop in deepest Northumberland and I’ve been reflecting on the deep pleasure and sense of fulfilment it gave me. The workshop was a birthday present so I was in two minds before I went. One part of me was looking forward to playing around with clay in a carefree way, while the other felt under a bit of pressure to ‘produce’ some sort of pot worth having.
The bloke who runs the place (Keith Webster from Ravn Clay) was amiable, skilled and helpful. He quickly put us at our ease and achieved a balance between demonstrating and facilitating. He’d planned the time carefully, with an awareness of what can (and can’t) be achieved in three hours.
The venue itself is attractive, housed in the old Reading Room in Ford so it felt imbued with a spirit of literature, learning and endeavour.
Keith demonstrated two techniques: I think they’re called ‘thumb’ and ‘slab’ but don’t hold me to that. The name of the first technique gives it away - you press your thumb into a ball of clay until it starts to look like a bowl. Sounds simple? At first I found it a bit tricky because I imagined there was a ‘right’ way to do it, which I had failed to grasp. But I relaxed into it when I realised everyone’s efforts looked individually different.
I began to notice a kind of spout emerging in my thumb bowl so went with it and a primitive milk jug started to appear. This was pleasing to see and (most of all) touch. I decorated it, using some tools that stamped designs and letters in the clay. I used a square window shape and put the word MILK under the spout. I don’t know why…
And then there’s ‘slab’. Next time…